The Station Commander of RAF Boulmer, Group Captain Portlock, joined with air cadets of 2344 (Longbenton) Squadron, to celebrate their achievements over the past 12 months.The young cadets had been preparing for the awards evening over recent weeks and codenamed the event Operation Flying Circus.
The squadron band, as seen by the Queen, performed their new percussion repertoire, before Group Captain Portlock presented six of its members with their BTEC First Diploma in Music - the award being the equivalent to 4 GCSE's at grade C-A*. A further 10 youngsters received their BTEC First Diploma in Public Services, 14 received their St John's Young Lifesavers' Award, and four were presented with their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
Cadet Flight Sergeant Daniel Dotchin, 17, of Longbenton Community College, was awarded the Cadet of the Year Award. "Being at Longbenton Squadron is great fun and to get the Top Cadet Award is fantastic!" said Daniel. We do loads of different activities like flying, climbing, fieldcraft and leadership." "It's great to try out new activities and learn how to cope with responsibility whilst gaining qualifications," he added.
Group Captain Portlock said that "I thoroughly enjoyed the evening and was delighted to see so many young people gaining so many skills and qualifications - they were all very smart, confident and disciplined and I was humbled to mark their personal achievements."
Pictured left to right are cadets Alexander Quinn, 15, Stephanie Robson, 19, Georgina Cassidy, 18, Daniel Dotchin, 17, Jade Harrison, 15, Jonny Vickers, 16 and Zack Wylie, 15.
