Page 32 - Cadet Review Summer 2021

FLASHBACK
Honour for Yeadon of Yeadon
Squadron Warrant Officer Wayne Yeadon of 2168 (Yeadon) Squadron, has been honoured in conjunction with the Queen’s Birthday Honours list by being awarded the personal Commendation for Meritorious Service by the Air Officer No 22 (Training) Group, Royal Air Force.
Warrant Officer Yeadon, a former cadet
at the Squadron, introduced an online learning facility for the cadets in conjunction with Benton Park School and brokered
a partnership with Bradford Bulls Rugby League Club, putting the cadets in the public eye with thousands of people and also led to sponsorship for the squadron’s website.
On receiving notification of the award, he said, “I was really surprised when I received the letter. I couldn’t believe it! I am really thrilled and proud to receive such a prestigious honour from the RAF”.
In a letter of congratulation, the Commandant of the Air Cadets, Air Commodore Ian Stewart, commented, “Your contribution to the Corps has been unique and you can, and should, be proud of the recognition that you have now so deservedly been given”.
Warrant Officer Yeadon is no stranger to awards. When he was a cadet, he became the first cadet from the squadron to be awarded the Air Officer Commanding Commendation for saving the life of a work colleague who was choking.
First published in the Autumn 2009 edition of the Cadet Review
Given that there has been a reduction in photographic and story opportu- nities the Editor decided to look through back copies of the Cadet Review and extract some interesting stories on events and people from 2009 onwards (unfortunately the electronic storage system for the first four years of the magazine succumbed to a disappearing trick and have not yet been located). With luck the publication again will bring a smile to the faces of those pictured and to all readers who recognise them.
Lt (SCC) Janice Spicer RNR Hull Unit –
TS Iron Duke
Joined in July 1968 – still serving
It was a warm evening in July 1968 and my pal Janet Barker and I were on our way to an open evening at our school, Thoresby High for girls. As we passed the Sea Cadet Unit, something we did every day, a lad was stood in the doorway in his uniform and asked us if we would like to join. Puzzled
we replied “but you don’t take girls”. He then told us that of that very night girls were to be allowed to join. We told him we couldn’t stay but “we’d be back”. We went off to our open night and told our mates what had happened.
The next parade night myself, Janet and about a dozen other girls were stood in front of the Commanding Officer wanting to join the Cadets,
at that time it was called the Girls Nautical Training Corps. We didn’t say anything about “the boys” being a bit of interest to us !!!
My dad said it would be “a one week wonder just like the brief time spent in the Girls Brigade and the Guides”, How wrong he could be. I stayed. My friends came and went but I stayed. I went on to join the staff, and have held many roles within the Unit; becoming Officer Commanding, TS Revenge, now TS Iron Duke, must be one of my highlights.
Now 42 years later (in July) I am still a member of the Sea Cadet Corps,
I have seen many changes, many cadets come and go, their children come and go, their grandchildren come and go. Many still keep in touch
with me and when they do turn up at the unit to visit I can very quickly find photographic evidence of their time as a member of Hull Sea Cadets. We have a laugh at the photos, reminisce of their time with us, and were they a good cadet, bad cadet??? . One or two have stayed with the Corps or come back later in life to be Instructors.
Unit staff when out and about around the city on various duties often get asked “is she still there? You know Janice Spicer; she was there when
I was a Cadet”. Many of the cadets often refer to me as “Cookie Ma’am” a reference to the fact that I Instruct Cook Steward. I am ok with that as I often use it myself anyway. In fact, as cadets go through their training with me they too are given a “cooks name”. We have had Soul Man, Dishy Washy, and Woolly Man to name a few.
When I was asked to put something together about my time with the Corps I was very reluctant but when I think back over the years it brings a smile to my face, I have some really good memories. Who knows how much longer I will be on staff; all I know is “The Corps is part of me and who I am”.
First published in the Summer 2010 edition of the Cadet Review
32 CADET REVIEW SUMMER 2021