1224 at the National Air Cadet Band Championships 2013

 1224 (Wharfedale) Squadron are no strangers to the National Air Cadet Band Championships having taken part in the ensemble section in both 2009 (placing second) and 2011 (placing first).

The ensemble section of the Squadron's band - FS Kjersti Moore (19),  Sgt Jørgen Moore (17), Corporals Daniel Chivers (15), Tom Hepworth (15), Sam Shaw (15) and Cadets Hannah Mayfield (16), Sam Shaw (16) and Helen Yeadon (15) along with Cpl Joanna Kelly from 264 (Skipton) Squadron travelled with other cadets and staff from Central & East Yorkshire Wing down to RAF Halton to take part in the championships.

The band played a medley of For Good (from the musical Wicked) - With lead vocals from FS Moore, Man In The Mirror (Michael Jackson), Forget You (a Cee-Lo Green song) and Party Rock Anthem (LMFAO).

The cadets with Air Commodore McCafferty

The routine went down very well with the crowd with Commandant Air Cadets, Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty coming over to speak to the band after the performance!

In the end in the band were awarded a very good second place and went back home in high spirits.

Flt Lt Sue Leighton, OC 1224 said "Ensemble team were excellent. Congratulations to Central and East Yorkshire team for a brilliant performance.".

Flt Lt Max Puller, North Region Music Officer - "Congratulations to 1224 (Wharfedale) Squadron for their excellent performance in yesterday's Corps Band Competitions. They were awarded 2nd place in Ensemble, which was a category as impressive in its variety as its quality. Well done to all involved!"

From Wing Commander Wiggins, OC C&E Yorks Wing - "Well done to all C&E Yorks team at ACO band competition. Some great success & placings"

Wharfedale in Remembrance 2013

On Remembrance Sunday in 2013, 1224 (Wharfedale) Squadron took part in various parades and services in the local area.

The first event took place in the town of Addingham where a church service was followed by a parade led by the Squadrons band to the memorial in the town. Here the Last Post and Reveille were played excellently by Cadet Sam Shaw. A wreath was also laid here by Cadet Warrant Officer Tom Smith on his last Remembrance day as a cadet.

Following the Addingham parade the Squadron made its way to the Abbeyfield Care Home where an excellent lunch was provided for the cadets and staff by the Squadrons Civilian Committee. At Abbeyfield the band played a few pieces of music for the residents of the care home before setting off for the Ilkley parade.

The Ilkley parade was in a slightly different format than in previous years and set off from the Town Hall to the Memorial Gardens led by the band. The Squadron were also joined for this parade by the OC Central & East Yorkshire Wing, Wing Commander Wiggins.

The service at the Ilkley Memorial gardens was host to a number of dignitaries who paid their respects and the Squadrons wreath here was laid by one of the Squadrons newest members, Cadet Isla Lury. The Last Post and Reveille were also played by Cadet Sam Shaw here. Cadet Callum Carslaw also played a Lament on the bagpipes.

Overall it was another excellent parade by the Squadron who definitely did themselves proud!

From Wing Commander Wiggins - 'Just a quick note to say thank you for your hospitality and the invitation to attend as part of your Sqn Remembrance Parade.

It is only as part of the organisation at grass routes level that you really appreciate the time and commitment by staff and cadets to support these local events and the pivotal part units play. 1224 Sqn made a significant contribution with the band and cadets on parade. Please pass on my sincere thanks to all for their willingness to be on parade. The individual cadets performing with pipes and bugle did a great job despite the cool conditions and the spectacle of the occasion.

It was a pleasure to join with you today and would request you pass on my thanks to all at 1224 for the opportunity.'

From Pat Bateman, Vicar at All Saints Church Ilkley - 'The contribution of your squadron was excellent and very much added to the Ilkley remembrance parade.'

RAF Akrotiri October 2013 Camp Report

By Sgt Karl Verspyck

I was lucky enough to be offered a place on the Autumn Camp to Akrotiri in Cyprus. I started my journey at York Station where I met the other 5 cadets from my wing. We met up with the whole 46 cadets at Heathrow for our flight out to Cyprus. We arrived at the base late at night and we were all tired so we went to bed for an early start in the morning. 

Friday: We all got ready in DPM’s for our camp photo before we set off on an exercise to familiarise ourselves with the base. RAF Akrotiri is massive, especially when you have to walk around it in the 28 degree sun! The afternoon was spent at the beach relaxing and getting to know the other cadets on the camp. We had a small history lesson in the evening on the history of the island.

Saturday: We got up early and headed to the north of the island in anticipation because of what we had learnt the night before about the conflict between the North and South of the island. When we did get across the UN Buffer zone and into the Turkish part of Cyprus we headed to a castle on a mountain for some amazing views! We then headed into a coastal town and had dinner at a restaurant by the sea.

Sunday: We had a great day in a waterpark about 2 hours away from the base. It was great fun and nice to get cooled off in the water.

Monday: We spent the morning doing command tasks which was interesting and certainly gave me some ideas to bring back to this squadron. We headed off to a local shopping centre in the afternoon before retiring to our rooms at night.

Tuesday: In the morning we headed to some of the sectors that this base has. We started at the Bomb Disposal unit which was interesting to see the kinds of things that they are dealing with on the island and also out in Afghanistan. We then went to a top secret part of the base which I’m afraid I cannot publish on here!

Wednesday: On Wednesday we travelled to the UN Buffer zone again, but this time we visited the abandoned Nicosia Airport. It was strange to see how much was still intact after over 30 years of it being unused.

Thursday: This was probably the most enjoyable day of the trip with us travelling to a local army base in Episkopi to do some shooting. We then went banana boating back in Akrotiri before we spent the evening on a cruise around Paphos bay. We had a BBQ on board and jumped off the boat in to the warm Mediterranean. A truly great way to end a great day!

Friday: This was our final day in Cyprus and we headed into the Troodos mountains to a lovely local village and then to Troodos camp for lunch. We had our last meal on the beach at Akrotiri where we had a BBQ and gave out paper plate awards.

It was great to visit such an active RAF base at the forefront of the conflicts we are involved in today. This camp has been the best thing I have done with cadets so far and I would recommend this or any other overseas camp to every single cadet. You get to meet some great people, great staff and have so much fun at the same time, doing activities you can’t do in England.