Air Cadets from 233 (Pershore) Squadron, Air Training Corps, attended the squadron annual awards night at Pershore Working Men’s Club. The cadets were awarded with different awards that they had worked towards during the past twelve months.
Special guest of honour for the awards night was Squadron Leader John Peters MBA BSc (Hons) MRAeS RAF Rtd who came to the world’s attention in 1991 when his bruised and battered face was flashed onto television screens around the world. On the first day of the Gulf War, a British Tornado Bomber crewed by John Peters and John Nichol was shot down over Iraq territory and the two men were captured. After four days of mental and physical torture, they were forcibly shown on Iraq television. It was John Peters disfigured image that became who we know today.
The cadets were presented with a variety of awards by John Peters. Seven new cadets were also enrolled into the Air Training Corps by the Squadron Padre Ron Hesketh. This is where cadets make a promise to the Corps. The Awards included first class, Leading, senior classification badges and staff cadet lanyards, Bronze Duke of Edinburgh awards and other certificates. These were presented by our Guest of honor John Peters. The main awards presented were The Marksman Trophy to Cadet Stoyan Kostadinov, The Adventure Training Trophy to Cadet Corporal Alex Wilkes, Best New Cadet Trophy to Cadet Ian Hastead, and The Charles Knott Trophy for BTEC to Cadet Corporal Charlie England, and The Adastral Trophy to Cadet Corporal Adam Stockford. Best All Round Cadet Award to Cadet Ben Ricketts. All of these awards were presented by John Peters. He also gave the award winners a signed copy of his best-selling book ‘Tornado Down’. The evening was attended by cadet’s parents, family and friends, members of The Royal British Legion and The Royal British Legion Women’s Section. Also in attendance were Squadron Leader Neville Billingham and Squadron Leader Bill Hoe, Wing Staff Officers from West Mercain Wing.
Flight Lieutenant Andrew Smith Commanding Officer of 233 (Pershore) Squadron said, ‘the cadet’s achievements are fantastic. It was great honour to have John Peters to present our awards. He was a great inspiration to all of them’.
Pershore Air Cadets Win Worcestershire
Airman’s Trophy
233 (Pershore) squadron has recently been presented with Worcestershire Airman’s Trophy for top Air Cadet Squadron in Worcestershire for 2008. Wing Commander Peppe D’Anna Officer Commanding West Mercian Wing Air Training Corps presented the trophy to Flight Lieutenant Andrew Smith Officer Commanding 233 (Pershore) Squadron. Following on from this award the squadron had a further inspection with the Officer Commanding, Deputy Officer Commanding, and Wing Administration Officer and has been selected as the Top Squadron in West Mercian Wing and has been put forward as West Mercian Wing Lees and Morris Trophy nomination. This means Pershore Air Cadets is currently one of the top 36 squadrons out of 1,000 squadrons in the UK. The Lees and Morris Trophy Competition is designed to find the top Air Cadet Squadron in the UK through a series of inspections at Wing, Regional, and National Level. The squadron has its Regional Inspection in April, which will be conducted by the Wales and West Regional Commandant, Group Captain D Allen FRAeS RAFR and Squadron Leader C Dziuba RAFR.
Air Cadets arrange War Graves Parade
Pershore Air Cadets organised the annual War Graves parade at Pershore cemetery on Sunday 14th December 2008. The ceremony originates back to Christmas morning 1940 when members of the Pershore Youth Fellowship placed a wreath on the grave of each serviceman in Pershore Cemetery. This simple act of remembrance is perpetuated by members of local uniformed youth organisations placing poppy crosses on service graves.
The following organisations participated in the parade:- Pershore Air Cadets, Evesham Sea Cadets and Pershore St Johns Ambulance, Royal British Legion, Royal British Legion Women’s Section, Pershore Mayor and Mayoress.
Air Cadets glide to new heights
Air Cadets from 233 (Pershore) Squadron, Air Training Corps, recently attended Little Rissington on the Cotswold borders, which is home to No.637 Gliding School taking part in regular gliding schedules that the squadron is allocated. Three of the cadets were first time gliders to the skies over Little Rissington. Cadet Ian Hastead said, ‘‘It was a fantastic opportunity to do and pleased that he was selected to go’’. The cadets are given a twenty - five minute flight over the skies of Little Rissington where they are given the opportunity by the pilot to take control of the glider doing different levels of skills.
