On a bleary spring day 13 cadets departed the squadron headquarters heading for RAF Halton to compete in the Wing cross country competition.
The conversation on the way mainly consisted on of how far running three miles was. I don’t really think anyone knew after some bright spark in the back converted it to 1.8kms. I did not want to dishearten them by correcting them, they would certainly know how far it was when they ran the race. A good day and a lot of effort was put in by the participants. I was on First Aid cover and was pleased with the minimal amount of casualties I had.
At the end of the day at Final parade the Junior Girls trophy was won and the overall girls trophy. Well done to everyone who attended. Though I think the girls have thrown down the gauntlet for the boys at wing athletics! Now that is a challenge for you all!!
Flt Lt Callaghan
Cdt Sivasothy and Stanbury attended the Region Junior Rugby Competition as part of the Herts and Bucks W
ing Team after being selected on a very cold and icy day at trials held at RAF Halton. There was a large number of boys at the trials but they played themselves into the team.
The Regional competition was held on Sunday 29th January. Again they were met with an early start and cold conditions. This did nothing to deter the team who had not played together before. After a long day playing the other wings Herts and Bucks were crowned overall champions.
Congratulations to Cdt Stanbury who has now achieved his first Wing Blue and was picked on the day to attend trials for the Regional Team next month.
There are many sports competitions which happen throughout the year so get your name down to join Cdt Sivasothy and Stanbury in the bid for the squadron to get more Wing and Region Blues and to maybe go on and represent the Air Training Corps!
This year is the 90th anniversary of the Royal British Legion and Hitchin squadron are as usual doing their bit for the charity. Probationers, Cadets, NCOs and Flt Lt Callaghan (OC of 1066 Squadron) all took part in what was a long day of collecting donations. With some cadets doing as much as five shifts at the local ASDA and Waitrose supermarkets.
Sgt Johnson said that: “It is quite a tiring day but well worth it to show our support to the armed forces, past and present”.
It was Probationer Laing’s first poppy appeal and this is what he thought of the day: “It is fantastic to see people willing to give donations in an economically uncertain time like this; even if they are small it all helps”.
Another Poppy Appeal collection will take place on the 12th of November and a remembrance day parade on the 13th November (remembrance Sunday) so 1066 (Hitchin) squadron will have a noticeable presence in town over the coming weeks and we all hope to be given the same warm welcome that we received this weekend.
Article by Cpl D Saville
The squadron Halloween party took place on the evening of October 31st. It is the first year that this event has taken place and it will hopefully become an annual date in the squadron’s calendar.
The night kicked off with an inspection…with of course a Halloween difference. Cadets were marked out of originality of their costumes, comedy value and attention to detail etc. Many of the cadets put a lot of effort into their costumes and were quite convincing and a few looked even more ugly than usual. All jokes aside the variety and originality of the costumes shows what great creative minds we have at 1066 Sqn.
Other activities that took place were a variety of party games that included one where a team had to mummify a cadet in newspaper and tennis on a Wii console. I thought I would leave out the dance off, which I participated in. However I am told it had great comedy value, but let’s just hope no videos make it onto YouTube!
Cdt Copleston said that: “Tonight was great fun and I can’t wait for next years party.”
The night was a large success with all cadets enjoying the night. Many more Sqn social events are hopefully to be planned for next year.
On Monday 18th July, 6 young new recruits were officially welcomed into the Air Training Corps with their enrolments conducted by Squadron Commanding Officer, Flt Lt Honour Callaghan. Prior to their enrolments the new recruits had to learn the basics of being an air cadet, such as paying military compliments, cleaning, looking after and wearing their uniform properly and some basic foot drill.
Parents and family were also in attendance to observe the special occasion. The enrolment process involves the new cadet making the Cadet Promise to ‘be a good citizen and to serve their unit loyally’ amongst other good virtues. This will now enable the cadets to get out and enjoy the vast array of existing activities the Corps has to offer such as flying, gliding and shooting to name but a few.
Commanding Officer Flt Lt Callaghan said: “I was immensely pleased to welcome the new members of the squadron. They have come far since joining the squadron as probationers which shows dedication. I remember when I first joined the organisation and how nerve-wracking my first few weeks were – they were a credit to the squadron and their parents who were present.
I wish them all a fruitful and enjoyable career in the ATC, my best words of advice to them would be to take every opportunity you have and most importantly enjoy it”.
Top Left: Cdt Dowding saying the Cadet Promise.
Bottom: Left to right: Cdt Bhatia, Cdt Emes, Cdt Galvez, Cdt Dowding, Cdt Grime, Cdt Gibson
By CI Samuel James
Thursday 14th July was no ordinary parade night and was certainly something to remember. Two RAF Police Corporalsvisited the squadron to give a talk and conduct activities explaining what they do to provide security both in the United Kingdom and in other countries around the world.
