Page 34 - Cadet Review Spring 2020

CEY Wing ATC
NATIONAL MARCHING BAND
By Flight Sergeant Rosie Gregson
Being a member of the National Marching Band of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets has many privileges, but this year the band got to partake in the Dreamflight event. This event offers children with terminal illnesses and life-limiting conditions an opportunity of a lifetime to go to Orlando, Florida, to visit Disneyland and other attractions.
On the Saturday evening, the band played lots
of fun music like 'How To Train Your Dragons', 'Avengers', 'Happy' - Pharrell Williams, and the 'Movies on the March' sets. These pieces got the children dancing, jumping and they were all able
to interact with the band, the Director of Music and the Drum Major while they were playing. Once they had finished playing, they put their instruments
away then they had a disco with all the children
and the staff who were going to be looking after the children while they were away. Doing this enabled the children to see the people behind the uniforms and the band were able to have a good time and have fun with them. This made them more comfortable with the musicians so they could interact with them on Sunday.
These pieces got the children dancing, jumping and they were all able to interact with the band
On the Sunday, the band travelled to Heathrow Airport to see the children off on their holiday of a lifetime. Some of the children came up to the band and the cadets and staff encouraged them to have
a go with the drums, cymbals and march with the band while we they playing. The band played each group of children onto the plane then waved them off when they set off down the runway.
FS Rosie Gregson from 252 (Bridlington) Sqn said: 'This was an amazing event and I am glad to be a part of it. This was definitely the
best event I have participated in
during my Cadet Career.'
34 CADET REVIEW SPRING 2020