The 2IC W Company, Capt Tom Jackson, has been awarded the Lord Lieutenant's Certificate for Loyal and Meritorious Service to Northumbria ACF over the last decade.
The Lord Lieutenant, Her Grace the Duchess of Northumberland, presented the certificate in the annual awards ceremony, which was held at Cowpen TA Centre this year.
The Lord Lieutenant is the Queen's personal representative within the county.
Only about ten of the prestigious certificates are presented to reservists and cadet forces personnel within the Lieutenancy each year.
Capt Peter Carr was also presented with the Lord Lieutenant's Certificate and Capt Kevin Haggerty was presented the Cadet Forces Medal, which is awarded for 12 years long and efficient service.
The Coldstream Guards Recruit Support Team visited W Company the other evening, organising a range of challenging activities to keep the cadets entertained.
The cadets, including those badged Coldstream Guards from Amble Detachment, took part in command tasks, climbing wall and a gun run assault course.
The evening concluded with a DVD presentation of what the 1st Battalion has been getting up to on their recent tour of Afghanistan.
The cadets of Amble Detachment are pictured with the team above.
New cadets at Belford Detachment were presented with their berets, Hackles and Basic Training badges at an enrolment ceremony held last week.
Capt Kerry Noble, who helped form the Detachment back in the mid-nineties, revisited to administer the cadet promise and officiate at the ceremony.
The dozen newly enroled cadets, mostly hailing from Wooler and Seahouses, are pictured above displaying their enrolment certificates. Some cadets were also awarded certificates for completing the British Heart Foundation's Heartstart emergency life support course.
A special mention goes to Cdt Glen Dawson, who was awarded the coveted Best Recruit trophy, and Sgt Craig Holman, who was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant. S/Sgt Holman will be attending the Frimley Park Master Cadets Course in a fortnight's time.
The Company congratulates all at Belford Detachment for their continued hard work and achievements.
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.
Fifteen new cadets have been enroled at Northumbria ACF's newest Detachment in Bellingham.
The cadets have spent the last 3 months working towards their Army Proficiency Certificate (APC) Basic Training qualification, under the watchful eye of Detachment Commander SMI Cy Dilger.
Retired local senior Army officer, Colonel Richard Cross, kindly agreed to officiate at the ceremony. Cdt Bethany Charlton was awarded the Best Recruit prize, Cdt Jack Thompson was named as the Most Improved Recruit and Cdt Aaron Tuck won the prize for Best Turnout.
The fifteen cadets are pictured above with their new Detachment staff, the OC W Company, Deputy Commandant of Northumbria ACF and Colonel Cross.
We look forward to welcoming them to their first weekend camp at fully enrolled cadets in early February.
Congratulations to all the Bellingham cadets and staff for their achievements since the Detachment opened.
The Detachment meets on Monday nights at 7 pm, at the Drop in Centre behind Bellingham Police Station.
A larger version of the Detachment photo is available to download from the link below:
 | bellingham_det_2011_det_pic.ppt | | File Size: | 1352 kb | | File Type: | ppt |
Download File
Cadets from W Company helped to plant new woodlands at Kirkharle and Otterburn earlier today, drawing to a close the County's Cadet 150 celebrations.
The Woodland Trust donated 150 mixed broadleaf trees for each location, which were staked and planted by the cadets of Alnwick Detachment.
The W Company work party, led by 2IC Capt Tom Jackson, began planting at Kirkharle under the watchful eye of owner Colonel John Anderson. Col John, a former Northumbria ACF Commandant, hopes to bring to life a garden designed by famous landscaper Capability Brown, who was born and raised on the estate in the early eighteenth century.
The second venue, the site of many a famous W Company fieldcraft exercise, was Stewartshiels Plantation on the windswept (and snowy) Otterburn Training Area. The trees at this location were labeled with the cadets' names in the hope they will return and maintain them in their future years with the ACF.
Some trees will also be dedicated to ex-cadets of Northumbria ACF who have died in conflict around the world.
Members of W Company have been out in their droves today, supporting their local Remembrance Day Parades as well as those in Bamburgh and Howick.
Today also signified the first time our new cadets in Bellingham paraded in their local community, following the recent establishment of the new Detachment there.
