During the weekend of 13-14 December cadets from 2210 Squadron of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets, based in Sandy Lane West, Oxford attended training courses at RAF Halton.
Cadet Sergeant Karen Furlong and Cadet Priyank Gandhi completed and passed their St John’s Ambulance Youth First Aid qualification, while Cadet Corporal Lilly August and Cadet Nic Nanthacumar competed their Expedition First Aid Course. Continue reading
Hot on the heels of his 100th cap as Captain of the New Zealand All Blacks and a convincing 34-16 win over Wales, Richie McCaw took to the skies with RAF Spitfires Rugby 7s player Flight Lieutenant Steve Mills in an RAF Puma 2 before honouring his heritage with a tour of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at RAF Coningsby. McCaw, who is also a qualified pilot, became an honorary Squadron Leader with the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). Continue reading
The weekend of 17-19 Oct was a weekend for challenging yourself in the outdoors for cadets and staff from Thames Valley Wing and beyond. Thames Valley Wing Adventure Training Officer, Flt Lt Christlieb provides an insight to what goes on during an assessment weekend and the opportunities available to cadets and staff within the ATC. Continue reading
Two Cadets from Thames Valley Wing attended the ACO National Concert Band Camp held at RAF Northolt last week. CPL Natasha Gavin (211 Newbury Sqn) and CPL Ben Goodall (150 City of Oxford Sqn) were selected from the February camp to be apart of the recording, with CPL Goodall performing a solo in one of the tracks. The camp was to prepare for a professional recording on the Friday and Saturday.
The CD of 11 tracks is all about the “stage and screen” with tracks from Les Miserables, Oliver and Chicago, plus many more. Continue reading
Cadets from 1315 (Kidlington), 1460 (Banbury), 2210 (Cowley) Squadrons and cadets from Kidlington Detachment Army Cadet Force visited the US Air Force 422nd Airbase Group at RAF Croughton.
The day started with a welcome and mission briefing of RAF Croughton’s role within the USAFE (United States Air Force Europe) by the Commanding Officer, ColonelJ. Mellars USAF. Following this we were then taken on Section tours of the base. Continue reading
Eleven Air Cadets from 2120 (Witney) Squadron have celebrated completing their bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award this weekend.
Completing their expedition in the Cotswolds, the eleven boys and girls have brought to conclusion twelve months of hard work towards the bronze award, which has involved dedicating time to a volunteering opportunity, enhancing a skill set, improving a physical activity and completing an expedition of two days and one night’s duration without adult assistance. Continue reading
The finalists for the Thames Valley Wing Thrive Awards have now been announced. The Awards fall into the following categories and all nominations came from their peers.
Outstanding Individual – The person who has made the most outstanding contribution over the past year.
Ambassador – The individual or team who through the virtue of hard work, character and representation have raised the profile of the ATC.
Valiant Volunteer – For consistent and extraordinary efforts in helping others, above and beyond the call of duty.
Unsung Hero – The individual whose contribution often goes unnoticed but without it their Squadron would fail to deliver the effect it achieves.
Top Team Award – awarded to the group (informal or formal) that has achieved the greatest positive impact. Continue reading
The team arrived at RAF Northolt in July after spending every weekend walking fifteen-twenty miles as training for the week long marches. 
Accompanying the cadets went Flt Lt Kisley of Banbury and Fg Off Wicks of Didcot, both of whom having spent nearly every weekend training the team ready for Nijmegen.
From Northolt the team travelled by coach across the channel to Calais and then through Europe to Nijmegen. Continue reading
An ex-officer of Reading, Woodley & Burghfield has recently been presented with the British Empire Medal.
91-year-old Reg Day, from Whitley was presented with the prestigious BEM for services as the custodian of the RAF Dunsfold Museum in Surrey. Continue reading
Air Cadets from 2210 Cowley Squadron, based in Sandy Lane West, Blackbird Leys travelled to Arnhem in the Netherlands to pay their respects to those who fought at the battle of Arnhem in September 1944.
The Air Cadets had a tour of the battlefield led by a Royal Air Force Squadron Leader and visited the Airborne Museum in Oosterbek and then paid their respects at the war Cemetary. Continue reading