Following on from a meeting with the Squadrons local Member of Parliament, Kris Hopkins MP earlier in the year, the Squadron was invited down to London on Wednesday 4th September 2013.
The day started bright and early as a party of 10 cadets and staff departed Ilkley at 0600 for London, with our first stop being RAF Northolt to leave the minibus before getting the London Underground into the city centre.
The first stop of the day was the Houses of Parliament where the cadets were given a tour round the buildings including visiting the House of Lords and the Queens Robing Room and taught about the vast history of the Palace of Westminster.
The Cadets and Staff with Kris Hopkins MP
Following on from lunch the Squadron met with Mr Hopkins and were escorted to the Ministry of Defence where the cadets were introduced to The Rt Hon Andrew Robathan MP, The Minister of State for the Armed Forces along with Lt Col Andrew Watkins of the Royal Marines and Wing Commander James Beck RAF who has been selected to be the Commanding Officer of the first RAF F-35B Lightning II Squadron.
Following on from the MoD visit the cadets were given the shock announcement that permission had been granted for them to go to Downing Street to have their photo taken outside of No.10!
The Cadets and Staff outside No.10.
After leaving No.10 the cadets were escorted back to the River Thames where they laid a wreath at the Battle of Britain Memorial before saying goodbye to Mr Hopkins MP.
Cadet Sergeant Jørgen Moore laying a wreath at the Battle of Britain Memorial
The cadets then went on a walk round the sights of London, visiting Horse Guards Parade, Trafalgar Square, The Mall. Buckingham Palace and Green park before laying another wreath at the Bomber Command Memorial.
Cadet Michael Palmer laying a wreath at the Bomber Command Memorial
By this time it was starting the get late so the cadets made their way through Hyde Park before getting the Tube back to Northolt for the long journey back home.
Both the cadets and the staff had a fantastic time on the trip and without the fantastic assistance from Mr Hopkins MP and his office staff none of this would have been possible!
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