29th June 2012

ILMINSTER: Air cadets hold third open event

By Marion Draper

ILMINSTER 2381 Squadron, Air Training Corps held its third annual open evening on Thursday, June 21st.

The cadets are drawn from Chard and Crewkerne as well as Ilminster and the mayors from all three towns attended the event, along with local MP David Laws and senior officers from the ATC.

The mayor of Crewkerne, councillor Robin Pailthorpe, was very interested in the field activities, in particular the enormous rucksack they have to carry.

He remarked that he had briefly been a Sea Cadet in his youth and commented: “Cadets is very worthwhile, chatting to them, the confidence they have gained is very evident.”

Sergeant Ben Tanner agreed with the mayor and said he had seen so many cadets that came in shy and they soon learnt they had to speak out to survive in the environment.

Corporal James Parkinson and Cadet Fred Wigmore had recently taken part in the Ten Tours challenge, a 35-mile hike across the moors, and agreed that the field crafts were the best part of cadets for them.

Chard mayor Cathie Morrison was disappointed that the open evening had to be all indoors as she had been looking forward to the archery which she had enjoyed last year.

Reminiscing in the gun room, Ilminster mayor councillor Roger Swann said it had been obligatory at the grammar school to be an army cadet. He admitted that when he was first issued a 303 Lee Enfield rifle, he was feigning jabbing at a mate with a bayonet, pulled back too far and broke a window with the butt end.

His punishment was to carry the heavier Bren Gun. Sergeant Matt Sergeant said he was particularly keen on the shooting experienced he had gained as a cadet as he planned to go in the army, he said he wanted to keep his feet firmly on the ground so the air force was not for him, but the basic training was similar.

There were demonstrations of the various activities for interested youngsters to try out, including first aid and model aeroplane making which teaches the cadets the history and insignia.

There was even a display of the correct way to iron a uniform.

Jan Morse is retired but still enjoys taking the air cadets across Dartmoor, as a civilian instructor mountain leader. She grew up on the moor and knows like the back of her hand, and has worked with the cadets since her daughter was one of the first to join when it was opened to girls in 1983.

They practice over seven weekends based at a barracks for the first two while they learn to use the map and compass, before camping out.

On Ten Tours, they start at 7am on the Saturday and have to be back by 5pm on the Sunday, by which time, she said they are smiling from ear to ear at their achievement.

Flight Lieutenant Steve Penny said the open evenings had been a great way of promoting themselves and their membership had been creeping up over the last few years.

There are just under 50 on the roll, around 20 percent being girls and an average of 13-20 attending per meeting as often the cadets are also involved in sports clubs.

He added that the qualifications cadets can gain is a big draw, the ATC is the biggest provider of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme and cadets can take BTEC courses in aviation studies which are equivalent to two GCSEs and public service and music, both equivalent to three GCSEs.

The staff can also take courses. Seargent Penny, who works for Honeywell Aerospace, is now a graduate in youth management, thanks to their support.

PICTURE 1: CREWKERNE mayoress and mayor Robin Pailthorpe Sgt Ben Tanner CWO James Tanner Cdt Joey Bishop

PICTURE 2: OPEN HOUSE - 2381 Squadron, Air Training Corps cadets and VIPS

PICTURE 3: CAMPING IS COOL - Cpl James Parkinson and Cdt Fred Wigmore

PICTURE 4: USEFUL SKILL - Six-year-old Olivia Hadley learns CPR with Cdt Beth Ponsford

PICTURE 5: SUPPORTING CADETS - MP David Laws, ACM Sir Peter Squire, Sgt Andy Harris, Wg Cdr Brian Wills-Pope, Sqn Ldr John Heath and Flt Lt Steve Penny

ILMINSTER: Air cadets hold third open event

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