It was a day of fun and celebration at Chigwell Air Cadet Squadron as they held their Annual Families Day and Awards Ceremony. This year’s Awards were made even more special due to the impressive list of VIPs present. These included Epping Forest District Council Chairman; Councillor Penny Smith, and Officer Commanding London Wing; Wing Commander Silvia Silver RAF VR(T).  

Parents, family and friends of cadets got the opportunity to see what cadets had been up to throughout the year, on their numerous trips away and activities. Cadets displayed their newly learnt skills including a drill display as well as demonstrating their outdoor Duke of Edinburgh camping and Ground Defence Training survival skills.

Cadets were rewarded for all their efforts for 2008 as the Commanding Officer Flying Officer Dan O’Mahoney presented a number of awards. They included Sergeant Helen O’Keefe (16), who was awarded Best Sports Person, Sergeant Matthew Loxham (16), was awarded Best Shot, Corporal Ben Davidson (16) won the Academic Award, Cpl Eachan Robinson (17) received the new Aerospace Award, Cadet Gilbert was presented with the award for Best Turnout (the smartest uniform) and Cadet Clare O'Keefe (15), was awarded Best Recruit. Cadet Halliday was also awarded the Best Cadet Award. ‘Its been an amazing year’ said Dan O’Mahoney ‘as all of the Cadets have excelled – the quality of today’s displays is an testament to their hard work an dedication’.

To end the day three promotions were awarded, Cadet Halliday (15) to Corporal and both Sergeant Helen O’Keefe (16) and Sergeant Louis Flanagan (16) to Flight Sergeant.

Cpl Vermaak getting to grips with the belaying technique and CI Godwin hanging around.

On the 1st of May Cpls Vermaak and Robinson, from 2324 (Chigwell) Squadron, set off on a 3 day rock climbing expedition with 241 (Woodford & Wanstead) Squadron. They were also joined by CI Godwin who already has some experience in this activity.

The weekend included two days of exciting climbing. However, on the second day they were greeted with chilling winds which made climbing with numb hands more challenging.

On the final day of the long weekend, Monday, the plan was to go for a very brief climb but unfortunately the persistent rain stopped that from happening, instead they went for a day of window shopping.

It can honestly be said that this weekend was first class and if such an opportunity was to ever come up again you would be a fool to think twice about going.

Cpl Vermaak

This article is taken directly from the RAF News. For the full article see: http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive.cfm?storyid=5BA0388D-1143-EC82-2E5F0EE4076F4AAB:

The Annual Service to Commemorate the Formation of the Royal Air Force was held on Sunday 29 March 2009 at the Central Church of the Royal Air Force, St Clement Danes in the Strand, London.

This year’s service saw the Church packed with more than 750 guests including Defence Secretary John Hutton, Deputy Lord Mayor of Westminster, Cllr Dr Cyril Nemeth, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy, the Air Force Board, serving and retired Officers, representatives of service charities and organisations, the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, University Air Squadrons, Air Cadets and Veterans. Along with the RAuxAF, the focus for this year’s Service is Air Cadets. There are 44,000 air cadets throughout the UK – more personnel than in the RAF itself - and is the nation’s premier youth organisation.

The Air Cadets’ Corps Banner was marched into the church by a banner party comprising cadets from 12F (Walthamstow and Leyton) and 2324 (Chigwell) Sqns Air Training Corps.

Commandant Air Cadets, Air Cdre Ian Stewart greeting the Air Cadets Banner outside St Clement Danes.

From left are Cadet Sgt Helen O'keefe (15), Cadet Sgt Kate Foster (18), Cadet Cpl Regina Hamilton,

holding the Corps Banner, Cadet Sgt Daniel Manning (16).

Commandant Air Cadets, Air Cdre Ian Stewart said: “We had more Air Cadets than ever at the Formation Service. This is because greater emphasis is being placed on the increased involvement of cadets in ceremonial and other areas or civic life as the natural choice to take over responsibilities from the wartime generations who will not be with us for ever. These are very mature people for their tender years and more will be seen of them during 2009 as we look ahead to commemorating the Normandy landings in May and other ceremonial activities.”

The Annual Church Service is organised each year by the Royal Air Force Ceremonial Office, based at RAF Northolt in West London. The event celebrates the formation of the RAF on 1 April 1918.

Following the Service at St Clement Danes, some 600 guests attended a Reception at the Royal Courts of Justice.

An amazingly busy and successful weekend for Chigwell Squadron saw:

1. Our Junior Boys team become 5-a-Side Champions of London and South East Region.

2. Two of our female cadets playing for the team which came second in the girl's Regional competition.

3. As if that weren't enough, Cdt Halliday represented London and South East Region at Corps (National) level, taking his place as the 15th best runner in the ATC in his age group at the Corps cross country compeition.

4. Finally the Squadron Paraded through the streets of Central London to mark the Anniversary of the formation of the RAF at St Clement's Dane Church with Sgt O'Keefe joining the Chief of the Air Staff, Sir Glen Torpy reading during the church service.

Phew! What's on next week? Watch this space.........

The photo shows our successful footballers: Cpl Davidson, Sgt Loxham, Sgt Flanagan, Cpl Scally, Cpl Wilkins, Cdt Hall, Cdt Brown and Cdt Hunter.

Two of Chigwell Squadron's outstanding staff were recognised by the Lord Lieutenant of Greater London on Thursday 12 March.

Flight Lieutenant Russ Hollington, the Squadron's former CO and WO Thomas, our current Squadron Warrant Officer both received Certificates for Meritorious Service from Sir David Brewer, Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London. Other recipients of the awards on the day included reserve forces veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, which will tell you something both about the prestigious nature of the awards and the high regard in which our staff are held.

Our huge congratulations go to both of them.