Page 6 - Cadet ReviewAutumn/Winter 2020

Joint Service News
FAREWELL TO
JEREMY
The RFCA Yorkshire and the Humber has said its goodbyes to outgoing deputy chief executive Jeremy Bleasdale who retired after 14 years at the end of August.
Jeremy played a pivotal role in leading the associa- tion’s work in supporting the region’s cadets and will be remembered particularly for his achievements in building the funds of the Yorkshire Cadet Trust – a registered charity that aims to ensure every cadet
in the region, particularly those from deprived or less fortunate backgrounds, have the chance to participate in all the opportunities available to them through membership of the cadets
Chief executive Jason Wright paid tribute to his contribution. He said:
“Jeremy has played a hugely significant role in the work of the RFCA, making an invaluable contribution to every area of our activity, from our work on the reserve and cadet estate to our finance operations and involvement with the cadet and reserve units. His first love has been to support the efforts of the cadet forces across the region and it is, in part, a tribute to his work that we have in Yorkshire such a flourishing cadet movement supported by truly committed and dedicated teams of professional staff and volunteers.
Jeremy’s retirement comes at the end of 50 years of public service which includes a long and distin- guished career in the military in addition to his years with the RFCA. We wish him health and happiness as he moves to the next stage of his life.”
RFCA staff were able to give Jeremy their best wishes at a socially-distanced farewell event at the RFCA’s St George’s Place headquarters where they also had the opportunity to meet his successor Wayne Pledger who joins the RFCA following his retirement from the British Army in July.
Wayne, who is from North Yorkshire, joined
the Army at 16 and served throughout the world including in Northern Ireland, Falklands Islands, Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan during a 39 year career which saw him rise to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
“We are delighted to welcome Wayne to the RFCA
Jeremy
has played
a hugely significant role in the work of the RFCA, making an invaluable contribution...
and look forward to working with him,” said Jason Wright.
The Editor added a few comments too on having worked closely with Jeremy as Commandant, Colonel Cadets and latterly as Vice Chairman Cadets. “Having taken commend of HSY ACF in January
2007 I was thrown a fast ball by Jeremy early in
the year – would I organise and train a Tri Service Cadet expedition to the Himalayas, to run in 2008. That was somewhat of a challenge as by the time we had things up and running we had approximately nine months to select and train a team, raise the necessary funds and gain clearance to travel, and that was without organising everything in Nepal. Fortunately, Jeremy and I worked very closely to make it all work and amongst the highlights of the first expedition was the first Casualty Evacuation (Casevac) and the team being stranded in Lukla on the way home, whilst Jeremy and I, and three others were sailing on the Infantry yacht FUSILIER, off the south coast with limited means of communication. Luckily all the team arrived home, only a week
late. Three further expeditions followed, two in the Himalayas and the last one in 2014 in Canada.
Without the support Jeremy gave to the expeditions, most notably through his fund raising via the Yorkshire Cadet Trust, it would have been almost impossible to have sent so many cadets and adult volunteers overseas on what became for many, life changing experiences.
Jeremy also fully supported the cadets of all three services and there are many who have benefited from his wise counsel or support. On behalf of all members of the Joint Cadet Forum I would like to thank him for all he has achieved for the cadets and adults, and wish him a long and happy retirement.”
Jeremy, centre, with members
of the Canada 14 expedition
team before departure
6 CADET REVIEW AUTUMN/WINTER 2020