Page 12 - Cadet Review Spring 2024

Joint Service News
An additional presentation was made at the end of the West Yorkshire event by kind permission of the Lord-Lieutenant and is a major achievement for an individual to receive a Cadet Force Medal; however, during this event Major Mike Wootton received his 6th Clasp to the Cadet Force Medal.
The Cadet Forces Medal is awarded to Officers and Uniformed Adult Volunteers of all three Cadet Forces in recognition of 12 years’ service. Following on from this a Clasp is then
awarded when a Volunteer completes a further 6 years’ service.
Major Mike Wootton started his adult service with Yorkshire ACF in May 1973, following service as a cadet, and during 2023 completed 50 years of service as a volunteer.
During his cadet career Major Wootton
has served across Yorkshire as a Detachment Commander,
Company Training Officer, Company Administration Officer, has commanded three Companies and has
He is highly respected by his colleagues and cadets
also served as a Deputy Commandant. Major Wootton is currently serving as an Assistant Commandant, and he epitomises
volunteering.
He is highly respected by his colleagues
and cadets which is borne from endless determination to provide the Army Cadets
of Yorkshire with the most exciting opportunities possible.
Major Wootton is a constant source of inspiration to all
who meet him, and it will be no exaggeration to state that during
his career, there will be thousands of young people and adult volunteers
who will have benefitted from his dedication,
enthusiasm, knowledge, skills and
selfless commitment. For completion
of over fifty years’
service to the Army Cadet Force Major Wootton was
awarded the Sixth Clasp to the Cadet
Forces Medal.
Cadet Flight Sergeant Freddie Thomlinson is always willing to serve to the highest standard and this was exemplified when he was chosen to be the Standard Bearer at the Remembrance Parade and reprised
at the parade to celebrate the King's Coronation. He is the sole NCO on the committee to organise a Trooping of the Colour to celebrate the school's ties to the crown.
The CCF at Read School has been through a very difficult period, with the RAF section suffering the most. Throughout these considerable difficulties,
he has worked tirelessly to promote the values and ethos of the RAF and to keep the section going. He was the most senior RAF cadet and at the age of
15 he took on this huge task and carried it out with courage and resilience. Although it often seemed like a thankless task, he performed his duties very conscientiously and chose to see it as an opportunity to learn and grow within the organisation. In addition, he has organised and taken part in a charity run, raising £1000 for Ovarian Cancer Charity; and was part of the team that raised £1000+ for Dementia UK and volunteers as sports coach to help the younger pupils in the junior school and is preparing for an FA coaching qualification.
Cadet Sergeant Gemma Carr has always been an active member of the unit and is one of the first to volunteer to help out with community events and fundraisers such as Armed Forces Day, Remembrance Sunday, Seafest, Memorials and Church Parades amongst various other engagements. Her standards with dress and drill are always at a high standard which makes her an
Cadet Sergeant Major William Kelly is the perfect example of what young people can achieve with effort and dedication
exceptional representative, demonstrated when she was awarded with Best Royal Marine Cadet
in the Unit Awards in 2021 and she was recently promoted on the strength of her performance. She is an excellent mentor to the younger members of the Ship's Company and has excelled with her Peer Education. She has a fantastic sense of humour that puts people around her at ease and never stops smiling, even when under pressure or out of her comfort zone.
Cadet Sergeant Major William Kelly is the perfect example of what young people can achieve with effort and dedication. Since joining the ACF in 2017 CSM Kelly has embraced every opportunity given to him. He has been a fantastic ambassador for mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic and is an amazing role model to all those who meet him. William is on the verge of reaching the pinnacle
of his cadet career, he is hoping to complete his Master Cadet Course at Frimley Park before he turns eighteen; the pandemic has delayed this, but he has not given up hope. He always goes the extra mile to support the junior cadets and the levels of respect he has earned from cadets and adult instructors alike is outstanding.
Cadet Sergeant Annie Major Fairburn is a cadet who goes that little bit further within the ACF
and within her local community. From the age of seven was keen to support her community and undertook training to become a lifeguard at her local swimming pool. This has been a passion, and she now encourages her fellow cadets to improve
12 CADET REVIEW SPRING 2024