golf - Jules Akel

88 w e l l i ng ton y e a r b oo k 2 0 07 − 2 0 0 8w e l l i ng ton y e a r b oo k 2 0 07 − 2 0 0 8 89Russell (RM and OW) and the RM training team for all theiroughly enjoyed my two and a half years in charge and lookfor their unstinting support and expertise as the Platoonwent through a First Aid course so they should now be ablehelp and support to allow me to run the section. I had thor-forward to watching its continued success in the future.Officers, and this year we were well supported by aparticularly competent and enthusiastic group of ncos.to cope with most medical emergency situations they arelikely to encounter, from cpr to bleeds, breaks and burns.Also thanks go to Captain Carole Blunden-Lee for doingThe rest of the training was a varied mix of drill, weapona lot of driving—each cadet was able to go to Bisley for ahandling, patrolling skills, camouflage and concealment,session of clay pigeon shooting with the expert coaches,orienteering, leadership training tasks, building survivalwhich for many was one of the highlights of their trainingshelters and so on.The Field Day in October, againyear. All cadets also shot at least twice on the range underon the Bramley training area, involved the cadets’ firstthe expert tutelage of Flt Lt Bruce Roth, and many gainedintroduction to camouflage and concealment, a challengingtheir marksmanship badges as a result. In contrast all cadetsnavex, leadership and teamwork tasks.r a f s e c t i onAs ever much of the focus was on flyingexperience, which continues to be offeredin abundance by 6 A.E.F. Squadron based atR.A.F. Benson and once again a number of cadets havetaken the opportunity to become airborne on a number ofoccasions throughout the year. Routine training continuedon Wednesday afternoons in the course the year withthe assistance of Flight Sergeants Peter Durkin [L] andArthur Kaminski [Hg] both of whom remained loyalto the section through to the onset of exams. Field Dayvisits were with the Army sections to a local training areaand in the summer term to the Imperial War Museum atR.A.F. Duxford, which was much enjoyed by the majorityof pupils.c a m p s & a dv e n t u rou s t r a i n i ngJa r m y s e c t i onu n i o r l e a d e r ’s c a d r e —In the Junior conduct more complicated patrols, navigate at night andLeader’s Cadre, under the command of Captain took part in a blank firing attack. Later on in the course,Helen Lewis, a total of 58 Lower Sixth complet-cadets’ fitness was tested, map reading skills were taughted a term long programme of activities designed to turn and practised and the cadet’s drill improved to the pointthem into effective instructors. They were taught how to where they could be moved around the camp in a tidy andplan lessons and control small groups of junior cadets as organised fashion. All cadets passed their Army Proficiencywell as revised weapons handling, drill and fieldcraft. The Badge and special mention must go to cadet instructorshighlight of the term was Field Day when they led different Tom Gibson [L], Jon Smith [Hl] and Will Hansonaspects of an overnight exercise on the Bramley training [Bn] who set the highest of standards in everything theyarea. To pass they had to give three successful lessons to did throughout the course.their peers in which they were judged on knowledge, effectivenessof instruction, control and lesson structure. They programme for the 4th Form was introduced this year towaterloo company—A completely new trainingare now instructing junior cadets in all four sections of the accommodate an element of ‘choice’ regarding sectionsccf. The McMillan Sword for best cadet was awarded to and activities—this was at smt’s request. We were able toCadet Sergeant James Whitwell [A].run five separate platoons, which, being around 24 strongcorunna company—Advanced Infantry have had made the training easier to organise and supervise with thea productive year building on the skills that were learned result that much that was productive was achieved duringin the 4th Form. Cadets developed their field craft skill the year. Thanks must go to Captain’s Katy Granvilleduringthe Michaelmas term Field Day and learned how to Chapman and Jim Price, 2Lt’s Kitty Jack and Patrick Lundieremington, north devon. 58 boysFand girls attended this camp with the firstproper day being a trek from Simonsbath toLynton—all made it safely. What followed was paintball,2 days in the Skern Centre in Appledore spent climbing,surfing, kayaking and screaming on the hi-ropes course, aday ‘in-camp’ using the death slide, the rock wall and theassault course and a day coastal hiking from Ilfracombeto Braunton Burrows. Much fun was had on the last dayplaying ‘kick the bucket’—a version of escape and evasion,where the girls demonstrated they could play the game asequals. All returned tired but having had a great week.centr al camp, longmoor, hampshire. 16boys went to Longmoor Central Camp in the first week ofthe summer holidays. They did lots of activities includingrafting, paintballing, shooting, field craft, a day in Portsmouth(rm museum and visits to Subway and Burger King !).south wales. In the first week of the summerbreak 56 boys and girls (many of them also working towardstheir Bronze d of e) plus 6 staff (Gerry Long, David Burns,Eunice Gillan, Carole Blunden-Lee, Jackie Chapman, andDave Vickers from the Support Staff) stayed at a ratherdilapidated Crickhowell camp. They experienced a roundrobin of activities—long walks in the Brecon Beacons andthe Black Mountains, plus canoeing on the river Wye,climbing in the Llangorse ropes centre and paintballingplus an overnight camp—and very thankfully not as wetas last year. We got them all there, we got them all backin one piece, and most probably enjoyed it more than theywould like to admit.pyrenees, fr ance. 16 cadets and 8 staff travelledby boat, road and ’plane to Southern France for a weekcamping, hiking and white-water rafting in the Pyrenees.The hiking following the traditional haute route with 3nights spent camping near the mountain huts. Specialmention must be made of Roger Auger [CR] who, despitehaving one foot in a cast following an operation, controlledall of the group and events so well.sailing in greece. 8 cadets and 2 staff alsospent 2 weeks on a catamaran sailing from Corfu downinto the Ionian Islands visiting Kefalonia, Ithaca, and Levkason route. Unfortunately the wind gods were absent andmuch of the trip was spent motoring from port to port.We saw the effect tourism was having on the bigger islandswith much of the interiors being left untouched but weretouched by the friendliness of the Greek people.