Page 28 - Cadet review Summer 2022

CEY Wing ATC
CADET FORCE MEDAL PRESENTATION
REVEALS UNUSUAL “OTHER OCCUPATION”
Warrant Officer Wayne Cobbett, Officer Commanding 886 (City of Ripon) Squadron was recently presented with his well-deserved Cadet Force Medal for completion of over 12 years’ service to the Air Cadets. During the conversation before and after the presentation he revealed that he is also involved in community work in Ripon with a very important role.
In his own words he tells the story of the "other job”!
I’m a former cadet, turned staff with a short period of time out of uniform as a Civilian Instructor. I quickly decided to go back into uniform and became an adult SNCO in 2007 and rose through the ranks to be appointed a Warrant Officer in 2018.
I’m currently OC 886 (City of Ripon) Squadron
and proud to lead the small, yet dedicated team
of staff on the squadron. Outside of the ATC, I’m a qualified and practicing Dental Technician at a small laboratory in Ripon making dental prosthetics for patients and clients all over the country.
I also have a unique role with Ripon City Council as one of the cities Hornblowers.
During my time with the Air Cadets as a member of staff I have trained as a Drill Instructor and assisted with many parades, staff and cadet training days and cadet competitions in Drill and Banner Drill around the Wing. I have also been involved
in shooting activities as a former short range conducting officer, first aid and leadership training for cadets of the squadron and wider wing.
More recently, I took command of the squadron in May 2019 and have focused my efforts in ensuring we provide as many opportunities for our cadets as possible.
Hornblowing
I have been in post as a Ripon City Hornblower for 9 years and still enjoy every ceremony. My role is to ensure the night ceremony of “Setting the Watch” is performed in the city’s market square around its 80ft obelisk, together with attending civic events.
Wayne Cobbett in Autumn ceremony –
Photographs courtesy of Alan Kaeemena
I perform the function as part of a team of four hornblowers to ensure that every night of the year, The Watch is Set.
Hornblowing Background
Legend has it that Ripon was gifted a horn by
Alfred the Great in 886AD. (hence the reason the ATC squadron picked its number when formed in 1984.)
The horn was used by its
night watchmen, known as
the Wakeman, to notify the
folk of the city they had started their watch duties at 9pm. This
is done with a blast of the horn
on each corner of the obelisk. The
Wayne Cobbett
second part of the ceremony is to find the Mayor of the city, sound a further
three blasts and inform he/she that “The Watch is Set”. The latter part has taken place since 1609, when the
office of Wakeman was replaced with the Mayor.
The ceremony has adapted over the many years, we even had to ‘work from home’ during the lockdowns by performing the duty in our gardens, but Ripon and its Hornblowers have ensured that the ancient ceremony has carried on for 1136 years.
Wayne Cobbett and The Right Worshipful
The Mayor of Ripon, Cllr Eamon Parkin
28 CADET REVIEW SPRING 2022