Page 7 - Cadet Review Summer 2023

CORONATION OF THEIR MAJESTIES KING CHARLES III AND QUEEN CAMILLA
By Flight Lieutenant Peter Doubell
Although we were not fortunate enough to have any of our current membership involved with the Coronation Ceremony, it was a great delight to see our past Cadet Flight Sergeant Matthew Jagger in the Coronation Parade as part of the Royal Air Force contingent.
For the next day of the Coronation Weekend,
and by the very kind invitation of Ed Anderson, HM Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, a party from Mirfield Air Cadets were lucky enough to attend the amazing Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle. The invitation came from Kevin Sharp, the Clerk
to the West Yorkshire Lieutenancy, for Flt Lt Peter Doubell and his wife Sue (a Civilian Instructor at the Squadron) to select a group of 10 cadets to attend this unique event. The journey to Windsor was by coach, sponsored by telecommunications provider aqi, in a party of around 50 from West Yorkshire and accompanied by Deputy Lieutenant Dr Sofia Buncy.
On arrival in Windsor the Air Cadet party, comprising Flt Lt Doubell, Mrs Doubell, CWO Jacob Stockwell, FS Aiden Booth, FS Toby Mathews, Sgt Katie Ashford, Sgt Joshua Clark, Cl Gabriella Green, Cpl Finlay Hope, Cpl Eliot Ryan, and Cadets Sophie Pease and Emily Richards, paused on route to the Castle for an ice cream break. They then
proceeded to join the queue for entry passing through a check of their on-line tickets and a security check manned by police drawn from
a variety of forces including Metropolitan,
City of Westminster, Thames Valley
and Welsh.
One of the high points of the day came when the procession of people moving towards the East Lawn, where the concert was to be held, was halted (with the 868 group at
the front), and this was
to allow admittance to the
Castle for a short convoy of
vehicles including one with
darkened windows – sure
enough this car was carrying
King Charles and passed the
group only 3-4 metres away. They all
waved, and could see dimly through the darkened
Having the privilege to attend the Coronation Concert was absolutely phenomenal
The Mirfield Squadron group on arrival at Windsor Castle
glass that he waved back to them!
Before the Concert properly got underway, the
audience of some 20,000 people were treated to music provided by Stuart Maconie and Scott Mills, as a warm-up to the main attractions.
Where else could such a variety of performers and presenters be found on the same bill: from Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy to Andrea Bocelli and Sir Bryn Terfel, from Katy Perry to HRH The Prince of Wales, from Take That to the Coronation Choir?
The whole event was a truly wonderful experience, thoroughly enjoyed by all - a great privilege to be honoured with such an invitation. There was general dancing and singing along with the acts which
were all greeted by great applause, and the whole audience turned to face their Majesties the King and
Queen to give a very rousing rendition of the National Anthem.
After the concert, Cadet Warrant Officer Stockwell said “having
the privilege to attend the Coronation Concert was absolutely phenomenal
– it was incredible to see thousands of people
united together and
Coronation Concert Drones – drones display showing image of an owl
CADET REVIEW SUMMER 2023 7