Greater Manchester Air Cadets’ Battle of Britain Parade

Supporting the Royal Air Force celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, Air Cadet Squadrons from across Greater Manchester took part in the annual parade in central Manchester on Sunday, 5th of September.

Starting at 2.30 p.m. in Albert Square, in front of the City’s Town Hall, cadets from East Lancashire Wing came together with cadets from East Cheshire and South Manchester Wing and Royal Air Force airmen from DCAE (ex RAF) Cosford for the Parade.

Also parading at the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA) organised event was a contingent of Sea Cadets from Training Ship Frobisher, Rochdale.

The parade marched to St Anne’s Square, followed by a Service of Remembrance in St Anne’s Church, commemorating those who served in the Battle of Britain from July to October 1940.

After the service, there was a return parade to Albert Square where there was a march-past taken by the Lord Mayor of Manchester and senior uniformed representatives and led by the National Marching Band Champions, 1855 (Royton) Squadron Band, East Lancs Wing.

Throughout the day cadets collected for the RAFA 'Battle of Britain Wings Appeal' fund.

New North Manchester Squadron Building Opens

Sunday 22nd August saw the Official Opening Ceremony of the new headquarters building of 1832 (North Manchester) Squadron at Longton Road, Blackley, Manchester.

The opening was performed by the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Colonel Warren J Smith JP as well as the Lord Mayor of Greater Manchester, Councillor Mark Hackett. Also at this important Air Cadet occasion was Regional Commandant North, Group Captain John Middleton OBE.

Group Captain Middleton opened the proceedings by telling guests that he had a special interest in 1832 (North Manchester) Squadron as it was here that his ‘air’ career started before progressing into the Royal Air Force, culminating in piloting Avro Vulcan bomber aircraft.

The Lord Mayor praised the cadets, staff and civilian committee of the squadron for their hard work preparing the squadron for the opening ceremony and felt sure that the squadron would be an asset to the local community.

Colonel Smith spoke to staff and cadets who were on parade in front of the building with a bugle accompaniment by two of the squadron cadet musicians.

Following the official opening ceremony, all guests did a walkround of squadron facilities including the training rooms as well as the Flight Simulator, designed to give the cadets a ‘virtual experience’ of flying before going on to flying and gliding ‘for real’ at the squadron’s designated flying facilities on RAF Stations. Cadets fly from RAF Woodvale and 635VGS at (ex RAF) Topcliffe Airfield. Drummers from the squadron band also entertained the VIPs and guests.

The cadets of 1832 Squadron have occupied temporary accommodation for nearly six years since their original squadron building was declared as unusable and cadet numbers dropped because of this.

The squadron, now in its new building, has now started to increase in numbers thanks to publicity drives headed by squadron commander Flight Lieutenant Kevin McGuire and his adult staff.

Flight Lieutenant McGuire said “Since we moved into the new building we have been able to reform the Squadron band. Recruitment for new Cadets and Staff is moving forward at a pace and 1832 Squadron will now go from strength to strength”.

Saddleworth ‘Yanks’ Weekend’

Tameside and Oldham Cadets and RAFA Join Forces at the Saddleworth ‘Yanks’ Weekend’

Tameside and Oldham cadets came together at the ‘Yanks’ weekend, 13-15 August, to help The Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA).

Cadets from 247 (Ashton) Squadron and 2200 (Oldham) Squadron distributed RAFA publicity material as well as raising the profiles of the Air Cadet squadrons and the local Saddleworth Detached Flight.

The ‘Yanks’ weekend is held at Saddleworth in August every year with military and vintage stalls and battle re-enactments as well as displays of American Classic Cars and military vehicles.
Highlight of the Sunday events was the flypast of the Second World War Douglas Dakota transport aircraft of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. The Dakota flew low over Churchill Playing Fields, Uppermill and Saddleworth villages three times before returning to base at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

The weekend saw the uniforms of GIs, British Army, Royal Navy and RAF as well as several [captured] German military personnel. Crowds were entertained by local brass bands, 1940s local artists and ‘rock’ bands.

All the proceeds from the ‘Yanks are Back in Saddleworth Weekend’ go to the Greater Manchester Region of RAFA.

The next event for East Lancs Wing cadets is the Battle of Britain Parade in Manchester on 5th of September.

ASHTON CADET SOARS WITH SUCCESS

It has been a busy month for Tameside cadet, Richard Carter which has seen him pick up a national award, take part in a Royal Review in front of HRH The Prince of Wales and gain a promotion.

Richard (16), who is from Dukinfield, was recently awarded his certificate after completing the BTEC First Diploma in Public Services, achieving the highest grade possible, Distinction Star.

The qualification, mixes theory and practical elements with an emphasis on leadership, teamwork, communications, problem solving and fitness. This internationally respected qualification is equivalent to four GCSEs at A* level. The syllabus has been designed to improve valuable life skills. Richard has learnt professional CV preparation, interviewing techniques, communication, first aid, adventure training, health and nutrition.



Earlier this month, Richard was one of a few lucky cadets selected to attend the Royal Review for the Cadet 150 Celebrations at Buckingham Palace. He joined cadets and adult volunteers from around the UK and from the MOD's sponsored cadet forces.

Almost 1700 individuals from the MOD's 4 cadet forces, the Combined Cadet Force, Sea Cadet Corps, Army Cadet Force and Air Training Corps converged in the early afternoon at Horse Guards Parade and set off for Wellington Barracks via The Mall. Each cadet force was led by its own band and were followed up by a combined Pipe band.

HRH Prince Charles took the salute outside Clarence House whilst the Red Arrows, each carrying a cadet, flew over the parade and Buckingham Palace.



