Page 31 - Cadet review Summer 2022

MIRFIELD AIR CADETS
ENJOY CHRISTMAS DINNER
- JUST A LITTLE DELAYED
For members of 868 (Mirfield) Squadron, it has become a tradition in recent years to hold a Christmas Dining-In Night as a closing feature of the year, and it was planned to resume this in December as Covid-19 restrictions were being relaxed – but the onset of the omicron variant imposed a further pause.
Nevertheless, on 1 February the situation had settled sufficiently for a dining-in night to go ahead: the men and boys donned their white shirts and bow-ties and the ladies and girls their evening dresses, with some staff wearing their formal mess kit, and a few full dinner suits were to be seen as well.
Special guest for the evening was Colonel David Fuller, Vice-Chairman (Cadets) of the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association for Yorkshire and the Humber, who is also a Deputy Lieutenant for the East Riding of Yorkshire.
The formalities of the occasion were started with grace, said by the Squadron Chaplain, Rev Christine Shedd, following which an excellent three course meal was served. When the time came for speeches there was a high-value sweepstake taken for how long the Squadron Commander, Flight Lieutenant Peter Doubell, would speak for and which was won by Corporal Matthew Devine.
In his speech, Flt Lt Doubell reflected on how the Squadron had coped during the various lockdown stages of the previous year and the plans for a return to something more normal in the way of activities and events for the coming year.
Overall, everybody had a good time at this first post-Covid social event; Flt Lt Doubell said “We try
We try hard to introduce the idea and formality of a service mess dinner in a way that is appropriate to cadets
hard to introduce the idea and formality of a service mess dinner in a way that is appropriate to cadets, and a menu they will feel comfortable with, and after all who doesn’t like a Christmas dinner! The evening has been a great success, so thanks to Tim and Carol Wood at The Old Colonial for providing the catering and venue for the fine meal, and to Mrs Doubell for organising the table layouts.”
CADET REVIEW SPRING 2022 31