W Company

Cadets from across Northumbria ACF took to the streets of Newcastle today, in a celebration of 150 years of the Army Cadet Force.

The showcase event, benefiting from the splendid backdrop of Grey's Monument, included demonstrations spanning the entire cadet training syllabus from physical training to foot drill.

Cadets from W Company presented a segment about adventurous training, which included displays of mountain biking, kayaking, climbing, skiing and expedition work. The cadets also took part in a climbing wall relay race, which is shown in the video below.

Company Commander, Major Mark Ewart, was MC for the entire event and gave an almost flawless running commentary on the action. SSIs Ralph Brown and Becky Matthewson ran the climbing walls, which daredevil members of the viewing public also had chance to climb. Company Sergeant Major, SMI Peter Lawrence, narrated the Company's presentation and 2IC, Captain Tom Jackson, wore his second hat by provided first aid cover for the event.

After a hard day's work in the public eye W Company retired back north, calling for a healthy bite of lunch at a well known restaurant chain.

Cadets from W Company put the finishing touches to their Cadet 150 presentation, which will take place live in Newcastle City Centre this Saturday.

Each of Northumbria ACF's Cadet Companies will be focusing on a different aspect of cadet training during the showcase display at Grey's Monument. W Company's efforts highlight adventurous training in the ACF, which includes pursuits like canoeing, rock climbing and skiing.

The YouTube video above shows one of the final rehearsals of our segment. It is just a rehearsal, hence the absence of some of the props that will be used in the final event.

The Company Commander, Major Mark Ewart, is acting as MC for the entire event. Company Sergeant Major, SMI Peter Lawrence, introduces the W Company routine before the climbing wall race led by SSI Ralph Brown of Alnwick Detachment.

Six lucky cadets from W Company have just returned from a full day shooting the General Purpose Machine Gun with the local TA Pioneers.

SSgt Michael Sargent, Sgt Andi Allan, Cpl Jack Hale, LCpl Robert Potts and Cdts Jamie Daley and Jordan Harnett spent the morning being put through their paces on the "jimpy" by the NCOs of 100 Pioneer Squadron, Royal Logistics Corps.

After a couple of hours honing their skills on the weapon, the lads were deemed safe and proficient enough to take to the firing point at Ponteland Ranges. Under the watchful eye of their TA mentors and Company Sergeant Major, SMI Peter Lawrence, team W Company were rapidly knocking chunks out of a cowering double Figure 11 target.

With ammunition expended and paste pots running dry it was back to the Detachments with wide smiles and eager anticipation of the next shoot.

A great day for all the cadets and our thanks again to all at 100 Pioneer Squadron.

The Deputy Commandant, Lt Col Haughie, is hosting a PO introduction evening at County HQ on Thursday, 24 June 2010. The evening will begin at 1900 hrs.

The evening, which is open to anyone interested in Commissioning, will give details of PO training within the County and what to expect at Westbury on the actual AOSB (CFCB). Dress will be CS '95.

Any W Coy adult interested in attending, please let the 2IC know so he can pass on your details.

SSI Becky Matthewson and SI Damien Tinlin of Broomhill Detachment have just returned from a weekend of fresh air and stunning scenery, cycling the highways and byways of Upper Weardale.

But far from touring the local hostelries, they were there for the serious business of learning how to lead cadets cycling through the rural wilderness.

Their new leisure cycling qualification will enable them to take groups of up to ten cadets on mountain bike rides.

During the course they learnt how to maintain the bikes and deal with incidents that arose en-route. They'll have to opportunity to put their new skills into practice very shortly, with mountain biking (er, I mean "leisure cycling") featuring in the Annual Camp programme.

Whoever said riding a bike was as easy as riding a bike were obviously mistaken!

The OC W Company, Major Mark Ewart, made a guest appearance at a recent Broomhill Detachment presentation evening.

Top of the bill was Cpl Dale Thomson, who has successfully completed his Duke of Edinburgh's Silver Award. That's no mean feat to achieve, with most cadets lucky to get  their Bronze.

