Page 10 - Cadet Review Spring 2025

 Joint Service News
WEST YORKSHIRE
The Lord-Lieutenant, Mr Ed Anderson CBE, with the recipients
the wider wing. In 2014 he volunteered to take on the
role of Wing Activity Centre Coordinator, managing
the training centre where wing courses and activities
are carried out. He modernised and developed this
facility in order that the progressive training syllabus
could be delivered there and made it accessible to
everyone across the wing.
In 2016, he took on the Wing role as Media
Communications Officer, where he modernised the
Wings’ media presence through using social media
and creating positive uplifting news stories and
eye-catching graphics to engage young people, staff
and the public alike. This important work has raised
the profile of the Air Cadets at a regional and national
level with several articles being published in national
newspapers.
Civilian Instructor David Ackroyd is an active and
dedicated member of 250 (Halifax) Squadron and
is invaluable in his role as the Squadron Training
Officer. He provides interesting, thought-provoking
and varied project work on a wide selection of topics
which has previously included Commonwealth
war graves and Dambuster Raids, all leading to
interesting talks and visits.
He regularly contributes to external activities
and offers support with other events, including
fundraising, bag packing and local charity support,
together with arranging multiple trips and visits
He provides
interesting,
thought-
provoking
and varied
project work
on a wide
selection of
topics.
10 CADET REVIEW SPRING 2025
throughout the year to invigorate the training
syllabus. These regularly include events for the
Initial Training Flight to offer an alternative method in
delivering the initial training syllabus, such as visiting
the Manchester Airport Runway Centre.
His keen enthusiasm for clay target shooting has
brought the activity to the cadets at 250 Squadron,
an activity they would never otherwise have. This
has given them more direct access into the sport,
alongside experienced instructors and allowed more
than thirty cadets to gain a qualification in the sport
including shotgun handling skills and safety awards.
Michael Archer is an outstanding civilian committee
member. He joined the committee at 185 (Batley)
Squadron in 2015 where he became the treasurer.
He continues to support the squadron in this role
and has always ensured that cadet welfare is at the
heart of the work of the committee and squadron.
He developed and trained staff members in how to
manage accounts and handle money on the unit in
a professional way and has extended this training
across the wing to assist in training 33 Squadron
Cadet civilian committees across Yorkshire.
He helped establish a cadet development fund
at Batley Squadron which ensured that all cadets
were given equal opportunities to attend camps and
courses without concern for the financial burden.
Over the last 10 years this fund has ensured £5,000