Every year cadets from 966 (Wallingford) Sqn compete with the Wallingford detachment of the Army Cadet Force for two awards presented by the local Branch of the Royal British Legion. This year, on 30 May, the squadron pulled off a hat-trick by winning both the awards. Following an interview of the nominated cadets from both organisations by the Wallingford RBL, it was decided to present the ‘Cadet of the Year Award 2013’ to FS Sally Evans and the ‘Tony Smith Memorial Shield Award 2013’ to Sgt Tamara Simmons. These awards are presented in ‘recognition of services to the community and to the parent organisation’ and it is a very rare occurrence for cadets from the Wallingford squadron to win them both in the same year. At the presentation it was noted that,’ out of all the ATC and ACF cadets interviewed, both FS Evans and Sgt Simmons were clear front runners, setting such a high standard it was very difficult to distinguish between them’; hence this year the decision was made to present both awards to a single organisation.
For FS Evans, the RBL award followed on from her being installed on 13 May as Wallingford Mayor’s Cadet at the traditional Mayor Making Ceremony in the Town Hall when Cllr Bernard Stone was elected the new Mayor of Wallingford. FS Evans said, “It is a great privilege to be chosen as Mayor’s Cadet for Wallingford this year and I am looking forward to getting involved in the various duties to support the Mayor and I am also very grateful to the squadron staff for putting me forward for such an honour.”
FS Evans’ first official engagement occurred less than a week after her appointment when, at the Mayor’s Parade in the town centre, she accompanied the Mayor and RAF Benson Station Commander, Gp Capt Nigel Coleman OBE, when they received the salute from a march past of service personnel from RAF Benson.