Cdts Jordan Harnett and Josh Truman were presented with their Team Northumbria badges, after skillfully representing the County at the Brigade Skill at Arms Meeting at Strensall a fortnight ago.

The OC also had the pleasure of promoting Cdt Brandon Mayes to LCpl. LCpl Mayes, who has been with Broomhill since early 2008, will take on greater responsibility in the training and admin of the Detachment.

Congratulations to Broomhill Detachment for their achievements.

Cadets from Belford Detachment have once again emerged as victors from the annual Fusiliers Military Skills Competition, held earlier this month.

The team, led by Lord Lieutenant's Cadet, Sgt Guy Renner-Thompson, pitted their wits against fellow army cadets from Northumbria in topics ranging from vehicle identification to shooting. Despite fierce competition from fellow W Company teams the defending champions managed to bring home the bacon this year too

The OC W Company, Major Mark Ewart,  is pictured above congratulating the winning team of Sgt Guy Renner-Thompson, Sgt Craig Holman and Cpl Kevin Joyce. LCpl Megan Smith was also a team member, but is absent from the photo.

Well done to everyone involved in Belford's marvelous achievement, which reinforces their position as the Company's hot shots.

Just as the election day polls were opening last week a very different decision was reaching an equally gripping conclusion - the appointment of W Company's new OC.

Step forward Major Mark Ewart, who succeeds our last OC Lt Col Sue Haughie TD.

Major Ewart, a long standing member of the W Company team, was finally unveiled as our new boss by the Commandant last Wednesday night. He was previously the 2IC of W Company.

The Company 2IC's position has gone to Capt Tom Jackson and the new Training Officer is Lt Keith Marchant. Lt Marchant remains Detachment Commander at Berwick.

Forty cadets from W Company again made us proud by achieving success in Northumbria ACF's County Athletics Meeting, at Monkton Stadium earlier today.

The following cadets managed to win their events:

• Cdt Catherine Phillips, Broomhill Det (junior girls 100 m, 200 m and long jump).
• LCpl Meg Straker, Alnwick Det (intermediate girls 100 m).
• LCpl Kate Netherwood, Alnwick Det (intermediate girls 200 m and 1500 m).
• Cdt Joe Miller, Broomhill Det (junior boys 200 m).
• Cpl Jack Hale, Rothbury Det (senior boys 400 m).
• Cdt Piers Barber, Rothbury Det (junior boys 800 m and high jump).
• Cdt James Scott, Amble Det (intermediate boys javelin).
• Cdt Tim Hamilton, Amble Det (junior boys discus).

Additionally, Cdts Jack Metcalf (Belford Det) and Sam Carter-Fox (Alnwick Det) were selected to represent the County in the junior boys 4 x 100 m relay at the Regional Competition at the end of the month.

Medals were presented at the end of the day by Deputy Commandant, Lt Col Sue Haughie TD, and Regional Director of Sport, Lt Col Jimmy Brown.

Despite our mammoth haul of silverware we only managed third place in the overall competition, mainly due to our lack of older competitors. We'll not have that problem next year, when a lot of the names above will have moved up to the next age category.

A huge thank you to everyone who worked so hard and made the day so successful.

More than 200 Fusiliers marched through Morpeth on Saturday to celebrate the Regiment's Freedom of Northumberland.

The honour, bestowed by Northumberland County Council, allows the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers to march through the streets with colours flying and bayonets fixed.

Cadets from W Company assisted on the day by lining the street and guarding the saluting dias. Brigadier Trevor Minter OBE, Regimental Colonel, and the Duke of Northumberland, Honorary Colonel, took the salute from the massed Regular and TA soldiers.

Lt Col Sue Haughie TD, Deputy Commandant of Northumbria ACF, said: "I would like to thank all cadets who took part in the St George's Day and Freedom of Northumberland Parade in Morpeth on 24th April. I was incredibly proud of you all."

I hope to bring some photos of this event shortly, so stay tuned.