SAWSTON AIR CADETS ENJOY FIELD WEEKEND

YOUNG Air Cadets from 2461 (Sawston) Squadron, supported by a team of adult staff recently deployed to RAF Wyton for the annual Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Wing Field Weekend.

Wing Field Weekend is a competition when all the Squadrons from across the two Counties are assessed on leadership and teamwork along with other skills such as communication, aircraft recognition and drill.  Also held during the weekend is the annual Wing parade and review.

During the Wing Parade the Squadron was excited to learn civilian committee member Sara New had won the Wing Commander Brian Lang Shield for her dedication to the Squadron along with helping to secure over £12,000 in grants to develop the Air Cadet experienced being delivered at Sawston.  The trophy was presented to the Wing only the previous day by Wing Commander Brian Lang who retired from the post of Wing Executive Officer earlier this year, the shield is to be awarded annually to an outstanding civilian committee or individual committee member in the Wing.  The award was collected by her daughter Katherine who is a Cadet Sergeant at the Squadron.

Cadet Sergeant Katherine Hill collects the Wing Commander Brian Lang Shield from the Regional Commandant of Central and East Region Group Captain Geoff Hewett on behalf of her mother, Civilian Committee member Sara New.

Cadet Flight Sergeant Richard Barker said “This was one of my final events with the Squadron before reaching the upper age limit of 20, I was proud to represent the Squadron.  It was excellent to win a trophy too!”

Civilian Instructor Chris Jestice said “The team showed excellent spirit throughout the weekend and as a very junior team they learnt a lot.”

Flight Lieutenant Chris Cox added “I was pleased with what the cadets achieved at Wing Field Weekend this year, they performed very well.  We have identified areas where we need to improve for next year and will be hoping for a good result next year.”

During the weekend the Squadron Commander Flight Lieutenant Chris Cox was presented with his Cadet Forces Medal by Group Captain Geoff Hewett, Regional Commandant for Central and East Region.