Old Blue Military Event and CCF Inspection 4th October 2007
The Biennial Inspection this year was taken by Rear Admiral John Lippiett accompanied by his wife, Mrs Lippiett. The parade itself was very impressive, accompanied by the band, and at the last minute the clouds rolled back to give the best sunshine for many years. This year’s most outstanding cadet, Cadet Warrant Officer Angus Denton commanded the parade and at lunch was later presented with the first award of the Paddy Vincent Flying Scholarship which will enable him to gain his Private Pilot’s Licence over the next year.
The parade was slightly different from normal as several OBs from the Armed Forces had been invited to attend the inspection as our guests and then tour around the cadet activities in the afternoon. These activities included clay-pigeon shooting, various command tasks by Army and RAF, a drill presentation, and the Navy section rigged a jack-stay; this provided enormous amounts of fun for the cadets as they tested it out by winching each other between trees near Grecians West. Section officers were offered the chance to give it a go, but none was quite brave enough!
The afternoon was finished off by Admiral Lippiett and the Headmaster who both congratulated the CCF on their sterling performance, both in the parade and the activities, and praised the combined skills of selfreliance, team-work and leadership which are so central to the ethos of the CCF. Various of the OBs who attended were invited to speak at the tea in Court Room immediately after these speeches, notably Lieutenant Commander Harding who spoke about medical careers and the reserve forces, Group Captain Castle who spoke about RAF careers, especially in support and ground work, and Captain Peter Bugge of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators who spoke about civil aviation and the scholarships offered by the Guild. These were of great interest to the cadets, many of whom attended this voluntary session.
Flt Lt Taliska Stuart-Gordon, OC RAF Section cadet coordinator; ”The cadets do really appreciate the personal contact this provides and makes them feel that it is more than just a ceremonial event, where their year’s activities go on show to a far larger number of people.’
Page: 1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
