The squadron is located in the Market Town of St Neots in the
County of Cambridgeshire, East Anglia. The easiest way to find St Neots on
a map is to located a triangle with Peterborough at the top with Bedford
on the lower left hand corner and finally Cambridge on the lower right
hand corner, St Neots is approximately in the centre of your triangle with
the River Great Ouse running through it.
The St Neots Squadron obtained
it's Royal Warrant on 1st August 1972 and formed a new squadron this
was after having been operating for many of the war years as a
Detached Flight of No 73 (Huntingdon) Squadron ATC, many cadets either
cycled or got a lift in an RAF Bedford or AEC canvas topped
lorry from the MT Flight at RAF Brampton.....what a treat!
Back in the 1980 our squadron along with five others from the UK
were asked to trial girls being accepted into the ATC. Needless to say
from the response that was received we knew it would be popular. So from the success of
these trials girls are now widely accepted at any ATC squadron.
We also had the first female Uniformed Officer on any ATC Squadron,
this again in the early 1982. Pilot Officer Janet Page WRAFVR(T) soon
became the Officer Commanding and was promoted to Flight Lieutenant.
Mark Jefferies was a
cadet and went on to become an Warrant Officer (ATC) at our squadron until the
death of his father Leonard, from then on he took up flying and went on to become
an Aerobatic Pilot and has competed around the world in competitions. (
www.markjefferies.com )
He has won many top awards and represented Great Britain
abroad in both the European and World Aerobatic Competitions.
No 2500 Squadron is also famous for it's cadets who
have a keen eye for an aircraft, it cadets have won local and national
aircraft recognition competitions over the last 30 years. Cadets have won
individual and team awards at both ATC and Air Britain Competitions.
Flight Lieutenant David Webb RAFVR(T) holds competitions for the cadets
from the squadron, Beds and Cambs Wing and Central & East Region.
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Copyright of No 2500 Squadron ATC
