Page 19 - Cadet Review Autumn 2022

AIR CADETS ON
DISPLAY AT MIRFIELD
AGRICULTURAL SHOW
Although very much a local event, with primarily “home-grown” talent (in the case of the vegetable competitions quite literally), Mirfield Agricultural Show typically attracts an audience in excess of 8000 visitors each year. So, after a three-year gap imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, it was a great relief for the local community to have ‘their’ show back in the calendar.
868 (Mirfield) Squadron Air Cadets have been a regular feature of the show since the current format for the show was established in 1995, and at 0730 on a warm and sunny Sunday near the end of August the advance party from the Squadron arrived at the showground to set up their stall for the day, with added attractions for younger people: dressing-up in a flying suit and helmet and face painting with a difference – in camouflage!
The show comprises a wide variety of other attractions including horse and dog shows, vegetable and baking competitions, birds of prey, and is primarily a showcase for local talent, such as the Katie Philpott School of Dance and the Grange
Moor Brass Band. There are other invited displays, including the Stannage Stunt Team who perform stunts such as Motorbike Jumps, Fire Runs, High Falls, Flaming High Dives and Quad Stunts. A plus-point was success for Squadron Leader Felicia Nordoff in winning 2nd place for her jam entry and, in the dog show, her dog Sirius gaining rosettes for 4th
Cadets and Flt Lt Doubell pose in front of the Air Cadet stand
place in Working Dogs and 6th in Most Handsome Dog competitions.
Together with the Squadron stall there were more than 60 trade stands and craft stalls around the showground, including the Royal British Legion and the Royal Air Force Association
The cadet involvement was not just as a static stall, as a lead-in to the formal opening of the event at noon, the Mirfield Cadets display team entered
the main arena for their part in the displays, to great applause from the crowds. Towards the end of the arena events, and just after the final of the ever-pop- ular Mirfield Show Tug-of-War, the cadets re-entered with a repeat performance, prior to the tug-of-war finals and closing speech to bring the formalities to
a close.
After the show, the cadets’ squadron commander, Flight Lieutenant Peter Doubell, commented “The cadets put on a good show in the Arena for both
the formal opening and closing of the event, a great credit to themselves and the Squadron. Mirfield Show is one of the biggest public events in the
local calendar, and it is always an honour for us to perform, and for such a large audience - this really helps to bring the light blue uniform to the public’s attention. We have also had a large number of enquiries about joining as a cadet, so in all respects today has been very successful.”
Cadets on display in the main arena
CADET REVIEW AUTUMN 2022 19