Best of Buckingham

By Sgt Emily Campbell (ATC)

1563 (Buckingham) Sqn recently held their Annual Awards evening in conjunction with the Annual General Meeting of the Civilian Committee.

It has been a busy year for the squadron, attending events across Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, both as a squadron and as individuals. The awards evening is a chance for cadets to show off everything they have been part of and achieved to parent and friends, whilst giving the parents of cadets a chance to talk to the staff who make the activities possible.

The evening started with the Civilian Committee’s AGM, giving the parents an update of what they have been doing for the squadron, how much fundraising we have been doing and making them aware of what is on the agenda for the coming year. In attendance for the evening, and presenting some of the awards were the Wing Commander, Wing Commander Mimpress RAFVR(T) and the squadron’s Wing Staff Officer, Squadron Leader Davies RAFVR(T).

The cadets were then formed up and inspected by the Wing Commander. This was his chance to have a quick talk with the cadets as he made his way round the parade. It was then back inside for the awards. These started with Swimming and First Aid qualifications, for which most of the squadron received a certificate. We then moved on to the individual awards.

Bronze Duke of Edinburgh: Cadet Warrant Officer Emma Ironmonger and Cadet Corporal George Akerman
Gliding Certificate of Merit: Cadet Alanna Morris
Best Sports Cadet: Cadet Corporal Shannon Loftus
Best Squadron Musician: Cadet Victoria Balderstone and Cadet Ibrahim Sheikh
Cadets Choice Award: Cadet Sergeant Lucy Sumner
Community Cup: Cadet Sergeant Lucy Sumner
Haley Trophy (Best Squadron Achiever): Cadet Adam Bradbury
McQuillan Cup (Best Squadron Cadet): Cadet Aidan Easton
Best New Cadet: Cadet Alex Parker
Pathfinder Trophy (Best Squadron NCO): Cadet Sergeant Lucy Sumner

The cadets, parents and staff then moved into another room for tea, cake and a prize raffle! Prizes ranged from a book on the RAF to a 3 course meal at a local restaurant. There was also a sealed bid auction for a flight in a Chipmunk at RAF Halton. The successful high bidder for this were the Close-Smith family!

Photo shows the happy winners!