Monthly Archives: July 2010

Up up and away at Abingdon

Pilots from 612 Volunteer Gliding Squadron at Abingdon, along with Air Cadets from across Thames Valley, have notched up an amazing number of glider launches in a single day as part of their dawn to dusk flying challenge.

Known as “The Longest Day”, the aim was to fly as many Air Cadets as possible throughout the day and to have great fun in the process. The 2009 figure of 86 cadets flown was easily broken with 156 individuals taking to the skies. Amongst those flown as part of this event was the Mayor of Abingdon, Councillor Duncan Brown (pictured above before his flight). Continue reading →

Right Royal Review for Thames Valley

HRH The Prince of Wales took the salute at a Royal Review in the Mall to celebrate 150 years of the Cadet Forces in the UK on Tuesday 6 July. Amongst the 1500 cadets on parade were the Thames Valley Wing party consisting of cadets from 155 (Maidenhead) Squadron, 1861 (Wantage) squadron and 1460 (Banbury) Squadron.

The parade marched from Horse Guards Parade down The Mall to Buckingham Palace, past Clarence House, where The Prince took the Salute in honour of the anniversary. Above the parade was a special flypast by the Red Arrows over Central London down The Mall and over Buckingham Palace with a handful of lucky cadets from across the Cadet Forces enjoyed a trip in the Royal Air Force Hawk aircraft as part of the celebrations. Continue reading →

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Flying Visit For Prime Minister

New Prime Minister, David Cameron MP, has made an informal visit to 136 (Chipping Norton) Squadron – his first visit to an Air Cadet unit as PM – to meet cadets and staff. Mr Cameron lives close to the Squadron, as the MP for Witney, and was invited to the unit by a parent of a cadet.

After inspecting the cadets, he spoke informally about the importance of the armed forces adding “the cadets are the future of the armed forces” and how, as an ex-cadet himself with Eton CCF, he understands the importance of the Cadets Forces. Continue reading →