W Company

W Company is delighted to announce that two of our cadets have successfully completed the Senior Cadet Instructors Cadre at Stainton Camp, near Barnard Castle.

Cadet Corporals Craig Holman and Greg Hogarth have just returned from the demanding week-long residential course, which is run under the watchful eyes of the Regular Army NCOs of 11 Cadet Training Team. Craig impressed the Team so much that he was awarded the prestigious title of best cadet.

New instructors Craig and Greg, of Belford and Berwick Detachments respectively, will given extra responsibility for training junior cadets. Their qualification will allow them the opportunity to instruct up to APC 2-Star level, making a real difference to the smooth running of their Detachments. It also qualifies them for consideration for promotion.

Former TA warrant officer, SMI Lynne Bannister, W Company's new CQMS, also attended Stainton and completed the week-long Adult Initial Training Cadre.

W Company congratulates them all on their continued hard work and dedication.

The cadets of Berwick Detachment have had another successful month, with five of them completing the St John Ambulance Youth First Aid course.

LCpl John Chapman and Cdts Ryan Jeffery, Natalie Spence, Nhiall Farish and Caroline Purdon have slogged away one night a week for the past couple of months to achieve their hard earned qualification.

Thanks to the high level of training delivered by their boss, Lt Keith Marchant, all of the cadets were up to scratch for their end of course assessments.

Well done all.

The Detachment will also move home to the TA Centre on Ravensdowne this week, which will make a pleasant change from the cold and damp of Berwick Barracks!

Cadets from Berwick Detachment are coming to the end of a mammoth six months of fundraising in support of forces charity Help For Heroes.

Back in April three of our cadets - Cpl Greg Hogarth, Cdt Nathan Jerdan and Cdt Connor Armstrong - hit on the idea of raising a few hundred quid towards this very noble cause. With the help of Debra Jerdan of Berwick Youth Project, Lt Keith Marchant their ACF Detachment Commander and Tony Brown of the Royal British Legion they set about gathering public support for their fundraising efforts.

The lads' fundraising frenzy culminated in a coffee morning in the town's Guildhall, which saw their total shoot to well over £6,000. This event was well supported by many local businesses but a special mention has to go to Haggerston Castle Holiday Park, who donated the four main raffle prizes, hosted a car boot sale and whose enthusiastic staff participated in a number of different fundraising events.

Army cadets from Berwick and Duns took part in a sponsored overnight 25 mile walk around Berwick's historic town walls and organised collections in several shops and pubs around the area.

With sponsor money still trickling in the grand total could top £7,000 - a tremendous effort by all those involved.

Further coverage appears in the Berwick Advertiser.