Cadets from W Company have increased their haul of silverware this year by winning the County First Aid Competition.

This year's event saw teams from across Northumbria ACF dealing with scalds, cut hands and banged heads - the sort of injuries cadets are likely to encounter in real life.

The cadets were also tested on their management of unconscious casualties and resuscitation.  The pressure was on, with the teams having to deal with their casualties safely and effectively against the clock.

Freelance first aid trainer, Andy Jerdan, was invited to oversee the competition of chief judge.

To make the scenarios as realistic as possible casualty simulation was performed by W Company SIs John Rollo and Sue Watson. SI Watson has also coached the winning team for the last 3 months.

It was a tightly fought contest, with teams from Y and Z Companies taking the lead at various stages. Fortunately Team W Company's preparation paid off with a virtually faultless performance in the team and written tests. Footage of the team test can be viewed in the YouTube video below.

The winning team of Sgt Craig Holman, LCpl Elliott Lewis Douglas, LCpl Rachel Richardson and Cdt Hannah Rogerson will now represent Northumbria ACF at the Brigade Competition at Driffield on 17 April.

Members of W Company are showing off their musical talents by practicing with Northumbria ACF's Cassino Band.

Several cadets have been honing their skills on the cornet, snare drum, bugle and shiny metal thingy that you hit with a beater. The shiny metal thingy is so mysterious that even the cadet that plays it couldn't tell you its name.

Even the Company Commander, a mere 28 years after leaving his school band, has dusted off his eb bass. Like Eric Morecambe he manages to play all of the notes, not necessarily in the right order.

Photographs of the Cassino Band practice session can be found in our galleries.

The Band, as made famous by Wikipedia, practice at Kingston Park TA Centre every Wednesday night. For those W Company cadets interested in attending the minibus leaves Alnwick at 1800 hrs and returns around 2130 hrs. Cadets would have to get to/from Alnwick by their own arrangements.

If anyone is interested in attending please let the OC know, via your DC.

W Company Drummers: Cpl Straker and Cpl Inkster under the watchful eye of drum instructor SI Oxborough.

W Company Cornet Player: Cdt Hayton practices his scales on the cornet.

W Company Percussionist: Cdt Rogerson on the mysterious shiny metal thingy... that even she doesn't know the name of!

Four of W Company's finest will finally be put through their paces this weekend, when they participate in the County First Aid Competition.

Sgt Craig Holman, LCpl Rachel Richardson, Cdt Hannah Rogerson and Cdt Elliott Lewis have been honing their practical skills for 3 months now. In that time they have learnt how to perform CPR, manage unconscious casualties and treat a wide range of medical emergencies.

The team, who have been coached by Belford's SI Sue Watson, have attended regular evening and weekend sessions to gain as much hands on experience as possible. They have also been swotting up on the theory, as the Competition now includes a written test.

They take on cadets from across Northumbria ACF - notably the very competent first aiders of Y Company, who have won the trophy for the past 3 years running.

Good luck to the team and let's hope their hard work guides us one step closer to Champion Company.

Transport timings for the Cadre weekend will be as follows:

Friday, 25 Feb 2011:
Minibus 1 (Dvr SI Watson):
1830 hrs Belford
1900 hrs Alnwick

Minibus 2 (Dvr RSMI Lawrence):
1830 hrs Broomhill
1845 hrs Amble
1900 hrs Alnwick

Sunday, 27 Feb 2011:
Times tbc, likely to depart Otterburn around 1400 hrs.

Please be sure to get to your pick up point on time and with the right kit for either Minden or the First Aid Competition.

Alnwick Detachment will parade on Monday and Thursday evenings with effect from 21 Feb 2011.

Parade night timings, 1900 - 2100 hrs, remain unchanged.

It has been necessary to change parade nights due to the increased usage of the TA Centre on a Tuesday evening. There just isn't enough classroom space to go around.