On arrival at Wellington Barracks the cadets were marshalled by Garrison Sergeant Major Billy Mott ready for the march to Buckingham Palace where all the cadets had been invited to attend a garden party.

Most recently, Richard has undergone a competitive assessment against other cadets and has been promoted to the rank of Cadet Corporal, the first stage of a Non-Commissioned Officer. He will now undertake duties in training new cadets and showing them the ropes.

Summing up the last month Richard says, “I’ve been with the Squadron for over three years now, and this has been the busiest and by far the best month so far. I can’t wait to see what’s next on the horizon.”

Talking about his BTEC award, Richard says, “I’m really pleased that I finished my BTEC and I will be encouraging the other cadets to enrol this year. It gives you a bigger perspective of the public services, especially the Armed Forces.”

About the Royal Review, “I was so pleased to have been selected, and immensely proud to take part. There were over 900 Air Cadets and staff alone, and marching down the Mall toward Buckingham Palace, about to salute Prince Charles when the Red Arrows flew over made everyone grin”.

Flight Lieutenant Mike Dawson, Richard’s Commanding Officer says, “I remember the day Richard joined the cadets. In the last few years he has really developed some strong potential and shown excellent skills that will benefit him in the future. He was a credit to the organisation, and the Tameside area, when he took part in the Royal Parade. Combining that with his BTEC award and promotion have really made it a busy and challenging month for him.”

You don’t have to want to join the RAF to be an Air Cadet. Anyone aged between 13 and 18 can take part.

If you have a sense of Adventure and want to take part in Flying, Gliding, Sports, Expeditions for example why not get in touch to find out more.

For more information, call the Squadron on (0161) 344 1177 or you can also visit www.247ashtonatc.org.uk for more information.

East Lancs Wing Sector II Cadets ‘On Target’

Cadets from Hyde, Oldham and Royton attended a Sector II Training Day on Sunday 18 July at 1855 [Royton] Squadron.

Archery, Shooting, Weapons Training and Flight Simulator were on the programme.

Archery was new to many but, with archery being a speciality of 1855 Squadron, cadets from three other units within the sector gained ‘flight experience’ with a difference.

The rain held off for most of the day and some of the cadets attained ‘Bulls Eye’ with their new archery skills.

During the occasional weather interruptions cadets from the four units (468, 1855, 2200 Squadrons and 2200 Detached Flight) took part in Air Rifle shooting with the Corps’ BSA Scorpion .177 pressure air rifle.

After the Sunday’s use of Royton’s ‘blue arrows’, archery will be on the sector training programme again soon.

Bury Cadet Receives Certificate from Air Cadets Chief

Cadet Sergeant Shaun Warrington from 1036 (Bury) Squadron recently received his certificate for completing his Flying Scholarship from the new Commandant Air Cadets, Air Commodore Barbara Cooper CBE.


To achieve this prestigious award Shaun undertook 12 hours flying training, including a solo flight, at Dundee earlier this year. Also at the presentation (and pictured) is Shaun's mother Mrs Angela Warrington.

1036 (Bury) leads the way for Armed Forces Day 2010

The band of 1036 (Bury) Sqn joined forces with 2447 (Calder Valley) Sqn on Sunday 27th June in an Armed Forces Day parade through Todmorden in West Yorkshire. The parade, organized by the Todmorden branch of the British Legion, included two St Dunstaners, Mr Ronald Skidmore who lives in Sheffield and Mr Russell Halstead.


They took part in the parade as passengers in a 1940s Jeep while the St Dunstans standard was carried by Cdt Laura Iddles of 1036 Sqn. St Dunstans is a charity that assists blind ex-servicemen and women.


After a very successful example of cross border co-operation (Lancashire and Yorkshire that is), the band have been invited back next year. Flt Lt Liz Thomas, OC of 1036 Sqn, readily agreed on condition that the fabulous weather enjoyed for the parade would be arranged next time.


The band of 1036 (Bury) Sqn took part in the Armed Forces Day celebrations in Manchester on Saturday 26th June. On a very hot afternoon with not a drop of rain in sight the band led the parade onto Albert Square in front of Manchester Town Hall. Around the Square were exhibitions mounted by all three Services and all three cadet forces including an ATC flight simulator manned by cadets from a number of Squadrons in East Cheshire & South Manchester Wing. The Bury Squadron band played during the inspection of veterans and cadets by the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope and the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Cllr Mark Hackett. The repertoire included ‘Sailing’ in honour of the First Sea Lord and ‘Dad’s Army’. The large crowd gathered in the Albert Square to watch the parade applauded after every piece. During the day there were also performances by the Band of the Lifeguards and the Greater Manchester Police Band and at the end of the afternoon, 1036 Squadron played again in front of a very appreciative crowd, to conclude the day’s events.

1855 (Royton) Squadron Band Play Top Tunes

Yesterday, at RAF Linton-on-Ouse near York, Air Training Corps national marching band champions Royton Squadron won the North Region band competition and will represent East Lancashire Wing ATC in the national finals later in the year.


The band competed against other squadron bands from across the north of England from Cheshire up to Durham and Northumberland.


Since the Royton band won the accolade of ‘Marching Band Champions’ they have been in great demand and will shortly be performing at DCAE Cosford in front of the general public.


Royton Squadron Commander, Flight Lieutenant Mark Hamilton said “We are all very excited at the prospect of travelling to the National Championship once more, The Cadets and I have worked extremely hard to maintain the standard we set last year. We have changed the repertoire and that seems to have worked well. I would also like to thank all the parents who came along to see us lift the North Region trophy for a second year running. Well done to all.”