Wharfedale Cadets play for QAIC Graduation

by Cadet Sergeant Kjersti Moore

On the 26th of March Sergeants Kjersti (flute) and Jørgen Moore (drum kit) and Corporals Tom Hepworth (Alto Sax) and Samuel Shaw (Clarinet) from 1224 Wharfedale Sqn were invited to play as part of a new North Region Mess Band for the QAIC graduation dinner at RAF Linton-On-Ouse. We arrived at Linton at 10am and spent the whole day rehearsing brand new mess band music and a few old favourites including Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines, a QAIC favourite. During the day we also got the chance to meet some of the distinguished guests attending the dinner as they arrived on base including Commandant Air Cadets, Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty who wished us luck with the performance. The band consisted of 11 cadets (including some from 1324, 740 and 58 Squadrons in C&E Yorkshire Wing), CI Adam Waudby (C&E Yorks Wing Bandmaster) and of course the Region Music Officer Ft Lt Max Puller who worked hard all day to make sure we were fully prepared for the performance. This was the first time this group of cadets had come together to form a band, many meeting each other for the first time so the pressure was on but all played well and the music was well received by the guests.

 

Photo courtesy of CI Adam Waudby

Wharfedale Celebrate Night of Success

By Sgt (ATC) Sam White

On Saturday 16th March 2013, 1224 (Wharfedale) Squadron once again held their Annual Dinner & Presentation Evening at the Kings Hall in Ilkley.
Once again attended by a host of guests including Deputy OC Central & East Yorkshire Wing, Squadron Leader Ayre and his wife, Her Majesty’s Deputy Lord Lieutenant for West Yorkshire, Mr Roger Whittaker and his wife Elizabeth and Air Commodore (rtd) Colin Smith and Squadron Leader John Hitchen, Sector 5 Commander.

The evening started with the presentation of various certificates to the cadets by Air Commodore Smith and Squadron Leader Hitchen. Certificates included those gained for completing classifications, completing  Gliding Scholarships, Heartstart certificates and a Certificate of Appointment to Cadet Warrant Officer Tom Smith.

There was also a presentation to the newest member of uniformed staff on the Squadron, Sergeant (ATC) Sam White of a Distinction in his Music BTEC, a qualification gained whilst he was a cadet.

Following the presentations four well deserved promotions were made:

To Corporal:
Cadet Tom Hepworth and Cadet Samuel David Shaw 
To Sergeant:
Corporal Callum Parker and Corporal Karl Verspyck

There was also once more promotion but not for a cadet - Sergeant (ATC) Andy Porter was promoted to Flight Sergeant (ATC).

Grace was then said by Cadet Warrant Officer Smith before the guests began on their three course dinner.

Following the excellent dinner it was time for the presentation of awards, this year instead of getting one guest to present all of the awards it was decided that each award was to be presented by an ex-Cadet of the Squadron.

The Best Attendance Trophy was awarded to Cadet Aiden Holmes and was presented by ex-Cadet Sergant, Mrs Olivia Terri Mann.

The West Riding Wing cup for Sport was awarded to Sergeant Karl Verspyck who had completed a Junior Sports Leader Course and a Pool Lifeguards Course during the year. The award was presented by Officer Cadet Tomos St. John who is currently studying Aeronautical Engineering at the University of Liverpool.

The Inter-Flight trophy was awarded for the third year in a row and was collected by B Flight Commander FS Jamie Partovi and Sgt Jorgen Moore. The award was presented by the Squadron President Mr David Houliston and Sqn Ldr Ayre. Mr Houliston was presented with a Air Cadet Certificate of Meritorious Service in recognition of his almost 40-year connection with the Squadron.

The Warrant Officers Cup for the best turned-out NCO was won by Corporal Callum Parker and the Warrant Officers Trophy for best turned-out cadet was Cadet Callum Carslaw. Both awards were presented by Marine Ryan Womersley.

The White Rose Trophy for the new cadet who shows the most potential as a marksman was awarded to Cadet Laura Pennington.

The Ian Clarke Memorial Trophy for community service was won by Cadet Samuel Paul Shaw and was awarded by SAC Alex Chambers, currently serving as an Aircraft Technician on a fleet of brand new Typhoon aircraft at RAF Leuchars.

