C C F R eview
An exciting collaboration began with Knole Academy
this year. Sevenoaks CCF are mentoring several intakes
of their initial cadets and officers until they are able to
set up as an independent CCF under the government’s
Cadet Expansion Programme. Ten cadets have seen the
year through with us and they will eventually be the
senior cadets of their CCF. Most attended our Army
section summer camp in Yorkshire and thoroughly
enjoyed the week.
This was also a bumper year for attendance at
national courses. Cdt Michael Presland and CPO
Anna Surgeoner attended an Ocean Diver course in
October. LCpls Ivan Avanesov and Will Powell went to
the Royal Marines Summer Camp. Cpls James Geeson
and Will Spence also spent a week with the Royal
Marines on their Look at Life course. AC* Ethan Brown
attended an offshore sailing course leading towards
Competent Crew and Day Skipper qualifications. Sgt
Charlotte Foley went on an Inland Kayak course at
Halton. AC*** Isobel Willis was part of an expedition
that sailed a 67’ yacht from Hamble to St Malo in
France, after which she went on a dinghy sailing
course to gain her RYA Level 2 at Dartmouth and then
a Powerboat Level 2 course in Cornwall. RAF Cadets
Alex Claridge, Johnny Mead and Joshua Oakland were
lucky enough to go to Cyprus for eight days of mixed
adventure training, and finally, LCpl Ivan Avanesov also
got through two selection events to be placed first
reserve for a six-week adventure training opportunity
in the Canadian Rockies.
On Founder’s Day, a superb drill squad lead by Sgt
Alex May performed an intricate set of manoeuvres
including rifle drill, following which the Gun Run was
possibly the best ever, with all three teams beating the
existing course record, and separated by only a few
seconds. The Army team narrowly took the victory.
Many thanks also to departing officers Capts Kris
Lewis and Geoffrey Stanford, Lt Chris Bates and SLt
Alix Harmer.
Lt Col Paul Bassett
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Royal Navy
The section continues to prosper with a wide number
of activities, a strong uptake, and victory in It’s a
Knockout. With the aid of two new staff members,
SLt Harris and SLt Harmer, the section has been able
to expand greatly and a recent move to Bough Beech
Sailing Club guarantees a grander sailing operation.
We say goodbye and thanks to senior cadets PO Vicky
Menard and Head of Section CPO Holly MacAskill
who also won the Centurion Cup.
CPO Holly MacAskill, Upper Sixth
RAF
The Gun Run team put last year’s barrel incident
behind them to be crowned champions at the Biennial
Inspection, in which cadets also enjoyed scuba diving
and the illustrious Honour Guard parade. Flying
took advantage of some glorious weather and the
younger cadets enjoyed the thrill of cold surfing and
exhilarating aerobatics. Other activities ranged from
the caves and high ropes of Hillingdon to the Battle
of Britain Bunker. Thanks go to all the Upper Sixth,
but in particular to Flt Sgt Zoe Vanhegan (winner of
the RAF Prize) who was an excellent Head of Section,
and Flt Sgt Adrian del Ser, who captained the Biennial
Inspection and coached our Gun Run teams.
Flt Sgt Adrian del Ser, Upper Sixth
Army
Twenty Year 11s undertook and passed the MOI cadre
and APC Basic qualification in preparation for their
leadership roles next year. Ten senior cadets completed
their APC Advanced qualification. Our field days have
included outdoor laser quest, night stalks, complex
section attacks and comman