Page 35 - Cadet ReviewAutumn/Winter 2020

COMMANDANT AIR CADETS COMMENDATIONS
Central to any organisation are its people. This is especially true of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets
and our permanent staff, volunteers and members can be proud of both what they achieve and what they provide for our cadets and wider society. Regardless of standing in the organisation, the work all our people provide is always appreciated but there will always be those who, regardless of their circumstances, go out and give more than what is asked.
Twice a year Commandant Air Cadets brings together nominations for our own special set of awards to recognise the individuals who go above and beyond within their service of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets.
OC Wing, Wing Commander David Waters said; “Our cadets, volunteer staff and permanent staff are at the forefront of everything we do and the work they produce is simply phenomenal. To be picked out of
a highly able field of personnel, who all give up their own time to give to our cadets and our organisation to a constantly high standard, is testament to the work and ethos these individuals have shown. I fully congratulate the recipients on their awards and thank them for their efforts.”
The Wing would like to announce and invite you to congratulate these individuals on their awards and thank them for their continued high-level service.
Congratulations and thanks go to:
COMMANDANT’S COMMENDATION OF MERITORIOUS SERVICE
Sqn Ldr Peter Carrington Wing HQ
Flt Lt George Clemitshaw 740 (Whitby) Sqn
Flt Lt Danielle Cooper 152 (City of Hull) Sqn SAC Thomas Cooper 152 (City of Hull) Sqn
WO Sharon Reynolds 152 (City of Hull) Sqn
SAC Brandon Wardale 152 (City of Hull) Sqn
Fg Off Thomas Smith 1224 (Wharfedale) Sqn Mr Paul Cryer (CWC) 1224 (Wharfedale) Sqn
FS Luke Dowling Luke 1224 (Wharfedale) Sqn Ms Tracey Rayner (CWC) 1224 (Wharfedale) Sqn Mr Stephen Falkinder (CWC) 399 (Beverley) Sqn FS Gianluca Gaudiosi 58 (Harrogate) Sqn
FS David Wells 58 (Harrogate) Sqn
Mrs Carol Gregson (CWC) 252 (Bridlington) Sqn Mrs Carol Pashley (CWC) 252 (Bridlington) Sqn Mr Robert Pashley (CWC) 252 (Bridlington) Sqn Sgt James Lowe 298 (Hornsea) Sqn
PO Helle McCollin 1324 (Hawker Blackburn) Sqn Sgt Jack Parkinson 2431 (Keighley) Sqn
Plt Off James Smith 2527 (Lawnswood) Sqn
CI Michael Vann 2527 (Lawnswood) Sqn
Flt Lt Gareth Thomas 35 (Wetherby) Sqn
Mr D Wilkinson (CWC) 399 (Beverley) Sqn
Mr David Woolas (CWC) 399 (Beverley) Sqn
COMMANDANT’S CERTIFICATE OF GOOD SERVICE
Cdt FS Matthew Cryer 1224 (Wharfedale) Sqn Cdt FS Peter Monaghan 1224 (Wharfedale) Sqn
I'm truly grateful to have met Tony and have the pleasure to be pushed and mentored by him
Cdt Cpl Merlin Goacher 252 (Bridlington) Sqn
Cdt FS Rosie Gregson 252 (Bridlington) Sqn
Cdt FS Leila Hayward 399 (Beverley) Sqn
Cdt FS Benjamin Massey 2337 (Northallerton) Sqn Cdt FS Jessica Prentice 35 (Wetherby) Sqn
WING COMMANDER’S CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION
WO Ellen Lowe 298 (Hornsea) Sqn
WO Colin Bell 1323 (Ryedale) Sqn
CI Jean Snelling 110 (City of York) Sqn
Cdt Sgt Kieran Harcourt 740 (Whitby) Sqn
Cdt Sgt Cody Nicholls 740 (Whitby) Sqn
CWO Harry Langcaster 152 (City of Hull) Sqn
Cdt FS Jade Maria Lewis 739 (Scarborough) Sqn Cdt FS Adam Lill 2487 (Easingwold) Sqn
CWO Adam Cotton 1324 (Hawker Blackburn) Sqn
Flt Lt Stan Shimmin RAFVRT
By Flt Lt Steven Lewis
Flt Lt Stan Shimmin RAFVRT, retired OC 739 (Scarborough) Squadron, sadly passed away on 15 June in Scarborough Hospital after several years of poor health. Stan joined the RAF at a young age and trained to be an Air Signaller, serving in Coastal Command on Shackletons. When he left the RAF in 1962, he joined GCHQ as a Radio Officer, first working at Bletchley Park where he met his second wife Rosemary and they remained married until his death. Through his civilian service he also moved to Cheltenham and eventually settled in Scarborough where he decided to become an adult volunteer with the ATC. He dedicated his entire working life to serving his country and his free time to the cadets of the ATC.
Serving at 739 throughout the 1980’s until his retirement in 1996 he became OC Sqn in 1993. Stan’s commitment knew no bounds and he
was always willing to give up his time to ensure cadets would get to activities, whatever the circumstances. Stan was an extremely good judge of character and shortly before his retirement he brought his Cadet FS
into the office for a chat about progression into becoming adult staff and
to ask what his thoughts were on it. The Cadet FS was not sure, but Stan confidently stated “You should, as one day you will be sitting in this chair”. That FS was the current OC Flt Lt Steven Lewis who took command from Stan’s successor in 2013 – so Stan’s influence has remained a constant
for over 20 years since retirement. We could not celebrate Stan’s life and achievements as we would like, due to Coronavirus so with his families blessing we plan to hold a memorial event in the future for those who knew him to pay their respects.
Unfortunately, we do not have any really good quality photos of Stan as many were destroyed when the pipes burst in 2010 – we have since scanned everything to make sure that never happens again!
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