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249 Squadron 10th anniversary celebrations

The Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, Peter Field and the Mayor and Mayoress of Hailsham, Cllrs Robin and Carolyn Kempe, were the honoured guest of 249 Hailsham Millennium Squadron,  Air Training Corps on their 10^th anniversary celebrations. Other guest included former Squadron Commanders of the unit and the District Commander for Wealden’s Fire and Rescue Service Neal Robinson.

Parents and supporters of the Squadron, who also attended were treated to a presentation given by the current Commanding Officer Flight Lieutenant Neil Banks, showing off the various activities undertaken by cadets over the past year. This included activities such as flying, gliding, flight simulation, shooting and annual camps.  The cadets also demonstrated their skills with a drill display and a radio communication demonstration.

Cadets were also presented awards to commemorate the unit's 10th anniversary, including best cadet, best sports cadet, best new cadet and trophies for community service and fundraising activities.

Both the Lord Lieutenant and the Mayor praised the unit’s achievements.

Flight Lieutenant Banks said “The evening was a great success, it was a privilege to be able to have the Lord Lieutenant and the Mayor present some of the trophies, we have achieved so much over this last year and this was a great time to celebrate the units 10^th anniversary”.

The Squadron goes from strength to strength and gives the young people that attend the best opportunities to learn new skills and self discipline whist having a lot of fun”.

Air Cadets conquer grueling adventure race.

On the 3^rd July, on a very hot and sunny day about 150 cadets took part in one of the hardest challenges in the Sussex Wing Air Training Corps Calendar. The event is the “Southdown’s Challenge”. Competitors have to complete a grueling 40 km adventure race in less than 11 hours.

This was no mean feat giving that temperatures rose to the 27 degrees centigrade.

Hailsham cadets were up for the challenge, entering a team of six, they boldly marched on.  The event is put together by the Sussex Wing Adventure Training Team and has been held annually for more than 20 years.

Hailsham Cadets did not disgrace themselves coming in third. Unfortunately over half of the teams that took part did not complete. Flt Lt Neil Banks said “this is quite a challenge; I don’t think the cadets and Squadron across the Wing realise how hard this event is”. “However I’m very please that 249 (Hailsham) Squadron cadets completed the course”.

249 Squadron members take part in Royal review

THE PRINCE OF WALES JOINED THOUSANDS OF CADETS FOR AN HISTORIC ROYAL REVIEW CELEBRATING 150 YEARS OF THE CADET FORCES.

On 6th July HRH The Prince of Wales took the salute at a Royal Review in the Mall to celebrate 150 years of the Cadet Forces in the UK. Cadets, volunteers and their massed bands from across the UK marched from Horse Guards Parade down The Mall to Buckingham Palace in a colourful parade, past Clarence House where The Prince took the Salute in honour of the anniversary.

At 2pm during the parade, the Red Arrows performed a special flypast over Central London down The Mall and over Buckingham Palace. Uniquely, cadets from across the Cadet Forces accompanied the pilots as part of the celebrations.

The celebrations continued at a garden party at Buckingham Palace to honour cadets and volunteers both past and present. The garden party was attended by TRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, HRH The Earl of Wessex, TRH The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and HRH The Duke of Kent.

Members of Sussex Wing and 249(Hailsham) Squadron were invited back to the palace. Cdt Alex Seviour age 16, who played and marched in the air cadet’s mass band, said “It has been great, to be a part of this 150th anniversary event, I’ve gained so much from being a cadet, from flying, adventure training, skills and qualifications and of course being in a band!”

Flt Lt Neil Banks Office Commanding 249 (Hailsham) Squadron, who also attended the Palace said “This was a day to remember, I have never seen so many cadets in one place at one time. They were all incredibly smart. It‘s gives me great pride to see so many young people who are self disciplined and dedicated. I’m honored to be apart of the Air Training Corps”.