RAF Swing Wing Concert

by Cadet Sergeant Lisa Whitaker

On Tuesday 10th September, a group of cadets suited up to attend the 4th annual concert performed by the RAF Swing Wing Band at Skipton Town Hall.

Conducted by WO Gary Stevens, they began with their signature piece of music written by their own pianist, and with a quick introduction, they started to play. They performed pieces of music written by Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey.

They also performed music from The Andrew Sisters, which included vocals by a trio of women called The Bluebells, formed of Cpl Beverly Kirk, Jnr Tech Cara Palmer and SAC Tracey Hodgetts. They entertained the audience with favourites such as ‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’, ‘Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny’ and ‘Shoo Shoo Baby’.

After an hour of melodious music, we parted for a quick break of tea and biscuits before returning to our seats for another hour of the Swing Wing Band. They started up with Glenn Miller, followed by pieces getting progressively more lively and fast paced. There was even some of the audience dancing!

When it was time for them to leave, the cheering crowd brought them back for one more song and then that was the end of the concert. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the performance and we are already looking for to their future performances.

1224 Visit London

by Sgt (ATC) Sam White

Following on from a meeting with the Squadrons local Member of Parliament, Kris Hopkins MP earlier in the year, the Squadron was invited down to London on Wednesday 4th September 2013.

The day started bright and early as a party of 10 cadets and staff departed Ilkley at 0600 for London, with our first stop being RAF Northolt to leave the minibus before getting the London Underground into the city centre.

The first stop of the day was the Houses of Parliament where the cadets were given a tour round the buildings including visiting the House of Lords and the Queens Robing Room and taught about the vast history of the Palace of Westminster.

 The Cadets and Staff with Kris Hopkins MP

Following on from lunch the Squadron met with Mr Hopkins and were escorted to the Ministry of Defence where the cadets were introduced to The Rt Hon Andrew Robathan MP, The Minister of State for the Armed Forces along with Lt Col Andrew Watkins of the Royal Marines and Wing Commander James Beck RAF who has been selected to be the Commanding Officer of the first RAF F-35B Lightning II Squadron.

Following on from the MoD visit the cadets were given the shock announcement that permission had been granted for them to go to Downing Street to have their photo taken outside of No.10!

 The Cadets and Staff outside No.10.

After leaving No.10 the cadets were escorted back to the River Thames where they laid a wreath at the Battle of Britain Memorial before saying goodbye to Mr Hopkins MP.

Cadet Sergeant Jørgen Moore laying a wreath at the Battle of Britain Memorial

The cadets then went on a walk round the sights of London, visiting Horse Guards Parade, Trafalgar Square, The Mall. Buckingham Palace and Green park before laying another wreath at the Bomber Command Memorial.

 Cadet Michael Palmer laying a wreath at the Bomber Command Memorial

By this time it was starting the get late so the cadets made their way through Hyde Park before getting the Tube back to Northolt for the long journey back home.

Both the cadets and the staff had a fantastic time on the trip and without the fantastic assistance from Mr Hopkins MP and his office staff none of this would have been possible!