Latest News
Air Commodore Skelley, formally the Commandant of the Air Cadets, addressed the cadets at 290 (Weston-super-Mare) Sqn in March, talking about his service career as a RAF Pilot, his time as AOC Air Training Corps, SW Regional Commandant and his current position of Hon. President at 290 (Weston-super-Mare)Sqn and 290 (Burnham and Highbridge) DF.
Air Cmdr Skelley is pictured at 290 Sqn HQ with cadets Ben Simpson and Sophie Cooper.
ICWO Bethan Coleman has made ATC history by being appointed as the first female cadet to have risen through all the ranks at 290 Sqn and finally reaching the rank of ICWO.
ICWO Coleman started as a cadet in 2002, and during her time has represented 290 Sqn at many sports and has achieved her Wing Blue. Of late, Beth came 3rd as best Drill NCO at Devon and Somerset’s annual Activities Day held at Fremington Army base in Devon.
Beth has just completed the ATC handgliding course at the Crickhowell Handgliding and Paragliding Centre, and is currently at 6th Form studying Geography, Physics, Maths and Music.
Two members of the Air Training Corps 1064 (Honiton) Squadron took part in the arduous international marches held in Nijmegen Holland. Cadet Sergeants Liam Goodwin and Alec Small (pictured left to right) recently completed the marches that consist of four days of road walking, each day covering 25 miles.
The sergeants were part of the Devon and Somerset Wing marching team that has been training since January for this gruelling event.
Sergeant Small stated the following: " It was really hard work and very painful at times for both of us and the rest of the team, I personally was on several painkillers at one point as my ankle had swollen, and Liam Goodwin found the first day particularly hard, however he got better as the days wore on much to our annoyance as after the walk he was the only one capable of running. The real shock came at the end, after walking 100 miles, the last 4 miles in torrential rain soaked through to the skin, we reached the finish line and minutes later we were formed up in order to walk a further 3 miles for the marchpast!"
These two air cadets are the first from the Honiton Squadron to complete the marches, Alec Small attended the event last year that was latter cancelled due to excessive heat. These two air cadets now have the right to wear their medal ribbons on their uniform from now on.
The Air Cadet Organisation, particularly sponsors the marches with the team receiving various grants to pay for the travel costs. The Commandant of the Air Training Corps was personally waiting in the rain at the finish to shake the hands of the cadets as they finished.
Plt Off G K Tame said: "The officers and staff of 1064 (Honiton) Squadron are extremely proud of cadet sergeants Small and Goodwin and hope that other cadets will take up the ‘Nijmegen’ challenge in the future".
Cadets from Across Devon and Somerset Wing Air Training Corps came together to pay tribute to and to remember the few on the anniversary of The Battle of Britain. The afternoon began with a service of thanksgiving and remembrance held at Southernhay United Reform Church and attended by The Lord Lieutenant of Deon, The Lord Mayor of Exeter and members of the Royal Air Force Association including those who fought in The Battle of Britain. The congregation also included over 150 cadets and staff from across Devon and Somerset.
Following the service there was a parade through the City centre with the salute being taken at the Guildhall by The Lord of Lieutenant of Devon. With the parade ending at the County War memorial on Cathedral Green. A short act of remembrance was held including a two minutes silence followed by wreaths being laid by The Lord Lieutenant of Devon, The Lord Mayor of Exeter, The Royal Air Force Association, Devon and Somerset Wing Air Training Corps and Exeter Air Scouts.
Although events of 67 years ago were being remembered and each year "The Few" as they were referred to by War time Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, become fewer in number. The very fact that we can pay tribute to them, is a testament to their bravery and courage all those years ago.
It all started on a Friday evening in July, members of the Devon and Somerset Wing marching team gathered at motorway services across the land to catch the bus to Holland.
Although in reality the adventure had begun for us way back in January when we, all in a state of madness, decided to sign up for training for the 100 mile marches. It sounds easy at first doesn’t it? 100 miles, 4 days, and a jolly to Amsterdam. Easy.
However many of us had been before to Nijmegen had experienced the 42 degree heat with no shade and were a little bit more wary (we signed up again anyway so obviously our mental health had been permanently affected)
The trip over to Holland took roughly 18 hours, stopping on the way to pick up the Bristol University Air Squadron team at Colerne, and again at the channel tunnel for breakfast which consisted of odd mixtures of Pastries and arriving in Camp Heumensoord at around midday.
The next few days were great, on the Sunday we all took the train to Amsterdam and sampled the sights, shopping, had a team lunch in a steak house.
