2516 (Droitwich) Squadron

A cadet with 2516 (Droitwich) Squadron, Royal Air Force Air Cadets has received significant recognition of her achievements.

Hannah Watson has been awarded with the prestigious rank of Cadet Warrant Officer. West Mercian’s Wing Commander, Andy Griffin attended the squadron in person to present the award.

Hannah has had a distinguished career with the organisation since she joined in 2010. Progressing to the highest cadet rank, she has completed flying scholarships, attended camps overseas and was appointed as the Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet.

Delighted to receive the rare promotion, Hannah explained: “It’s a great honour, I’ve had such fantastic experiences during my time with the Squadron and I’m sure I’ll have more before I leave”. Hannah will retire from her cadet duties this year and is hoping to pursue a career with the Royal Air Force.

The Air Cadets are a youth organisation sponsored by the Royal Air Force. Anyone interested in joining as a cadet or a volunteer should email 2516@aircadets.org or call 07912341757.

A NEW art exhibition is due to launch at the Droitwich Lido, over the half term holiday, showing art inspired by the history of the pool.
The Droitwich Sea Bathing Lido exhibition, which has been created by Droitwich Air Cadets and supported by Wychavon District Council, involves interviews with local people sharing their memories of the Lido, as well as material from the archives in Worcester, going back to when the Lido originally opened in 1935.
The exhibition features images and newspaper articles, as well as original bathing costumes from the 1950s, and information on Droitwich’s own 1940s acrobatic and burlesque diving experts ‘The Aquabats’, showing the displays behind changing room style saloon doors.
Jenny Davis, Wychavon District Council’s arts development officer, said: “This is an amazing way for Droitwich to show off its wonderful memories of the Lido, which is such an iconic part of the town’s history. It’s also a brilliant for young people to learn about their history and to see how researching from archives and using up–to–date sound recording equipment with the interviews can really bring an exhibition to life. It also gives the public an opportunity to learn more about the Lido in an interesting way.”
Lisa Kimberley, the project manager of the Droitwich Sea Bathing Lido Exhibition, added: “The unique exhibition that is being installed within Droitwich Lido for the 2014 season provides a playful insight and celebration into times gone by at the classic art deco designed Sea Bathing Lido, which continues to be a popular outdoor swimming and recreational facility in the local area today.”
Sam Cooper and Gwyndaf Wheeler of the Droitwich Air Cadets have been involved in the project. They said: “It’s been a long project but it’s been really rewarding. To see the exhibition go from being a model of our ideas to the finished thing is brilliant.”
The exhibition will be on display all throughout the summer Lido season and will close on 7 September. To see it visitors just need to purchase a swimming ticket — visitors to the Lido who are there to use the pool do not need to buy an additional ticket to see the exhibition.

Droitwich Air Cadets recently took part in an Adventure Training Weekend in Dinedor, Hereford. The Cadets took part in a variety of exercises ranging from shelter building to pioneering skills. Cadet Cooper said “I really enjoyed my time at Dinedor, we did lots of different activities and some that I hadn’t experienced before — it was great!”
Over the weekend the cadets were competing in flights for the Peter Kendal Shield. This year Red Flight led by Cadet Sergeant Wheeler was victorious. Pilot Officer Booth who ran the weekend’s activities said “Despite the inclement weather, the effort shown by the cadets was fantastic. The morale was very high throughout the weekend and Red Flight thoroughly deserved their victory”.

DROITWICH’S 2516 Royal Air Force Air Cadets squadron is celebrating after being named as the second best in the UK.

The prestigious title from the Air Cadet Organisation has come after the Spa’s squadron was judged at both a regional and national level, fighting off competition from almost 1,000 other squadrons.

They were also inspected by Commandmant Air Cadets, Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty who was hugely impressed by the young cadets’ enthusiasm for their community work, their achievements and the way they approached their activities with so much fun, learning lots of new skills in the process.

Air Commodore McCafferty said: “The Morris Trophy recognises the best of the best. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting Droitwich Squadron for their inspection.”

“The young people were having so much fun and clearly enjoying themselves. The squadron was a very happy place.”

She added, with achievements including Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards, BTEC Qualifications, and Flying and Gliding scholarships, the squadron was achieving way beyond its targets.

Officer Commanding, Flt Lt Paul Wilde said he was so proud of their achievements.

“The cadets work extremely hard all year round and prepared long and hard for this award. They are credit to themselves and their squadron — to be recognised as second out of nearly 1,000 squadrons in the UK is fantastic.”

Cadets from the award winning Droitwich Air Training Corps were among young achievers from across the UK who had a date in the prestigious setting of St. James’s Palace last week. The cadets, who have achieved their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award travelled to London to receive their certificate from Trustee and Gold Award holder HRH The Earl of Wessex.

The Gold Award Presentation is a celebration and recognition of the cadets’ achievements in the Gold D of E programme; a unique event and a fitting culmination to mark the hard work, determination and perseverance required.

Rachel Handley, Victoria Lane, Hannah Watson and Gerallt Wheeler worked tirelessly through the five sections of their D of E programme over an eighteen month period to achieve their Gold Award. The diverse activities included an expedition to the Peak District, where the group sought and recorded aircraft wrecks, mainly from WW2, information on which they later used to give a presentation. Three of the four cadets have now had to leave the ranks as they have reached the upper age limit, but they have returned to the squadron as volunteers to help the present cadets. Former Cadet Warrant Officer Wheeler, now a civilian instructor said, “We all learnt so much through both the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme and through being part of the Air Cadets, it prepares you for life and is a fantastic thing to have on your CV, employers know that you have learnt to work on your own initiative and as part of a team, skills which are valued.”

All cadets at the Droitwich Squadron are given the opportunity to take part in the scheme with many achieving highly; later this year two further Droitwich cadets will attend a presentation at St James’ Palace to receive their Gold Awards. The Duke of Edinburgh$rsquo;s scheme is just one of a wide range of activities enjoyed by members of the Droitwich Air Cadet Force, which earlier this year was judged to be the second best squadron in the country.

Anyone wishing to join the Air Cadets should contact Paul Wilde on 07912341757. The squadron is also looking for people to join its civilian committee which helps to raise money to provide equipment and activities for the cadets.