From the Contingent Commander

2011 review...

The first Contingent event in the reporting period is Remembrance Sunday, an event our cadets have attended for many years. 2010 was the 150th Anniversary of the cadet movement and in honour of this, some of the traditional roles were re-allocated and we were invited to send a cadet to take part in the honour guard around Shaws Corner war memorial. Natasha Ayling and Gemma Grabham both volunteered, and had sessions of extra drill practice at Reigate Sea Cadet Corps in preparation. In the end Gemma had the honour of being chosen, and Natasha laid the wreath on behalf of the CCF.

On 1 to 6 April we had our Easter Adventurous Training Camp in North Wales. Cadet take-up for this was disappointingly low, but the five who wanted to attend were committed to the week away so we combined with the CCF of William Parker School, whose Contingent Commander is Col Keith Ellen, and took five cadets away to North Wales. We had a great time and a very full programme, in spite of the truly horrible wind and rain. Our accommodation in Jessie James Bunkhouse was basic but warm. Apart from the hiking and hill-walking we went mountain-biking and orienteering. We were very glad to welcome along Mr Paul Rosser to cater for us and to take a full part in all our activities, along with his son William.

By far the biggest and most important Contingent event was our Biennial Review Day on Friday 13 April. This was a large and complex event to organise and I am proud to report that the day passed without a hitch and everyone in the inspecting team was very impressed with all they saw. This event well deserves its own double-page spread which follows my piece here.

It is good to see cadets of the three Sections co-operating so well and being willing to promote the Contingent at such events as Open Morning and the Third Year Information Evening.

Before finishing, I must make my usual, but non-the-less heart-felt, list of thank-yous to everyone who has helped over the year. At the head of this list must go Major Peter Stephens, Flight Lieutenant Shanon Garcia and Sub-Lieutenant Stephen Surridge for running the three Sections. Unless you have run a Section you can have no idea how much work it is, or the vast number of things your respective service HQ can find to write and email to you about! Also I want to thank Lieutenant Steve Fairclough for all his help, especially with drill, and Messrs James Aiken, Paul Rosser and Miss Hannah Suchy who are all heading towards Army commissions. Flying Officer Rachel Robinson continues to help us in all sorts of ways and it is difficult to believe she is actually part-time now! Squadron Leader Neville Jones continues to give us invaluable assistance, not only on parades, but with weekend flying and annual camps too. In the RN Section I am very grateful for the assistance of Mr Martin Hallpike and Mr Roger Aggleton. If I have forgotten anyone, I hope this will be rectified in the Section reports. One person I cannot forget to thank is our SSI who works amazingly hard and is very much the mainspring of the Contingent, a tireless and enthusiastic help to me and so well respected and liked by the cadets.