HITCHIIN GIVE A HELPING HAND

BY FLT LT ERICA VEY
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Back in May this year, Martin Vey, Treasurer of the 1066 (Hitchin) Sqn civilian committee accepted the big challenge of organising personnel to manage one of the entry gates at the very popular Rhythms of The World (ROTW) music festival.

The two day world music festival took place over the weekend of 12-13th July in the grounds of The Priory in Hitchin. The festival has been held annually since 1992. Back then it started with just five performers but now has more than seven hundred. The event attracts thousands of people but is all organised by a thirty-stong team of volunteers who meet fortnightly throughout the year to ensure the event is the great success it is.

Three civilian committee members, two staff members, many cadet parents and their family and friends aged over eighteen worked shifts on one of the two gates. They took entry fees, sold programmes and applied wrist bands to members of the public. In return for their hard work they received free entry to the event and refreshments. Security personnel were also present at the gate. Personnel covered 10.00 – 22.00 hrs both days with Martin working all weekend carrying out briefings, monitoring volunteers and recording takings.

On Saturday 28th September at a post festival thank you event for the volunteers, Martin and Squadron Commanding Officer Flt Lt Erica Vey collected a four hundred pound donation for 1066 squadron from the ROTW Chairman Matthew Wyle.


Flt Lt Vey said ‘Hitchin squadron was pleased to be able to help the community by manning one of the gates. Although the hours were long, the atmosphere was great and the team were all extremely hard working. I would like to thank the personnel that supported 1066 Squadron with this huge task, many whom worked both days. A special thank you must go to Martin for the many extra hours he put in, in order to find and manage the many volunteers.’

Thanks also to Fg Off Laura Pole of 2313 DF for assisting at the event.

NORTH WALES CHALLENGE FOR 1066

BY FLT LT ERICA VEY
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A group of twelve cadets from 1066 (Hitchin) squadron and three staff members have just returned from a busy few days in North Wales. The purpose of the trip, organised by CI Dave Dewbery (ML) was for the cadets to complete their silver practice or qualifying Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expedition. All of the cadets completed their bronze award last year with the help of Flt Lt Erica Vey and CI Dave Dewbery.

The group departed 1066 squadron on Tuesday 26 August in the squadron minibus with trailer. After a long journey, base camp was set up near Barmouth. The following day the expedition started with three groups leaving base camp early that morning.

With one cadet dropping out on the first day, the three groups then had to re-form into two larger groups. The next three days saw cadets covering over thirty miles on foot and camping out at two different camp sites. The three staff members on the expedition spent time monitoring the groups and checking them at their campsite in the evening.

The group returned home very tired on Saturday 30 August. Cpl Henry Wisdom (16) who completed his practice expedition said ‘by far the best expedition I have ever done! It was wet and foggy and a challenging route but I had a fantastic time.’

Cadet Oliver Martin (15) who was completing a second practice expedition said ‘the Wales expedition was a great opportunity to test my map reading skills and enabled me to work as part of a team.’
All of the cadets have expressed an interest in completing their gold awards with the squadron. Some are old enough to start the gold level now but others will have to wait until next year. They will complete their gold expeditions with the seven cadets who are already silver award holders at the squadron.

Cpl Matthew Woodward (15) who has just completed his silver award as a result of passing the expedition explains ‘it is great how the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is both exciting and challenging.’

HITCHIN CADET FLYING HIGH

BY FLT LT ERICA VEY
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Sgt Benjamen Reed (16) of 1066 (Hitchin) Squadron is celebrating after he gained his solo gliding scholarship wings on Sunday 14th September.

Sgt Reed completed a residential course at 616 Volunteer Gliding Squadron at RAF Henlow, but bad weather prevented him from flying solo at the end of his course. He was invited back two weeks later to undergo an assessment and was then allowed to complete a solo flight.

The gliding scholarship provided Sgt Reed with over ten hours of tuition before he went solo. A written exam was also passed.

Sgt Reed who has been a member of 1066 Squadron since 2004 and hopes to be a pilot in the Royal Air Force said ‘My time with 616 VGS has been absolutely terrific. My solo flight was something I will never forget and it has been my best activity undertaken with the Corps to date. Knowing that you are being trusted with the aircraft is quite daunting at first but at the same time it is a great honour. Given the opportunity, I think every cadet should complete a gliding scholarship, it is great fun.’

HITCHIN CADETS ENJOY RHIENDAHLEN EXPERIENCE

BY FLT LT ERICA VEY
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Three lucky cadets from 1066 (Hitchin) Squadron have recently returned from attending the Central & East Region overseas camp at Joint Headquarters (JHQ) Rhiendahlen in Germany.

Corporals Matthew Woodward (15), Douglas Johnson (16) and Henry Wisdom (16) enjoyed an action packed week and Corporals Johnson & Wisdom had the added bonus of using the camp as their gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award residential project.

Established in 1954, JHQ Rheindahlen is situated in Monchengladbach North Rhine-Westphalia and serves as the main headquarters for British forces in Germany.

After arriving following a flight from Stansted airport, the camp saw forty-eight cadets from around the region enjoy a busy week. No blue uniform was required – it was DPMs, sports kit or civvies only. Activities included L98 shooting, a DCCT detail, go-karting, visit to a movie park, sports, a visit to 12 Flight Army Air Corps, bowling, high ropes course, a drill competition, Rhine Army workshop and visits to various towns. In addition the cadets also visited Arnhem cemetery, Soesterberg museum and Arnhem Bridge.

Cpl Henry Wisdom who was attending his first overseas camp said ‘Rheindahlen was an absolutely fantastic camp. It was great to meet so many different cadets and to do all the amazing activities we did in such a short space of time! My favourite moment was the drill competition where we had been told to do a continuity drill sequence. We practiced all week but secretly taught everyone the dance routine to Soulja Boy and did that for the competition instead!’