Page 30 - Cadet Review Spring 2020

SWY Wing ATC
MIRFIELD AIR CADETS’ CHRISTMAS PRESENTATION EVENING
Friday 13th may be unlucky for some, but for cadets at 868 (Mirfield) Squadron it was a lucky time. Cadets, parents and friends, staff and committee and invited guests gathered at Christ the King Church on Stocks Bank Road in Battyeford, to celebrate the successes and achievements of the second half of 2019, and there was a lot to celebrate!
The principal guests for the evening was Mr Ed Anderson, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, and Wing Commander Paul Hotston OBE, Training Officer from Headquarters Air Cadets at RAF Cranwell; they were also joined by Councillor Martyn Bolt, Mayor of Mirfield.
The Squadron band, fully equipped with new instruments, provided a stirring introduction to the proceedings, and then the Squadron Chaplain, Rev’d Christine Shedd conducted the formal enrolment of 6 new cadets.
The Squadron Commander, Flight Lieutenant Peter Doubell, welcomed everybody to the proceedings and made a short opening address focusing on how very busy the Squadron had been throughout 2019, typified by one weekend which saw participation in
• Blue Wings Gliding and Ground School course at RAF Topcliffe
• Collections for the Royal Air Force Association Wing Appeal
• Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Expedition
• Junior NCO Course at South and West
Yorkshire Wing HQ
• Battle of Britain Parade in Batley
• Canal boat trip with afternoon tea for
Committee and friends
He also reflected on the success cadets had
The Squadron band, fully equipped with new instruments, provided
a stirring introduction
in both First Aid, reaching the Air Training Corps National Finals and gaining three individual
bronze medals at that level, and winning the Wing percussion section of the South and West Yorkshire Wing band competition.
Wg Cdr Hotston then took the stage to present certificates, and in all there were over 160 certificates to be presented to cadets plus adult staff, including:
• Recognition of 4 Blue, 2 Bronze, 4 Silver and 1 Gold D of E Awards
• 31 certificates representing academic progress through the Corps’ classification programme, plus an additional four for BTEC level 2 Diploma in Teamwork and Personal Development
• 24 Aviation certificates, comprising 7 First Flight, 4 Ground School, 10 Blue Wings and 3 Bronze Wings
30 CADET REVIEW SPRING 2020
Pictures courtesy of JLC Visuals