Page 11 - Cadet Review Summer 2021

NEW BUILDINGS ALL ROUND FOR
CADETS ACROSS YORKSHIRE
PROVIDED BY RFCA
New officer commanding helps put final touches to Beverley’s upgraded cadet centre
It’s all change for Beverley’s cadets!
When they return to training, they will not only be based in a new joint cadet centre at Wolfe Armoury – there will also be a new Company Commander for the Army Cadets.
Major Richard Lenton is pictured helping to give the final touches to the centre – which has undergone a £250,000 redevel- opment ready for the cadets’ arrival.
He was appointed to command Humberside and South Yorkshire Army Cadet Force’s A Company in July and oversees eight units stretching from Withernsea, Hornsea and Bridlington on the coast to Hull and Driffield.
He takes command as Wolfe Armoury becomes the company’s headquarters, moving from Mona House in Hull and the recently consolidated Beverley detachment moves from the town’s grammar school into the renovated facility – sharing the centre with 399 (Beverley) Squadron.
Cadet headquarters
“It’s a challenging but exciting time to be taking up the role,” said Richard, who is employer engagement director for the RFCA and, until recently, served in the reserves.
“I’ve wanted to be a cadet force adult volunteer for some time now and couldn’t be happier to be taking on the company where both my sons once served as cadets. There is an amazing team of volunteers here and we can’t wait to welcome the cadets to a full line-up of activities and camps.”
Under the renovation scheme, Wolfe Armoury had its roof overhauled and has undergone major internal works to create new classrooms, storage and recreation spaces together with a drill hall to be shared by both cadet forces.
“I’m already based here much of the time, and it’s going to a brilliant facility for both Army and Air Cadets in the town,” said Richard.
RFCA delivers upgraded building for Air Cadets in Leeds
The RFCA has completed a £130,000 upgrade of a training unit used by cadets from 168 (City of Leeds) Squadron Air Training Corps.
And now the squadron’s officer commanding Warrant Officer Kevin
Stead, pictured with the RFCA surveyor Ian Thompson, is looking forward to welcoming cadets new and old to the base.
“The redevelopment will make a huge difference to the squadron and really transform the experience of our cadets when they return,” said Warrant Officer Stead.
“The hut had seen better days; however, now we have a brilliant central room which can be used as an indoor shooting range or partitioned to become two classrooms. We have also now got the brilliant storage space we need for all our musical and sports equipment. Another big bonus is the indoor lavatories we have – which means our cadets no longer have to use outdoor facilities.”
The project was paid for by the Air Training Corps with the work managed by the RFCA’s estates team who contracted a team of tradespeople to be on site as the start of 2021.
“We are pleased we have been able to use the latest lockdown period to deliver so a big improvement for cadets in the region,” said Ian.
“We trust that the resumption of in-person training will go ahead smoothly and could not be happier that Air Cadets in this part of Leeds will return to a unit which is now truly fit for the purpose it serves. “
All hands on deck ahead of Barton cadet centre’s opening
It’s all hands on the deck at Barton-on- Humber’s spanking new, purpose-built cadet centre – and even the new officer commanding of Humberside and South Yorkshire Army Cadet Force’s E company has been there to help out.
Major Clare Kirk, pictured, was lending a hand as contractors make the final prepa- rations ahead of the arrival of cadets later this month.
“It’s going to be a big change for the cadets,” said Clare. “Not only will they be seeing their cadet friends for the first time in a long while, they will also be returning to a completely new detachment unit.
The old one was shabby, run-down and
no longer a fit place for our cadets to use. So, we are delighted that we’ll now have a modern base with classrooms and a drill hall and everything that we need to provide a fantastic Cadet Experience.”
Army cadet units in the region were given the go-ahead to re-open for in-person cadet training from Monday 26 April. But in Humberside and South Yorkshire Army Cadet Force, the resumption of face-to-face training for cadets was been deferred to ensure all adult volunteers had completed their mandatory training.
“Barton has traditionally been one of our strongest units,” said Major Tim Atkinson, Cadet Executive Officer of Humberside and South Yorkshire ACF.
“However, as the old cadet centre deteriorated, the decision was made not
to actively recruit until the replacement was ready. We have had lots of expressions of interest from young people around the area wanting to join the cadets. We are
all looking forward now to see our units, including Barton, expand as our normal training resumes.”
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