Air Cadets from Bury St Edmunds, on Friday, were thrilled to welcome RAF Honington’s Station Commander Group Captain MJ Smeath MBE to their annual awards night.
The Squadron, situated on the Army Reserve center in Bury, was opened to parents and guests as the year’s achievements were recognised from sporting successes to adventure training expeditions. There was also a review of the year carried out by the Commanding Officer Flight Lieutenant Mark Brett.
It was clear that the commander of the squadrons ‘parent’ station, Group Captain Smeath really enjoyed his night. He made every effort to chat to the cadets and their parents to find out what they had done with the Air Cadets and what their aspirations were. The Group Captain explained that he joined the Royal Air Force at the same time as Flight Lieutenant Brett, although they didn’t know each other, as an engineer. Before this he said he was an Air Cadet himself from the age of 13, carrying out much of the same activities cadets still do today.
Towards the end of the night came the moment everyone had been waiting for; the award presentations. With raised heart rates and anticipation the cadets, split into their two ‘flights’, eagerly awaited the results starting with Best Flight. This year the award was collected by Cadet Sergeant Emma Creasey (17), newly appointed commander of A Flight showing a dominant lead over their rivals.
Emma said after the parade, “I was thrilled to hear the boss call me forward to collect the Flights award. Although I think the credit needs to go to Matt Osborne who commanded the flight before me”. Cadet Flight Sergeant Matt Osborne (17) was only recently promoted and reposted to ‘HQ Flight’ where he assists the staff command team.
Sergeant Creasey was also given a special award presented by a representative of the local Royal Air Force Association (RAFA) for her hard work and dedication during the recent Wings Appeal. She organised a team of Bury Air Cadets to help the RAFA collect money around the town center on the Saturday before the Battle of Britain parade.
Flight Sergeant Osborne was also recognised for his amazing hard work and dedication to the squadron and the Air Cadets. He received the Best Cadet award which is in fact a donated military sword. He as represented the squadron at most sporting competitions, attended a number of camps and is committed to helping his juniors learn new skills.
Furthermore, for the first time ever, an award was given to two cadets. The Adventure Training award is given to the cadet who attends the most expeditions, achieves through their participation in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme and overall puts in top quality enthusiasm for the world outside. This year it was discovered that both Corporal’s James Flynn (16) and Oliver Green (16) had attended exactly the same number of events and their enthusiasm was inseparable.
A number of other awards were also given on the night including; Best Attendance – Cadet Thomas Wreathall (17), Best Junior Cadet – Cadet Robert Korzeniowski (14), Top Shot – Cadet Thomas Doughty (14), Drill and Deportment Plate – Cadet Edward Sacree-Hall and the Sport Award – Corporal Jack Tracey.