Page 55 - Cadet Review Spring 2024

own chaplain Christine Shedd. During the service commemorative wreaths were laid by Deputy Lieutenant Iqbal Bhana, parliamentary representative Mark Eastwood MP, and Councillor Martyn Connell, Mayor of Mirfield, and they were followed by representatives of the armed forces and all major community groups, including the two cadet forces. After the service the parade reformed and marched back through the town to the applause of onlookers, and a salute was taken by the Deputy Lieutenant.
Following the parade, Squadron Commander Flight Lieutenant Peter Doubell commented: “Despite the weather that was a really good turn out by the town. Our cadets were all magnificent, especially those acting as standard bearers and I was very pleased to see our band leading the whole proceedings.”
There was also some individual praise,
from a past Air Cadet Officer, for Corporal Lily Dillon, who played with her school band in Heckmondwike, immediately before joining
her fellow cadets in Mirfield, who said “Today
I attended the Remembrance Service at Heckmondwike. A female corporal from Mirfield Sqn was part of the band. She was impeccable in terms of conduct and appearance, but her Last Post was the best I'd heard. A credit to the Squadron and the Corps.”
MIRFIELD AIR CADET WINS TOP NOMINATION
At the recent national awards presentation for the Royal Air Force Air Cadets a staff member from 868 (Mirfield) Squadron was honoured to receive recognition.
Air Vice Marshall Ian Townsend, Air Officer Commanding 22 Group RAF, presented Sergeant Kiara Baillie with the Quinton Memorial Trophy for the Top Candidate as she was the Top Graduate, who has performed to the highest standard in all aspects on the adult Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Initial Training Course at RAF Cranwell.
Kiara earned this very prestigious award as a staff member, following an equally prestigious career as
a cadet with the Squadron, which she completed in the rank of Cadet Warrant Officer.
During her time as a cadet, she accumulated a wealth of experiences and qualifications, including International Air Cadet
Exchange to Australia
in 2019, Air Cadet Pilot
Scholarship, Gold level
Duke of Edinburgh’s
Award, Wing Sports
cadet of the Year 2017
and was requested
by the Regional
Commandant North to
be one of two cadets,
nationally, to deliver a
presentation to AOC 22
Group at the Royal Air
Force Air Cadets Formal
Inspection.
She had been a high-profile cadet selected as the Wing’s
nomination for the annual national competition to find the year’s best cadets, on three occasions, and in 2020 also gained the North Region nomination. Before the Covid-19 pandemic brought such activities to a halt, Kiara had achieved the distinction of being one of the few cadets to achieve a Wing Blue in every available sport: swimming, athletics, cross- country running, hockey and netball.
In civilian life she is now studying a nursing degree at Bradford University.
Outside the Corps and work
Kiara pursues an interest in diving, swimming, piano and octopush (underwater hockey) and more recently marathon running, successfully completing the London Marathon earlier this year. She
has competed at a national level in diving, but for many years her main pursuit was octopush in which she has competed, representing her club
and Great Britain, at international events. In 2018 her efforts and achievements were also recognised by Mirfield Town
Council with the appointment
as Mirfield Ambassador.
868 (Mirfield) Squadron News
AFTERNOON TEA WITH THE AIR CADETS
On a pleasant Sunday afternoon in October, cadets, their families and friends were invited for afternoon tea at the Squadron, for a modest contribution to funds. Taking place between 1.00 and 3.00pm, the event saw a steady flow of visitors enjoying their cakes, scones, jam and cream, served by willing cadet volunteers; great social atmosphere prevailed throughout the event.
Special thanks to Mrs Doubell for the homemade scones, jam and cakes and to Flt Lt Neil Foster of 96 (Dewsbury) Squadron for the loan of the crockery.
Cadet Damian Bednarczyk on serving duty
CADET REVIEW SPRING 2024 55