SHENSTON IAN 88 - Old Silhillians Association

c.c.f.
activities
ARMY SECTION
The section goes from strength to strength, with 150 cadets probably increasing
to 170 next year. The army's support has also increased substantially, with extra
training provided in canoeing, fieldcraft and two cadre groups this year. Increased
contact with our parent regiment, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, has also
brought extra support, especially at the annual camp at Wathgill, Yorkshire. This
will be attended by nearly 60 cadets and help has been promised by an Old
Silhillian, Captain Simon Diggins from the 3rd Battalion.
The revised Monday afternoon programme has worked well and it is hoped to
increase the amount of basic signals training even further next year. The signals
section has improved considerably and radio contact has been re-established with
many CCFs on the national net. Good basic training provides a firm base for
advanced work. The strength of the section lies with its NCOs and these have
maintained the hundred per cent pass rate for all recruits in the vital skill at arms
test. Courses provide the extra training so vital for an NCO. This year cadets have
attended leadership, signals and physical training courses. In the Welbeck
Pentathlon the Senior team was fourth and the Junior team second. Both teams
faced strong competition, as did the B Platoon Marshal Shoot team. They came a
creditable second in the CCF competition.
This year Captain Skippings leaves after twenty-five years service to the CCF.
He has inspired many to seek service with the Royal Marines and has always
provided superb support. We wish him well in retirement.
P.J.G.
NAVAL SECTION
At the end of the year we are able to reflect on three terms within which the
Naval Section have spent many afterndons sailing at Olton Mere in pursuit of an
element of nautical prowess. Whilst most have become adept on all tacks others
have undertaken navigational courses, shooting, drill and turnout.
Spring Field-day was spent at HMS Collingwood, Gosport, which provided an
opportunity for us to yisit HMS Dolphin and to board our 'Ship' HMS Birmingham
and also to compare this very 'up-to-the-minute' fighting machine with that of
former days in the shape of HMS Victory and the Mary Rose which were also
visited.
Trips have also been made by various members of the Section, to courses in all
parts of the country in the form of 'Air Days', 'Submarine Days', Sailing and
Helmsman courses. Four members and the O.C. were guests on board HMS
Birmingham for two days when they sailed from Portsmouth round to Greenwich.
Sadly this year we found ourselves saying farewell not only to Chief Petty
Officer F. Hamilton BEM, MSM. who retired from the Royal Navy after 50 years,
but also to Catain S.E. Skippings MBE who will be casting off hsi shorelines from
Solihull after an 'attachment' with the school which had remained steady for very
many years.
T.C. Norman P.O.
R. A.F. SECTION
The highlight of this year's activities was an Easter Camp at R.A.F. Bruggen in
Germany. These camps occur every three years and nine cadets led by Cdt. Flight
Sergeant Aitchison and Cdt. Flight Sergeant Wardman were selected to attend.
Off-station visits included trips to the Philips Evoluon exhibition at Eindhoven, to
Phantasialand and to Roermond. The major interest was, however, the section
visits to the four operational Tornado squadrons. For the less fortunate there were
also an Easter Camp at R.A.F. Halton and a Summer Camp at R.A.F. Benson.
The two Field days and Thursday afternoon visits during the Summer Term
enabled virtually all cadets to fly Chipmunk aircraft at the Air Experience Flight at
R.A.F. Shawbury whilst visits were also made to R.A.F. Cosford, the R.A.F.
Museum at Hendon; there was a map-reading exercise across the Wrekin and one
group of cadets also took part in the Army Section Training.