Page 8 - Cadet Review Spring 2024

Joint Service News
Major Prollins is a father of 2 young children, yet still finds time to pack in all his Sea Cadet work with his young family in addition to completing various ‘Winter Wolf’ runs to raise money for the Royal Marines Charities on top of a very busy job; always going the extra mile and using his personal holidays to support the cadets.
CHIEF PETTY OFFICER MATTHEW HALL
Chief Petty Officer Hall has volunteered with the Sea Cadets for more than twenty years holding senior volunteering roles within all the units he has been
a part of. He first held a command position in 2014
as the First Lieutenant of Keighley Sea Cadets, later taking on the position of Commanding Officer, and where he was able provide stability to the unit and create the basis for the success they have today. He then later moved on to support both Wakefield and Dewsbury Sea Cadets demonstrating his willingness to travel around the West Yorkshire District to provide much needed support and guidance. Most recently he has been providing his support and guidance to City of Leeds Sea Cadets as the First Lieutenant.
STAFF SERGEANT INSTRUCTOR IAN HELSTRIP
Staff Sergeant Instructor Helstrip is a dedicated member of the ACF, since taking on his company position, he has excelled and showed the utmost professionalism. Taking over as acting Company Sergeant Major he has shown a high level of commitment to the ACF with his enthusiasm and dedication to deliver the support and tools to achieve for the cadets and will do his best to make sure they are given every opportunity to achieve to the best of their ability. This fantastic attitude and commitment make him invaluable to his company and all the detachments around him.
South Yorkshire
Staff Sergeant Instructor Helstrip's fantastic attitude and commitment make him invaluable to his company and all the detachments around him.
SQUADRON LEADER STEVEN SHAW
Squadron Leader Steven Shaw has had a long
and distinguished career with the Royal Air Force
Air Cadets having joined as a Civilian Instructor at Yeadon Squadron in 2004, he quickly moved in to uniform as a non-commissioned officer in the rank of Sergeant rapidly moving through the ranks achieving Warrant Officer in April 2016.
He was appointed as a Pilot Officer in March 2017 at Calder Valley Squadron and was quickly appointed as squadron commander in September the same year. Alongside his squadron commander duties, he had wing responsibilities as the Wing Aviation Officer ensuring all the cadets had equal opportunities to fly and glide with the air cadets. It was in this secondary role that he spearheaded work with Wolds Gliding Club to ensure cadets continued to receive flying opportunities whilst the fleet were grounded.
CHIEF PETTY OFFICER MICHELLE BLACKBURN
Chief Petty Officer Michelle Blackburn has been a member of Harrogate Sea Cadets for over 25 years, of which 21 have been as a uniformed volunteer. During this time, she has provided knowledge, experience and guidance to hundreds of young people, through varied unit activities and activities further afield most notably being a regular instructor with the national band courses and events, in addition to taking a group of cadets to Japan on the international foreign exchange programme.
In 2012 she took command of Harrogate Sea Cadets at a time of low cadet numbers and poor cadet experience. Over the next ten years, under
her leadership, the unit was transformed into a successful youth organisation and in 2013 the unit was awarded the Winn Trophy for the most improved unit in Eastern Area. This standard was maintained throughout the next 10 years with a burgee being awarded consistently every year.
The Lord-Lieutenant, Dame Hilary Chapman DBE with South Yorkshire recipients
8 CADET REVIEW SPRING 2024