Central and East Region Archive for  Jan 2005

Alistair Burt MP opens Staff Recruitment Campaign

On the evening of Thursday 27 January 2005, Alistair Burt, Member of Parliament for North Bedfordshire,  agreed to promote and open Beds & Cambs Wing Staff Recruitment Campaign at 22 (Sandy) Squadron.

Pictured right with Flight Lieutenant Margaret Bell OC 22 (Sandy) Sqn and Wing CCO, Alistair Burt spent the evening reviewing the recruitment programme, discussing at length the overall staffing needs of the Corps, meeting the current staff, touring the unit and informally meeting the cadets. 

Over coffee and soft drinks, Mr Burt spent some considerably time exploring why the cadets had joined, what they personally got out of the Air Cadets, and what the individual cadets friends thought about their participation in a uniformed organisation. Alistair also shared with the cadets his own personal positive experiences with his school CCF unit.  

Mr Burt concluded the evening by committing to promote the staff recruiting campaign and assisting wherever possible with its aims and objectives. 

by Sqn Ldr Alan Wiggins RAF VR(T) C&E Region CCO

28 Jan 2005                                                      <Back to top of page

Cambridge Air Cadet is the best

Cadet Flight Sergeant Oliver Dewey of 104 (City of Cambridge) Sqn has been named the best male cadet in the Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Wing of the Air Cadets. He will receive the Nolan Cup during the Beds & Cambs Wing annual parade of the Wing in June.

Following a series of interviews by senior staff in the Wing, he was judged to be the best from a short-list of 8 by a panel that included the Officer Commanding Beds and Cambs Wing, Wing Commander Paul Bower.

Flight Sergeant Oliver Dewey is pictured left receiving the Crowley-Milling Trophy for outstanding personal achievement from Air Chief Marshal Sir Brian Burridge, Commander-in-Chief RAF Strike Command at 104 Sqn awards night in December 2004.

Following the interview, Oliver said that he wasn’t really sure how well he had done but he knew that he had impressed the board members with a couple of his answers. On being told that he was to be awarded the Nolan Cup his delight was obvious “Oh Wow” was quickly followed by “That’s amazing… Brilliant”.

Flight Sergeant Dewey, who will be 18 in March, has certainly worked hard with 104 Squadron, since joining as a cadet on his 13th Birthday. From the start he was very committed to his work with the Air Cadets and has always had his sights firmly on a career in the Royal Air Force.

In 2004 he received a glowing report following his attendance on a Joint Services, Cadet Leadership Course at Frimley Park and this was followed by the completion of the gruelling 100 mile Nijmegen March in Holland.

Officer Commanding 104 (City of Cambridge) Sqn, Flight Lieutenant Richard Slack said “I am delighted that Oliver has been selected for this award by the Wing. His work within the Squadron has really been impressive and he has taken every opportunity that presented itself to him. In the background, he has also been working away at his A level studies, so this makes the award extra special”

by Flt. Lt Richard Slack RAF VR(T) OC 104 (City of Cambridge) Sqn - Beds & Cambs Wing

26 Jan 2005                                                                                                                                                      <Back to top of page

Central & East Region success at Corps Cross Country

Following a series of close fought races in very cold but dry conditions on Saturday 22nd January 2005 at RAF College Cranwell,  Central & East Region were again successful in retaining the overall Air Cadet cross country trophy. Due to the spread of places achieved by the individual region teams, the results of the overall competition were not known until the final presentation, the amassed points proving that close. However, Central & East retained the overall trophy having been placed first in the U15 girls and U17 men and receiving the individual team trophies for the Junior Women and Junior Men.

by Sqn Ldr A Wiggins RAF VR(T) C&E Region CCO

23 Jan 2005                                                      <Back to top of page

Wendy Truman awarded the MBE 

On 9th December 2004, Sqn Ldr Wendy Truman RAF VR(T) attended an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace where she was awarded the MBE for her services to the Air Training Corps.

Wendy, the Central & East Region Physical Education Officer has devoted her spare time and energies into promoting the sporting side of the Air Cadets, causing Central & East Region to have one of the foremost sporting teams in the Corps. This has resulted in the Central & East Region being awarded the Terry Ayres Trophy for the most successful Region at sporting events in the Corps, for the third successive year (see an article on this event in the 2004 news archive pages).  

by Sqn Ldr A Wiggins RAF VR(T) C&E Region CCO

15 Jan 2005                                                                                                                         <Back to top of page

> Go to 2004 Archive