GOLD DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD PRESENTATION

Four Air Cadets from 1220 (March) Squadron were recently presented with their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award pin badges.  Wing Commander Paul Bower, Officer Commanding Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Wing, presented the awards to Flight Sergeants Toni Arnold and Alexa Ferguson and Sergeants Hannah Foad and Luke Goodall at a special ceremony.

The cadets were pleased to be able to receive their badges in front of family and friends.  Award leaders that had held them complete various sections of the award were also invited.  Flying Officer Adrian Garraway, who until two years ago was a member of staff with 1220 Squadron, travelled to March from his home in Loughborough specifically to join in the celebration.

At Gold level there is five sections to the award. Some of the activities Toni, Alexa, Hannah and Luke took part in were to volunteer at the Aviation Museum in Wisbech, gain a new skill by learning car maintenance with the help of a local garage, improve their fitness by playing Hockey on a regular basis and by completing the training required to complete the Nijmegen Marches in Holland.

Together they completed a four day expedition journeying 50 miles on foot through the Lake District and studied water features while there.  They each attended a one week residential course, Alexa and Luke learnt how to fly a Glider at residential training course at VGS Watton, Hannah chose to attend a learning course at Oxford University and Toni travelled to Zweisel for a weeks Nordic Skiing.

Flight Lieutenant Kirsty Burnham, Officer Commanding 1220 (March) Squadron commended the cadets on their achievements and added ‘I am particularly proud of these cadets as they are the first ones I have helped complete their awards at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels.  They are also my first cadets to be able to show their achievement by being young enough to be able to wear the Gold Duke of Edinburgh badge on their uniforms’.