Pershore Air Cadet receives Trophy for Best Cadet
Cadet Corporal Adam Stockford from 233 (Pershore) Squadron, Air Training Corps, attended the 80th Royal British Legion annual dinner at the Railway Inn in Defford on Sunday 12th October 2008. The dinner was attended by the guest of honour Worcestershire’s Royal British Legion County Secretary Mr Shaun McCarthy , members of the Royal British Legion, The Royal British Legion Women’s section, Flight Lieutenant Andrew Smith 233 (Pershore) Squadron Commanding Officer and Mr. and Mrs. Stockford.
The Adastral Trophy for best cadet and Certificate was awarded to Cadet Corporal Adam Stockford at the dinner by Ken Jeffries the youth officer for Pershore Royal British Legion. Said, ‘‘how good it was to see the youth of today being part of the Air Cadets in Pershore. It is good for us to have the close connections with the Air Cadet Group because they are the youth of tomorrow’’.
Air Cadets get a new additional building
Air Cadets from 233 (Pershore) Squadron, Air Training Corps, have just taken receipt of their new additional cadet building. Wing Commander Malcolm Lloyd who is Commanding Officer of West Mercian Wing officially opened the building on Friday 19th September 2008. Canon Eric Knowles delivered the service and dedication of the two new classrooms. The rooms will be used for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and Fieldcraft training, which is part of the Air Training Corps Syllabus. Cadet’s parents, family and friends, members of The Royal British Legion and The Royal British Legion Women’s Section, attended the evening. Also in attendance were Squadron Leader Neville Billingham, Wing Chairman Fred Gorman and staff from Gloucester RAF Careers.
Flight Lieutenant Andrew Smith Commanding Officer 233 (Pershore) Squadron said, ‘what a fantastic new facility that the squadron now has, which will be used by cadets to further their training’.
Air Cadets bring home Bronze Medals
Five Air Cadets from 233 (Pershore) Squadron, Air Training Corps, recently attended RAF Cosford, for the annual swimming competition. The cadets took part in a range of swimming strokes including freestyle, backstroke breaststroke and the individual Medley. Two of the cadets from the unit came back with medals. Cadet Corporal Ben Punchard achieved Bronze in the Breaststroke and Cadet Corporal Charlie England achieved Bronze in the Individual Medley. Both cadets swam extremely well under some strong competition from other squadrons. The squadron takes part in a range of sporting activities and sporting competitions throughout the year.
Air Cadet gets top prize in RAF competition
Three Air Cadets from 233 (Pershore) Squadron, Air Training Corps, have just taken part in a poster competition with the RAF Careers office in Gloucester. The aim of the competition was to design a poster to help the RAF Careers office promote the RAF to new recruits. The squadron was lucky enough to get the top three places in the competition, which was opened to squadrons in the careers, office area. First Prize went to Cadet Stoyan Kostadinov who was presented with a RAF branded Ipod Nano. The two runners up were Cadet Corporal Adam Stockford and Cadet Corporal Ben Punchard who each received a branded RAF Maglite.
Flight Lieutenant Andrew Smith Commanding Officer 233 (Pershore) Squadron said, ‘I’m really pleased that three of 233 (Pershore) Squadrons cadets have come top in this important competition to help recruit new people to the RAF’
Air Cadets help with Race for Life Evesham
Air Cadets and Staff from 233 (Pershore) Squadron, Air Training Corps, recently turned out to support Cancer Research UK Race for Life in Evesham. The event was attended by one thousand two hundred ladies of all age groups. The course was 5km and all participants did extremely well.
Cadet duties on the day included helping to set up the start and finish area, hand out one thousand two hundred bottles of water, along with the goodie bags and the medals to all the participants in the race. As the first participants began to arrive, the course was finished, manned and ready to go. After a warm up session the Cadets then helped separate the walkers and runners and escorted them to the start line.
Flight Lieutenant Andrew Smith Commanding Officer 233 (Pershore) Squadron said, ‘The cadets and staff worked extremely hard assisting with the event on the day. It was good for the squadron to be able help such a good cause. It was a great team effort and I was very proud of them all.” Event organiser for Cancer Research UK, Rebecca Leach added: “This event couldn't have happened without Pershore Air cadets support’’.
Keep watching for more news............
