Cadets News

Fourteen year old Finchley Cadet Lance Corporal Aaron Field has been awarded the St John Young First Aider of the Year Award at Cadet Headquarters in Hammersmith. The presentation by Lieutenant Colonel Mark Hodson TD Commandant of Middlesex and North West London ACF was made on Monday 30^th January in recognition of life saving actions by Aaron in January 2011. 

As part of his normal syllabus Cadet Lance Corporal Aaron Field had just attended his First Aid Training. Amazingly he put it into practice at home in the following week.   Whilst his dad was doing some repairs at home, he fell off a ladder and through a glass window severely injuring his arm. Luckily, Cadet Lance Corporal Field was on hand and able to give first aid straight away, which saved his dad the use of his arm. He recalls what happened. 

“Late one Saturday evening I was in my room when I heard a crash. I ran downstairs and saw my dad hold his forearm. I told him to let me have a look and I saw a big deep cut with lots of blood and there was muscle hanging out. I looked to see if there was any glass in the wound but there wasn’t so I gave my dad a towel which he wrapped round his arm and told him to apply pressure. He went pale so I asked him to sit on the floor and raise his arm.  There was a lot of blood but I didn’t panic, I remembered what I was taught and having called an ambulance I put into practice all the First Aid training I’d learned at Army Cadets.”

Aaron, a pupil at Bishop Douglas School has been a cadet for 18 months. His father, a former cadet himself, is Company Sergeant Major Instructor Martin Field has been a Cadet Leader since 2004. At the presentation he said. “I am both very proud and also very grateful to Aaron, he saved my life in were fairly dire circumstances – he knew just what to do and took full control of the situation” 

First Aid is one of the many life skills taught in the Army Cadet Syllabus to teenagers aged 12-18 years.

South London Army Cadets and their Adult Leaders were among uniformed youth groups who met The Mayor of London Boris Johnson today (19^th January) at the Merton Sea Cadets Centre in Mitcham. He saw and tasted the range of healthy foods available and helped cook the ‘compo’ rations of meatballs and pasta, and chicken curry.

Under the expert guidance of seventeen year old Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major Brogan Twite he inspected the parade of uniformed cadets and even gave several drill commands. During a tour of the building he saw a range of activities undertaken by a variety uniformed youth organisations.  

The Mayor was unveiling the new programme which would boost the job prospects of thousands of young Londoners and steer them away from involvement in crime. In the plans outlined by the Mayor, thousands of youngsters will have the opportunity to join uniformed groups like the Guides, Boys Brigade and Cadets. The £1.3 million programme, being run by the Safer London Foundation, will help young people develop vital skills and instil discipline and responsibility in young people, particularly those who are or at risk of being excluded from education, training or employment.

The initiative is part of Team London, the Mayor’s strategy to harness volunteers to deliver key projects to improve the quality of life and opportunities of Londoners. Speaking at the launch, the Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: ‘Uniformed groups are a fantastic way for youngsters to get involved in a myriad of activities, which will help equip them with the skills they need to succeed in life. It’s a modern tragedy that so many of our young people are struggling to get a foothold in the jobs market and are drifting into crime. By instilling self reliance, discipline and a sense of competition, young people can aspire to a better future.’

The Safer London Foundation will work in partnership with the You London uniformed groups- Volunteer Police Cadets, St John’s Ambulance, Army Cadets, Air Cadets, Sea Cadets, Guides, Scouts, Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Brigade.

To mark his contribution to Northwest London's Army cadets, Colonel Ian Denison was awarded the OBE in the New Year's Honours List.  After 34 years of service to the Middlesex and Northwest London Army Cadet Force (ACF), including the last six as Commandant, Ashford born Colonel Ian Denison handed over command of the whole sector at the end of December. That’s one year's volunteering for each of the ACF Cadet Units in the North West corner of London. The Sector stretches from Staines in the West to Barnet in the North and Victoria in Central London.

Colonel Denison, who is a senior manager at Heathrow’s UK Border Force says “Six years ago seems a long time ago, but July 1977 seems an even longer time ago. It was then that I joined the Army Cadets, as a volunteer, and was posted to 237 Chelsea Detachment ( London Irish Rifles) in the Duke of York’s HQ in Chelsea. How things have changed in that time. Suffice it to say, that over the past 34 years I have had a great time, made a large number of life-long friends and attended 34 Annual Camps. I have enjoyed them all in the various roles I have held within the Sector. I know that I will miss it all.”

A new role beckons for him in 2012. Colonel Denison has been appointed as the Army HQ ACF Training Advisor. He will join the staff at the National Cadet Training Centre at Frimley Park on 1 January. The new job is geared to provide advice on all aspects of ACF Training, design and delivery, to the CTC’s Commandant and the Training Development Team. In the Spring he will also take on the role of Chairman of the Greater London Reserve Forces and Cadets’ Association tri-Service Cadet Committee.

Adult volunteers toasted him at a dinner held at the Middlesex and Northwest London Army Cadet Force Headquarters, and wished him well in his new role. He will hand over to Lieutenant Colonel Mark Hodson.

Twickenham’s 267 Squadron ATC threw open its doors last night (22November) to welcome family, friends and former cadets at a special open evening at the new Cadet Centre in London Road.

Over fifty visitors saw the cadets of all ages enjoying a range of activities from First Aid to aircraft modelling, and a lesson on the principles of flight.

The Cadet Centre was officially opened in October by Dr Vince Cable and this is the first opportunity for parents and potential cadets to visit the new premises.

Middlesex Wing Commander David Hale said “You have a very fine facility here – it will not have the charm of the old one but it is you young cadets of today who will give the centre its tradition for the cadets of the future. I am grateful to the staff and the families who provide you with so much support and encouragement.”

On the final parade of the evening, and watched by proud parents, Wing Commander Hale announced the promotions of both Tim Evans to Cadet Sergeant and Tara Crank to Flight Sergeant (both pictured with Wing Commander David Hale)

Eighteen year old Flight Sergeant Tara Crank, formerly of Whitton School, plans a career in medicine and enjoys fencing as her other hobby. She modestly admits to being in the top 43 in senior ranking in the UK Fencing world.