Page 33 - The Malvernian - July 2022

THE MALVERNIAN
CCF
After the hiatus due to CV19, Malvern College CCF has bounced back this year with one of its strongest years in memory. All three sections – Royal Marine, Army and RAF – are well populated and very active, and the Sixth Form Senior Cadets have taken the lead in training and in activities, with Senior Cadet, Cdt RSM Bella Cole, leading from the front.
Our new intake of recruits – 90, including some new Sixth Formers – hit the ground running in September, swiftly working through their respective Basic Training activities. Meanwhile, the Hundred moved into their Advanced Training Phase, learning how to lead on exercise, and how to instruct, as demonstrated by the Upper Sixth. It is this cycle of ‘learning; leading; instructing’ which underpins the CCF and it is excellent to see it working to such great effect.
The first major event of the year was Ex First Fling, at Sennybridge Training Area. Over 200 students and staff headed to Brecon to complete training in two separate phases: the Basic Training, covering such skills as Camouflage and Concealment, Paintball Fire and Manoeurvre, First Aid etc (and not forgetting the Zombie Escape and Evasion!); and the Advanced, which involved setting up Harbour Areas, conducting Recce and Fighting Patrols and Section Battle Drills.
Remembrance Sunday also provided a poignant moment for the corps, with Cdt RSM Cole’s grandfather, General Sir Peter de la Billière, attending as our Guest of Honour. This moment of pause in a busy term is always an important one.
At the end of term, the Hundred went to Tyddesley Wood to complete an inter-section competition, run by the Upper Sixth, involving stands including Cas-Evac, Section Attack (blank firing) and First Aid. On return, the Sixth Form were then rewarded by an excellent Winter Dinner and some fine singing from Mr Nichols.
The Lent Term was a busy one, too, with another successful Cairngorm Trip completed (with even more Winter Climbing than usual) over the Half Term, a large and successful Ex Malvern Rifles (again at Sennybridge) in which the Remove practised all the skills they have learnt over the year, including building a basher, and paintball Fire and Manoeuvre. The term finished with a fabulous Biennial Inspection – our first for four years! – and we were delighted to welcome Brig Edward Chamberlain (OM, 2), who spent the day inspecting the whole contingent as it trained and completed tasks around the wonderful Malvern site. It was particularly nice to be able to welcome back the Brigadier’s former Housemaster, Mr Knott – himself a former officer in the contingent – who joined the formal lunch. The Brigadier spoke to the assembled contingent at the conclusion of the Inspection and his words – upon the idea of serving to lead – landed comfortably upon those present.
Summer Term has seen a welcome return to Flying for the RAF, including two of the Senior cadets completing Pilot Scholarship weeks. This remains a terrific experience and opportunity for the cadets – how many people can say they are licenced to fly a plane before they can drive a car?! The RM have also taken part in an interim Pringle Trophy, at the Commando Training Centre, including completing the infamous Commando Endurance Course (with Sheep Dip) which all enjoyed. There has been the inaugural Inter House Drill competition, which was a great success, and many congratulations to No.3 who carried off the Drill Boot Trophy. As the year comes to a close, two final events have taken place as a culmination of the whole year’s training: a day for the Remove at Tyddelsey Wood, firing blank and leading their sections for the first time; and the 5-day Central Camp, at Nesscliffe Training Area. This last camp was run by the Brigade team and cadets were able to take part in live-firing on a range, an overnight exercise and activities as diverse as TIBUA, a CQB run and even Tag Archery. To complete what has been a terrific year, the contingent was awarded the Best Contingent prize – no mean feat as there were 300 cadets on camp - as well as prizes for Best Shooting and for both 1st and 2nd place in the Gun Run Challenge.
Very many congratulations to the many students, staff and volunteers who have given up so much time and made such a huge effort again this year, and particular thanks to our SSI, Mr Nichols, without whom none of this would have been possible.
Bert Lacey |
Teacher of Physics & Contingent Commander, CCF
THE MALVERNIAN
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