Over the next couple of weeks I will be uploading images from W Company's recent past to our new photo pages.

I will also add new galleries as we attend events from now on.

DCs and cadets are invited to submit their own ACF related images for publication.

If you have any images you'd like to share then please get in touch with the 2IC.

Almost 100 cadets from the far flung corners of Northumberland, attended the recent weapon handling and range weekend up at Otterburn Camp.

The camp is home to Northumbria ACF's residential training centre, which provides accommodation to almost 200 cadets engaged in exciting adventurous and military activities on the Otterburn Training Area.

Last weekend W Company cadets, including those from our brand new Bellingham Detachment, spent a weekend honing their practical skills on the ranges.

As well as spending several hours on the full bore outdoor ranges, the cadets spent time clay target shooting and working on the Dismounted Close Combat Trainer (DCCT). The DCCT at Otterburn has 8 firing points, with gas operated training weapons that the cadets use to engage targets on an electronic screen. The facility is the ideal way to reinforce the marksmanship principles in a warmer and less pressurised environment than the live range. W Company resident shooting guru, SSI Cy Dilger, guided the cadets through their DCCT practices, which revealed some pretty good shots (notably Cdt Ryan Taylor of Alnwick).

The cadets rotated around several training stands all weekend. Those not actively engaged in shooting took part in their weapon handling safety tests with Lt Keith Marchant, fieldcraft with RSMI Peter Lawrence and orienteering with SSI John Grey.

On the Sunday the 2IC, Capt Tom Jackson, and Deputy Commandant, Lt Col Barry White, took a working party of cadets out to the site of "Cadet Wood". The wood was planted by the same cadets last year to mark the 150th anniversary of the Army Cadet Force, Cadet 150. Fearing the worst after horrendous weather in early December, the cadets were pleasantly surprised the find only a few saplings had succumbed to the snow.

W Company extends its thanks to all of the adults and cadets who made the weekend such a success. Particular thanks goes to visiting helpers SSI Dave Guthrie (now our CSM) and SI Daryl Wood.

The Company Commander, Major Mark Ewart, is pleased to confirm two new appointees to the Company.

Lt Daniel Carville, previously of X Company, joins us in the role of Training Officer. His role is to oversee all aspects of cadet training, ensuring that Detachments deliver a broad and balanced programme, encompassing all parts of the APC Syllabus.

SMI David Guthrie, previously of Z Company, joins us in the role of Company Sergeant Major. As CSM, he assists the 2IC to ensure the smooth running of the Company. He is also responsible for discipline of cadets and adults alike.

The Company welcomes Lt Carville and SMI Guthrie to the fold and wishes them a long and successful relationship with us.

Transport details for the County Shooting on 19 Feb 2011 is as follows:

Minibus: Driver = SMI Guthrie
0800 hrs: Alnwick
0815 hrs: Amble
0825 hrs: Broomhill

Combi-van: Driver = SSI Dilger
0800 hrs: Bellingham

Any arrangements for transport on Sun 20 Feb will be discussed directly with the cadets on Saturday.

Dress for those attending is full combats, with something warm underneath. They will also need a packed lunch.

Cadets from Amble Detachment attended the rededication of the Newcastle Branch of the Coldstream Guards Association's new Standard today.

Detachment Commander, WSI Terrie Hedley, was accompanied by Cpl Daniel Spence, Cdt Caitlin Craik, Cdt Jack Southward, Cdt Mark Willey and Cdt  Jordan Stevens.

The service took place in the prominent Church of St Thomas the Martyr, right next to the city's Haymarket bus interchange. Rothbury Detachment Commander and former Coldstreamer, Lt Barry Lister, also took part in the event.

The Amble cadets had planned on parading alongside the new Standard, but the poor weather put pay to that idea. Nonetheless the day was the ideal opportunity for the Detachment to reinforce its close links with the Association and Regiment as a whole.

The Coldstream Guards recruiting team will be visiting Amble Detachment on 17th February.