On Friday November 26th, 155 (Maidenhead) Squadron held their annual awards evening ar Cox Green Community centre. The guests of honour for the evening were
Wing Commander Chris Fisher, OC Thames Valley Wing and also members of the Burham branch of the RAFA who took part in the Battle of Britain. The following awards were presented
Best Probationer - Cdt Lorna Pulsford
The following cadets were also promoted, Cpl Margerison, Cpl Hardick & Cpl Pillow to Sgt. Cdt Barnes to Cpl.
All cadets in attendance also received a Cadet 150 commemorative coin to celebrate 150 years of the cadet movement.
Maidenhead Air Cadets take part in Royal Review
HRH The Prince of Wales took the salute at a Royal Review in the Mall to celebrate 150 years of the Cadet Forces in the UK on Tuesday 6 July. Amongst the 1500 cadets on parade were the Thames Valley Wing party consisting of cadets from 155 (Maidenhead) Squadron, 1861 (Wantage) squadron and 1460 (Banbury) Squadron. Flt Lt Paul Bennett, Cdt Sgt Adam Levy, Cdt Sgt Jordan Bunce, Cpl Sam Margerison and Cpl Lois Brown all from Maidenhead Squadron were the only representatives from Berkshire taking place in this prestigious event.
The event began with a parade practice at RAF Northolt on Monday 5th July, where cadets from all over the UK were organised into three squadrons along with the combined ATC and Corps banner in readiness for forming up at Horse Guards Parade for the march past.
Tuesday morning started with an interview on BBC radio Berkshire, then everyone headed to the Mall in central London in preparation for the parade to form up. As we approached Buckingham Palace, there were already hundreds of people lining the route and ensuring that they were in a prime spot for the parade. By Mid-day, all 1500 participants were assembled and started to form up in Horse Guards Parade and along Birdcage walk.
The Sea cadets lead off the parade towards the Mall, followed by the combined cadet force, army cadets and finally the Air Cadets. When the Air Cadet contingent were marching down the Mall, the Royal Air Force display team, the Red Arrows performed a flypast trailing Red, White and Blue smoke. Some cadets had been specially selected to fly in each of the Red Arrows Hawks as part of the celebrations.
The parade took the Royal salute from His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales outside Clarence House and then continued on past the Victoria monument and Buckingham palace. The parade continued past hundreds more people lining the route to towards Wellington Barracks.
At Wellington Barracks, the cadets were formed into a guard of honour and marched through the main gates of Buckingham palace and into the gardens for the Royal garden party. HRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, HRH The Earl of Wessex, TRH The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and HRH The Duke of Kent spent time meeting cadets and their guests as well as cadet forces Adult volunteers on the lawn of the palace.
The rest of the afternoon was a chance to relax, listen to the music from the Ghurka band and walk through the grounds of the palace.
The day was a fantastic celebration of the 150th anniversary of the cadet organisation and a day to remember for the cadets and staff who took part. The cadets of 155 (Maidenhead) Squadron are proud to have represented the Royal county of Berkshire at this unique event.
The Royal Review and garden party formed the centrepiece of Cadet150 celebrations taking place throughout 2010, marking 150 years of Cadet Forces in the UK. And the event pays tribute to 131,000 cadets and 25,000 adult volunteers who make up the Cadet Forces, and to those who have served in these organisations in the past.
2010 Squadron Awards
Best Cadet - Cdt Scott Tizzard
Best NCO - Cpl Max Hardick
Robinson Trophy for Endeavour - Cdt David Thorpe
Scholastic Achievement - Cdt Joshua Barnes
5 cadets from 155 Sqn have spent a week at the Royal International Air Tattoo. The week was a chance for cadets to see the airshow, work in the hospitality enclosures and public areas as well as look around the aircraft.
Some cadets helped at the Gala dinner and met the top ranking officers from the RAF, USAF, Royal Jordanian Air Force and also the Chinese Air Force amongst others.
They also had the opportunity to meet Paul Bonhomme, the current Red Bull Racing World Champion and former Cox Greem School pupil. He signed autographs and had his picture taken with them as well as gave them a tour of his new championship plane.
The cadets work to help the Royal Air Force Charitable trust and the week is attended by nearly 800 cadets and staff from all over the country.
Cdt Sgt Jordan Bunce was voted best cadet in his flight during the week. Other attendees were Cdt Sgt Adam Levy, Cdt Cpl James Pillow, Cdt Cpl Maxwell Hardick and Cdt Joshua Barnes.
RIAT 2010