Cpl Blackmoore and Cpl Weir brought in a variety of uniforms and equipment that they use in their roles as members of the RAF Police to show to the cadets. After having an introduction to the role of the RAF Police in the UK, and the particular demands in Afghanistan, a group of cadets volunteered to don the uniform and equipment of two RAF Policemen and some others of our allies. This gave them all the opportunity to put themselves in the boots of service personnel, facing the dangers of an active deployment, or the routine searches carried out by the police in daily life.
Among the scenarios and demonstrations, a search for an imitation IED was carried out and a couple of NCOs were given the joy of being searched for illegal items. The cadets of 1066 (Hitchin) Squadron had a great night and learned a lot about a very interesting section of the RAF.
Cdt Ben Woolley (15) said: “I used to only want to be a pilot, and I thought that this was all the Royal Air Force could offer me, but now I think a career as a member of the RAF police would be very rewarding and has definitely caught my interest”.
Cpl Weir commented on the evening saying: “It was great fun working with the cadets and staff at the squadron and I hope that similar activities will continue in the future”
Top Right: Cpl Saville does a sweep on Cdt Devi
Bottom: Cpl Weir and Cpl Blackmoore with the cadets
By Cdt Cpl Daniel Saville
At the recent Wing Field Day Cpl Goold was entered into the solo bugler category, coming away in First position and achieving one of the highest scores for the day.
His skills were recently utilised at a Letchworth Round Table event where representatives from far and wide were present. Of Cpl Goold’s performance George Ritchie a member of the Letchworth Round Table wrote:
‘They hit just the right note for us in our little ceremony, and everyone was really impressed by how it added to the occasion. You were a credit to your squadron’.
A donation was made to the squadron which Cpl Goold has asked to be added to the simulator fund.
The bank holiday weekend of the 27th to the 30thof May saw 1066 (Hitchin) Sqn take part in the Wing Exercise held at Longmoor (an Army Training Camp). The Camp itself is home to a variety of training roles and is based on 1783 hectares of wooded areas and wetland. Due to the size and variety of terrain the camp is the perfect host to one of the most challenging but one of the most enjoyable events in the Sqn calendar.
The weekend included numerous leadership exercises, micro navigation, puzzles, shooting on the no8 and the L98A2 cadet rifles, first aid, a confidence course and a 3 kilometre run. As there were so many events the training for them started months before hand so that everyone on the team knew what they could expect.
The 2011 Longmoor team
The weekend started late on the Friday night with a briefing and getting settled into our blocks. The next three days saw a cycle of leadership exercises and culminated with the 3 kilometre run. In total the weekend was a chance to show other squadrons what 1066 (Hitchin) Sqn is made of and a chance to make new friends, mix with old ones but most of all work as a team.
Thanks to the Cadets and staff who made this great weekend it was.
By Cpl Saville
One lucky cadet from 1066 (Hitchin) Squadron has recently been nominated for the Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet for Hertfordshire. Cadet Warrant Officer Henry Wisdom (18) was nominated for the post due to his hard work and commitment to the Air Training Corps.
He has racked up a fair few awards during his time in the Air Cadets including Best Cadet on a camp onboard HMS Bristol in 2009 and the Duke of Westminster’s Award – an award for nine of the top cadets from the Air, Sea and Army Cadets, which resulted in a fully funded three week expedition to South Africa and Swaziland.
The post of Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet involves accompanying Lady Verulam, Lord Lieutenant for Hertfordshire on royal duties and special events such as official openings and banquets.
CWO Wisdom is also a keen aviator and has completed a gliding scholarship in the Grob Vigilant motorised glider to solo standard along with a 12 hour flying scholarship at Tayside Aviation in Dundee on the Grob Heron. In April 2011, Henry was fortunate enough to receive a £400 bursary from the Spitfire Society towards his Private Pilot’s licence and more recently has been awarded another 12 hour flying scholarship thanks to the Air League.
1066 (Hitchin) Squadron’s Commanding Officer, Flight Lieutenant Honour Callaghan said: “This award is well deserved and a testament to the hard work which CWO Wisdom has carried out during his cadet career so far. He is a great ambassador and role model for the squadron and its members”.
CWO Wisdom said: “It is such a fantastic honour to have been awarded the title for this year. It really is a wonderful way to top off my cadet career and I very much look forward to conducting my various duties with the Countess of Verulam in and around Hertfordshire“.
The cadets at the squadron were delighted to see their new squadron bus which has taken years of fundraiasing to purchase with the help of West Herts Charitable Trust.
Lots of hard work through bag packs, quiz nights and car parking duties at Knebworth House led to the cadets raising over £17,000 towards a new bus. An application was then made to the West Herts Charitable Trust by the squadron committee and they kindly agreed to pay the rest of the cost for the new minibus and signwriting.
The new bus just proves to us all that with hard work and persistence a lot can be achieved by a team. We all look forward to using the bus in our squadron activities.