RAF aerobatic display team The Red Arrows last weekend took time out of their busy schedule to meet with local Air Cadets and help them prepare for the Cleethorpes Carnival.
Cadets from 195 (Grimsby) Squadron travelled to RAF Scampton on Sunday 10 July 2016 to meet the Reds and add the finishing touches to their carnival float.
Civilian Instructor Karl Horner, this year’s organiser of the Grimsby Air Cadet Carnival float, explained: “When we looked at the carnival this year, we had the idea of doing something special to mark the RAF Air Cadets 75th birthday.
“With that in mind, the cadets came up with the idea of our float being made up of 9 red wheel barrows – nicknamed ‘the Red Barrows’ as a tribute to the RAF display team.
“Our cadets, staff and committee members have been working hard to get the barrows ready in time for this weekend’s carnival.
“We approached the Reds and asked if they would consider signing one of the barrows, with a view to our Squadron auctioning it off, with profits going to the RAF Benevolent Fund and 195 (Grimsby) Squadron. The cadets were thrilled when the team and their engineers – known as ‘the blues’ – agreed to sign all 9 of the barrows.”
Cadet Sergeant Kieran Miller went to RAF Scampton to meet the Red Arrows pilots and Engineers, and said: “The team were really great – they were more than happy to sign all 9 of the barrows and loved the idea we had come up with.
“We were really lucky; as we also got to watch the Arrows take off towards end of the day.
“Now we are all looking forward to the carnival. It’s going to be great!”
The cadets are now looking forward to what is expected to be a memorable Cleethorpes Carnival.
