Altitude Spring 2014 | Page 6

73 Y E A R S A parade personal to us all By Cadet D. Willey It was a crisp morning on Sunday 2nd of February when we all turned out in a mark of commemoration on the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the Air Training Corps (ATC). By a quarter to ten the car park next to the Crown pub was filling with cadets gathering their instruments and people from the village were gathering, cameras flashing as they took photos of the parade. Soon we were formed up and ready to go. As a group we were composed of a band, led by Flight Sergeant Alder, and a marching continent led by Flight Lieutenant 6 Vince. I felt a lot of pride to be a part of our band, which has greatly expanded in the last year under the guidance of Civilian Instructors Scott and Pagett. With three of my favourite instruments, pennywhistles (played by myself, Cadet Jarvis and Cadet Scott), four belllyres and four brass: our band sounded loud and clear, whilst the drummers led from the front. Soon we had arrived for the church service, which was led by Reverend Warren. Soon we were all inside the church and an expectant hush fell over all. Then the service began, formatted especially for the Air Cadets to re- member the founding of their organisation… It was on the 5th of February, seventy-three years ago when the Air Training Corps was officially established, with George VI as the Air Commandant. However, the story started long before that. The idea of preparing young people for the forces began evolving as early as 1859, with the Officer Training Corps (OTC) forming in 1908. However it was Air Commodore J Chamier who realised the potential and in 1938 formed the Air Cadet Defence Corps (ADCC). For this we honour him as Father of the 2497 (Cosford) Squadron Altitude | Spring 2014