Page 31 - Cadet Review Summer 2023

SCUNTHORPE MP VISITS HER LOCAL AIR CADET UNIT
By Flight Lieutenant Nigel Price
On 9 February 2023, 119 (Scunthorpe) Squadron held an open evening with a difference.
In addition to inviting and entertaining prospective new cadets and their parent/guardians, we also had the honour of welcoming Holly Mumby-Croft MP, Member of Parliament for Scunthorpe.
Holly had met members of the Squadron previously at the opening of the Hibaldstow Airfield Memorial and Visitor Centre in September 2022, where she informed us that her husband was an Ex Air Cadet and she would like to visit the Squadron at a later date to meet the staff and cadets.
Early in 2023 we received an email from Holly Mumby-Croft’s office, informing us that she would be available to visit the Squadron on 9 February; this coincided with our open night, a great opportunity for her to see the Squadron and meet the cadets and staff.
With the right authorisation in place the visit was on.
On the evening, prospective cadets, their parents and Holly sat through a presentation about what it
is like to be an Air Cadet from the Squadron OC Flt
Lt (RAFAC)Nigel Price, before going to meet cadets and see their various stands, where the cadets could show off their skills and achievements.
The cadet display stands were located in the Army Reserve Centre Main Hall. This part of the evening gave Holly a chance to speak to the Squadron staff and cadets, including a long chat with Cadet Luke Cryer who showed his presentation about what
it’s like to be a cadet, with photographs of not only his cadet career, but his interest in aviation and the various trips he has been on.
Luke said; “I was tasked on the open night to talk to new cadets and the MP of my town about the experiences of being on a camp. I talked about my first ever camp experience at RAF Waddington. This consisted of me telling the new cadets how we are treated on camp and how I felt like I was RAF personnel for a week. I also talked to them about the squadron briefings we were given on camp and how the pilots went in depth to tell us about their aircraft and their squadron backgrounds.
After I spoke to the new cadets the MP visited my table of camp related items and asked what I was showing the new cadets. I showed her through my presentation of camp photos and information. I was
I was tasked on the open night to talk to new cadets and the MP
of my town about the experiences of being on a camp
then praised by my Warrant Officer of my squadron on the presentation as he was there on the camp which was in the presentation. A couple of weeks went by and one parade night my Commanding Officer read out a letter wrote by Holly Mumby-Croft on how she was pleased with the open night experience and my name was mentioned to be praised for my intriguing presentation.”
Holly also met Cadet Ollie Blyth who gave a demonstration of how to use our flight simulator; Holly had to admit whilst she enjoyed trying out the sim, it was harder that it looked.
At the end of the evening, we held a short graduation ceremony for our last training flight, where the invited guests had the opportunity to see them receive their first-class badges and certificates.
Holly Mumby-Croft MP meets Cadet Layton Maclean at former RAF Base Hibaldstow
Holly Mumby-Croft with the Training Flight and Flt Lt Nigel Price, after the cadets had been presented with their first class cadet badges and certificates
CADET REVIEW SUMMER 2023 31