Squadron Presentation 

A presentation took place recently at Headquarters of No 2500 (St Neots) Squadron by members of the Huntingdon Amateur Radio Society (HARS).

For the second year running Cadets and Staff undertook car parking, car unloading and setting up duties at last year’s HARS Annual Radio Rally in St Neots. Cambridgeshire. Committee Members from HARS consisting of Steve Watson G1KWF– Chairman, David Leech G7DIU– Secretary, Sqn Ldr David Howlett RAF Ret’d M0VTG and John Shere M0JWS made the presentation to Cadet Flight Sergeant Jade Stimson. Thanks go to the HARS for their donation, it was much appreciated. Afterwards the HARS members held an ‘open forum’ with the cadets asking questions on many different radio, communications and engineering subjects, the members also promoted radio and it’s various uses over the years and Amateur Radio as a hobby for life. Three members of the Squadron are already Foundation licence holders since December 2010 and have 2 cadets and one staff member taking part in another Foundation course to be held at the Squadron Headquarters in mid January 2012.

St Neots Air Cadets pay tribute on Remembrance Sunday

Over 40 Air Cadets & Staff from 2500 (St Neots) Squadron, together with former Air Cadets joined together with the town’s people of St Neots to remember the fallen on Sunday.
 

The Air Cadets formed up in Waitrose's car park in St Neots on the Sunday morning and marched through the Town led by the Squadron Band, for a short service at the War Memorial, before a Church Service in St Marys Parish Church, conducted by Reverend Dr Paul Andrews, the Vicar of St Mary’s and Squadron Padre at St Neots Air Cadets.  Air Cadet Zac Stimson played the bag-pies at the Memorial following the Wreath laying. Flt Lt David Webb, Officer Commanding St Neots Squadron laid a wreath at the Memorial on behalf of the Burma Star, and Flt Lt Margaret Bell laid a wreath on behalf of the Air Training Corps.

The Union Flag was carried by Cdt Mark Tyrrell-Thompson and the Squadron Banner by Cdt Sgt Tom Humphries. The Cadets conducted the collection in the Church in aid of the Royal British Legion. Following the Service they marched back to the Royal Air Force Association Club, for a buffet lunch.

The two previous Saturdays saw Staff and Cadets assisting with the Poppy Appeal street collection in St Neots Town and Eaton Socon, and on Sunday they attended two Services of Remembrance, one in St Neots and the other in Eaton Socon.

Mayor’s Civic Service 

Air Cadets from 2500 (St Neots) Squadron Air Training Corps attended the Mayor’s Civic Service recently at St Mary’s Church, to celebrate the election of the new Town Mayor.

Cadets Pictures (Left to Right) CWO Sage, Cdt Clarke T, Cdt Clarke D, Cdt Powell, Cdt Thomas, Sgt Curtis, Cdt Burgoyne A, Cdt Beaumont, Sgt Humphrey,  Cdt King, Cdt Burgess, Flt Sgt Younger, Sgt Hanson, Cdt Hamilton, Cdt Hines, Cdt Silcock, Cdt Oram, Cdt Miller, Cdt Stimson, Cdt Burgoyne P, Flt Sgt Stimson.

Also pictured central Cllr Barry Chapman, Chairman of the Council and the Mayor of St Neots, the Lady Mayoress and Andrew Hansard, Vice Chairman of the Council and Deputy Mayor of St Neots.

Cadets touch down for Summer Camp at RAF Odiham

Five Cadets from the Squadron were amongst 40 lucky  Cadets chosen to attend the Beds and Cambs Wing Annual Camp at RAF Odiham recently. 

Cpl Watson and Cadets Hamilton, Tyrrell-Thompson, Hines and  Sheikh enjoyed a week with the RAF taking part in a range of activities including navigation exercise, station section visits, Bowling, flying, night exercise, visit to Portsmouth, various briefings and leadership exercises.

 Highlights of the Camp included a visit to USL (Under Slung Loads) and JHSS (Joint Helicopter Support Squadron), where the Training Team showed Cadets and Staff how under slung loads were achieved with the Chinook helicopter. Following training three members of Staff were able to undertake this under the watchful eye of the team. It was quite an achievement, with the Chinook flying so low.  All the Staff and Cadets were able to fly in the Chinooks twice courtesy of 18 and 27 Squadrons, and 20 Cadets achieved their Air Experience Flying, plus 8 Cadets undertook their GICs (Gliding Induction Course) whilst on Camp. 

 The night exercise was brilliant in the Bramley Training area. Cadets had to build a landing area, not knowing of course that the Chinook, piloted by the Officer Commanding 18 Squadron would be landing at the end of the exercise to take them back to RAF Odiham. This was achieved successfully and it finished off the exercise on a high for all concerned.

 Grateful thanks are expressed to the Station Commander at RAF Odiham, Group Captain Shell and the ACLO team.

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