The Best New Cadet award was won by Cadet Hannah Mayfield and was presented by Corporal Michael Brooksbank, currently serving as an IT Technician at RAF Coningsby.

The Tesco Trophy for Best Intermediate Cadet was won by Cadet Samuel Paul Shaw and was presented by Mr Jonathon Rayner, who currently owns and runs a helicopter business based in Liverpool, Caernarfon and Monaco.

The Millennium Trophy for Best Senior Cadet was won by Cpl Callum Parker. The award was presented by Sgt Matthew Wrigglesworth, currently an Aerospace Battle Manager at RAF Boulmer.

The David Stead Memorial Trophy for Cadet of the Year was won by Sergeant Jorgen Moore and was awarded by Sgt Rob Wood who is currently with 90 Signals Unit at RAF Leeming.

The Commanding Officers Cup was awarded by Squadron Leader Hitchen (ex-OC 1224) to Sergeant Kjersti Moore.

The The Royal Air Forces Association Airedale and Wharfedale Salver were awarded to Cadet Samuel Paul Shaw by Flt Lt Simon Coates, OC 264 (Skipton) Squadron and member of Skipton RAFA.

A new award was presented during the Evening for Best Percussionist which went to Cadet Bailey Ryan whilst the Bandsman of the Year rtrophy was awarded to Corporal Tom Hepworth. Both awards were presented by North Region Music Officer, Flight Lieutenant Max Puller.

During the evening the Squadrons band played various songs including 1224, The Great Escape, The Air Cadet March, I Dreamed A Dream, Forget You (Cee-Lo Green cover), Clocks (Coldplay cover), Feeling Good, Holyrood.

Overall the night was enjoyed by all!

Videos from the night can be viewed on the Squadrons YouTube Channel.

Boscome Down Summer Camp

by Cadet Robyn Chambers

The Boscombe Down camp took place during the summer in 2012, t was about a 7 hour coach journey from York! 

Around 4 people from different squadrons in the Wing go on summer camps so it is a really good way to meet new cadets from other Squadrons. 

The camp lasted for 1 week and was filled with many fun activities such as visiting different museums such as aircraft museums and war museums, it was really good fun. 

We did activities during the time spent at the museum like questionnaires, and where you have to find certain things around the museum. We got points for our flights for doing this. 

Drill was also a main part of the camp but don’t let that put you off, as well as normal drill and formal inspection we did comedy drill, which was a competition between the two flights. 

We also did sport throughout the week on the courts provided on camp, which included basketball, netball, and running and fitness tests of all kinds. We also did the basic swimming qualification, which put our skills to the test.

We also went flying; it was an amazing experience and my highlight of the camp. 

During the evening fun activities were planned such as laser tag, and a fun night exercise which put, confidence, leadership, first aid and teamwork skills to the test! There were three challenges to do over a period of time that had to be completed within your team; they were really fun and challenging and by far the best night activity that was planned. 

On the last day we had a relaxed time as we went into town and shopped and then afterwards had our camp disco where a nearby squadron joined us for an evening of games and music and sports - if we wanted. 

When we went on daily events a packed lunch was provided, breakfasts and dinner were in a big hall where you could talk to your friends and catch up with them. Food was lovely and different every day but it was always tasty and satisfying. 

It was an amazing camp that I would highly recommend as a summer camp to go on!

North Region Musical Development Weekend

by Cadet Tom Hepworth

 

On the evening of Friday 25^th of January, we left squadron, mid-blizzard, to head to RAF Linton-on-Ouse for the first ever North Region Musical Development Weekend.  The aims of the weekend were to gain skills and knowledge in band management, conducting and band discipline.

We arrived late Friday evening for the course, due to the adverse weather there was a lot of delay fetching cadets from York train station and so no activities (apart from the briefing) took place that evening.

The next morning, we awoke bright and early for breakfast in the officers’ mess, which was great! Then it was straight into our first lecture, icebreakers. We learnt why it was important to know your fellow band members well and were taught some exercises to help with this.

That afternoon we had an hour of snow craft! With a competition for the best snowman,  the winners were a group of three girls who made snow dogs, (but obviously the 1224 snowman was the real winner).

We then learnt conducting skills from Flt Lt Puller, before getting chance to try out our new skills on the band.

Overall I though I learnt a lot from this weekend, and would recommended it to any cadet wishing to improve their musical skills and help to start/run a squadron band. It was a really good experience.