Monday was spent on parade in the morning when a picture was taken of the whole British Contingent, the biggest contingent at Nijmegen, even outnumbering the Dutch. Also present were French, Danish, (Including a few who had marched to Nijmegen from Copenhagen, marched around Nijmegen and the rumour was they were marching home again. Nutters!) Swiss, Norwegians, Finnish, Swedish, Americans, Canadians, Germans and even a contingent of army cadets from Australia!
The afternoon was spent around camp sewing on our lovely new AIR CADET badges, and a few went to Arnhem for the afternoon. That evening we went to the opening ceremony.
The ceremony was supposed to be looking through history at the significance of a few years and their relationships to the marches. This was so far from the truth it was unreal. The event was crazy, there were thousands of cheerleaders in 1932, sputnik came on in 1957 (I think) alongside a large cylinder with USSR on it which several 8 foot tall aliens arose from. A particular highlight was the British cheering madly when the Falklands war appeared in 1982.
Then it was all over we went back to bed early ready for the 4 days to come.
The following day we awoke at half past 2 in the morning, breakfast was at 3, we left at 4, a truly horrific ordeal to endure and we hadn’t even started marching.
The march takes you through Nijmegen town, across the famous Nijmegen Bridge and round a huge loop then back again. Along the way people line the streets, music plays, bands play, people are dancing in the road, giving us sweets, drinks and food, small children weave among the marchers asking for souvenirs which we gave in the form of RAF recruitment stickers and the sweets from people earlier on which we didn’t like.
The march days soon merge into a blur of excitement, weariness, pain, boredom, pain, hilarity, pain, singing, pain, laughter and a sense of euphoria each day when we crossed the finish line in the beer tent, a truly momentous experience for all concerned as everyone else in the tent was applauding and cheering every team who crossed the line.
Day 3 contained one moment that will remain in my memory. As we formed up to march out the gate, we marched through the waiting Dutch contingent, every member of the Dutch contingent clapped us as we walked past, shook our hands, gave us high fives, and cheered at the top of their voices shouting "good luck English" this was a poignant for many of us, despite being cheered in every town we walked through by the civilian spectators it meant a hundred times more coming from them as they were going through the same thing as we were, enduring the same pains and the same weariness. A mind-blowing moment.
Day 3 also contained the road of the seven hills, not usually a big event for people from Devon or Somerset where hills are common as the muck on them, but in Holland hills are a major event as there aren’t any, and these hills were surprisingly big compared to the rest of the country but we powered on singing up each one "get out of the way the Brits are coming!" finishing Day 3 was a great moment as from then on it was all easy, one day left.
Day 4 began dark and stupidly early, every town was another step towards our goal, everyone was in high spirits, we were almost done, and then 5 miles from the finish the heavens opened in a spectacular downpour and within minutes everyone was almost soaked through, and those last 5 miles dragged on forever, but finally we were there and Air Commodore Moulds OC Air Cadets was waiting at the end to welcome us in and shook our hands individually in the pouring rain.
But after 100 miles of marching it wasn’t over, as we were immediately formed up in parade order, with a band and we marched 5 more!!! The crowd was immense, a rumour went round that over 1 million people were in Nijmegen town that day and it was believable, they gave us beer as we marched, sang songs, cheered and applauded, this was what it was all for and it was amazing.
The Vier-daagse as it is known in Dutch is a truly spectacular experience and cannot really be done justice in words here. The only way to really understand is to do it.
On Sunday 23 September, 400 Air Cadets from Devon & Somerset Wing of the Air Training Corps took part in an activities and training day held at Fremington Camp, North Devon.
The Cadets were able to participate in a confidence course, .22 shooting and a tug-of-war competition to decide who was the best Squadron.
Other events included first aid, aero modelling, aviation art, photography and public speaking competitions. The Cadets were also marked on their standard of foot drill and marching.
Devon & Somerset’s Air Cadets are members of one of the country’s largest voluntary youth organisations. Although not obliged to join the Armed Forces, many in fact do so. Training is provided in a wide variety of aviation subjects and practical experience is gained by the Cadets during flying and gliding.
The spirit of adventure is fostered by the Cadets’ involvement in Adventure Training, overseas trips and participation in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. Many Cadets now gain a formal education qualification of a BTec Diploma in aviation studies.
The Wing Activities Day is held annually and competition is always fierce. Sqn Ldr Dave Rolfe, Wing Media Officer, said "It’s great to see our people putting into practice some of the skills they are trained in throughout the year. The Cadets work very well as a team and are exceptionally proud of their achievements, both at their Squadron level and as a whole".
More photos of the day can be found here
Back to Main News Page