2010 saw 150 years of the Cadet Movement. To celebrate GL RFCA produced a commemorative booklet "Celebrating 150 years of the Cadets 1860-2010".  Please click on the booklet to download a copy. If you would like to receive a copy by post, please call Donna O'Halloran on 020 7384 4662 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Thousands of young people celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Cadet Movement

On Wednesday 17th February, cadets from across the country representing the Sea Cadets, the Army Cadet Force, the Air Training Corps and the Combined Cadet Force supported the launch of ‘Cadet150’ which marks the 150^th Anniversary of the Cadet Force Movement.

The National launch took place at Buckingham Palace with Her Majesty The Queen as Patron where she received 26 specially selected Cadet Ambassadors. Later that evening the Cadet Ambassadors joined Government Ministers, the Mayor of London, and senior personnel from the Cadet Forces, at a reception at Lancaster House where the Ulysses Trust (an organisation that supports adventurous training expeditions by members of the Reserve Forces and Cadets) hosted a reception to launch the ‘Cadet150’ expedition to Lesotho, South Africa.

60 specially selected cadets, including several from Greater London, will be embarking on this unique expedition to southern Africa during which they will work with orphans and vulnerable children in Lesotho. Dozens more will be challenging themselves on treks and expeditions all over the world including Peru, Nigeria and the Himalayas.

Cadet 150 St George’s Day Parade in Whitehall

Air, Army and Sea Cadets from all over London celebrated Cadet150 on St George’s Day with a march down Whitehall and a ceremony at The Cenotaph. London’s Cadets traditionally take part in the Royal Society of St George’s annual parade, which this year took place on Saturday 24^th April.

The cadets formed up in King Charles Street and marched out to take up position at The Cenotaph in Whitehall. At 1100 hours Last Post and Reveille was sounded and there was a short service and wreath laying ceremony.

After the ceremony, at 1120 hours, the cadets carried out a march past and salute in front of The Deputy Lord Mayor of Westminster who was accompanied by Mr George Andrews, President of the Royal Society of St George and Brigadier David Paterson, Deputy Commander London District.

Lieutenant Colonel Barry Paddison, Deputy Chief Executive of GL RFCA said, “We are delighted to be celebrating 150 years of this fantastic movement. The Cadet Forces offer such great opportunities for thousands of young people across the UK. We are encouraging people to find out more through Cadet150 – come along and Live the Adventure!”

Cadet150 reception at City Hall

Over 200 Cadets and Adult Instructors from across London were invited to a reception hosted by the London Assembly at City Hall on Thursday 20^th May.  The Cadets and Adult Instructors from all three Services were entertained on the top floor of City Hall, known as London’s Living Room, in an event to mark the 150^th anniversary of the Cadet Movement.  They were welcomed to City Hall by Chair of the London Assembly, Dee Doocey.  After the reception, all guests were entertained to a Beating Retreat by 103 Company Corps of Drums, South East London Army Cadet Force.

Cadet150 Guildhall Reception

A special reception to celebrate the remarkable contribution of the Adult Volunteers of the Cadet Forces took place at the Guildhall on Wednesday 2 June.

The reception was attended by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, The Colonel in Chief of the Army Cadet Force, who met some of the 1,300 volunteers and their guests present at the Guildhall. They were joined by Defence Minister Andrew Robathan, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir Nicholas Houghton, First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton and the Lord Mayor of the City of London Nicholas Anstee.

Lieutenant Karen Lorimer, a Leisure Manager for the Principal Hayley Hotel in Croydon, has been a member of the ACF for thirteen years.  Although she had no previous experience she threw herself into the role becoming the county first aid training officer, a member of one of the shooting teams and then a detachment commander looking after all cadet activities incuding parading and outward bound training.

Her current position is with 13 Group, the Morden-based ACF detachment, where the cadets are often from difficult backgrounds or even in care.

Lieutenant Lorimer said: "Today has been a thank you for all cadet volunteers who contribute so much of their own free time.  The satisfaction I feel, particularly when taking young poeple on exciting adventure training, is seeing them constantly acheiving things for themselves, gaining vital skills for adulthood and watching them grow.

"I seem to take on a big sister role with many of the Cadets helping those who, without the cadet forces, could seriously get into trouble. It's terribly satisfying and worthwhile".

Following the reception, volunteers and cadets from the Corps of Drums of the South East London Army Cadet Force performed Beat Retreat in Guildhall Yard, with the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff and the Lord Mayor of the City of London taking the salute.

Cadet150 Gliding Event

Fifty London cadets celebrated 150 years of the Cadet Force Movement at a special gliding day held at Kenley Airfield on Friday 18^th June.

Squadron Leader Keith Chandler, Officer Commanding of 161 Volunteer Gliding Squadron (VGS) said “It’s been our honour today to provide 150 flights for fifty cadets for the ongoing Cadet150 celebrations.  It’s been a positive day for these cadets especially the air and sea cadets who don’t normally get this experience.  We’ve been teaching them part of the basic gliding training syllabus and its something they’ll probably never get the opportunity to do again”.

For Leading Cadet Darren Cook, 17, from Greenwich, Deptford and Rotherhithe Sea Cadet Corps, it was his first gliding experience.  He said “It’s been a fantastic day and a lot of fun.  You go up to about 1,000 feet and you can really feel the G-force and then when you’re released it’s just so peaceful and graceful – the views are incredible.  I loved it!”

For more news on London's Cadet Forces, click here.

For more information on Cadet150, visit www.cadet150.org