The bulk of the Company attended parades in Alnwick and Berwick. The Alnwick Parade, one of the largest in Northumberland, traditionally has a good turn out from Regular, Reserves and Cadets alike. It was led by the band of the 5th (Northumberland) Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. Soldiers from the local TA, also the 5th Battalion, and Airmen from RAF Boulmer were also out in force.
Fortunately there was a slight let up in the very wet weather, allowing our 40 strong squad of cadets the chance to march from the town's St Michael's Church to pay their respects at the War Memorial. The dark and dreary conditions did make photos difficult.
The Company Commander, Major Mark Ewart, said: "Yet again the young people of W Company have turned out in enthusiastic support of their local communities on this poignant day of remembrance. Their turnout and bearing was a credit to them."
Almost 40 cadets from W Company have been involved in a variety of different training activities this weekend.
Some of the Company's crackshots from Belford, Alnwick and Broomhill Detachments took part in selection training for the annual Surtees Shield small bore shooting competition. The training, held at Cramlington under the watchful eyes of the County Shooting Team, gave the cadets some rare hands on experience with the .22 target rifle in addition to the standard number 8 rifle.
The remaining cadets stopped at Alnwick and took part in either JNCO training, the St John Ambulance Youth First Aid course or Poppy selling.
The JNCO training, led by the Company Sergeant Major, developed the new/potential NCOs skills in delivering practical lessons, problem solving and foot drill.
The first aid training, delivered by SIs John Rollo and Sue Watson, equipped the cadets to deal with a range of common minor medical emergencies as well as honing their resuscitation skills.
Cadets from Alnwick Detachment proudly lined the streets of the town selling Poppies in aid of the Royal British Legion's annual fundraiser.
The Company Commander, Major Mark Ewart, extends his congratulations to the following cadets:
Promoted, Cdt to LCpl:
LCpl Kevin Straughan (Alnwick)
SJA Youth First Aid:
LCpl Ruth Rose (Broomhill)
Cdt Christopher Arundel (Alnwick)
Cdt Shane Clark (Belford)
Cdt Andrew Connor (Alnwick)
Cdt Caitlin Craik (Amble)
Cdt Elliott Lewis-Douglas (Belford)
Cdt Jonathan Price (Rothbury)
APC 3-Star Complete:
LCpl Mark Newson (Broomhill)
Cdt Jordan Harnett (Broomhill)
Alnwick Detachment was officially reaffiliated to the Alnmouth Branch of the Royal British Legion on Monday night.
The cadets regularly help the Legion with fundraising in the local area.
The hour long presentation saw an exchange of certificates between Branch officials and Detachment Commander, SSI Ralph Brown. Our colleagues at 1801 (Alnwick) Squadron ATC were also reaffiliated.
The image above shows army and air cadets, members of the Royal British Legion and local dignatories.
Thirty five cadets from W Company took part in the now annual Armed Forces Day celebrations in Alnwick.
The cadets from Alnwick, Amble, Belford, Broomhill and Rothbury Detachments marched along Bondgate Within to the Market Place, before being inspected by the Mayor of Alnwick, Councillor Eileen Blakey. The banners of Alnwick and Broomhill Detachments were also paraded through the town.
Local ATC Squadron Commander, Flt Lt Dave Gamlin RAFVR(T), acted as Parade Commander and our own SMI Lynne Bannister took the important role of Parade Marshall, making sure the event ran smoothly.
A Sea King helicopter from 202 Squadron at RAF Boulmer flew over the parade, which basked in the uninterrupted June sunshine.
The Company also ran Northumbria ACF's recruiting trailer in the Market Place all day. Some of the adults involved with manning the trailer are seen above enjoying a quick ice cream in the hot midday sun.
The day culminated with a short church service in the shadow of the Northumberland Hall, which included the lowering of the Union Flag and Last Post.
The OC W Company, Major Mark Ewart, said: "It was heartening to see so many of the people of Alnwick line the streets in support of our Armed Forces. The cadets of W Company are privileged to be associated with the fine work our Armed Forces personnel do overseas on operations."
The 2IC, Capt Tom Jackson, added: "We're grateful to all the cadets and adults of W Company for their enthusiastic support this Armed Forces Day. We look forward to making an even bigger contribution next year."
We hope to publish further images of the parade shortly, so stay tuned for updates.
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