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Wing Activities Day 2017

Sunday 9 July saw approximately 250 cadets descend on Buckley Barracks near Chippenham to take part in the annual Wing Activities Day Competition. From First Aid to Drill; Aircraft Recognition to Photography, the cadets braved the heat to win points for their unit and ultimately pursue the big Wing Activities Day trophy.

All competitors put in bags of effort, especially with the team managers giving plenty of encouragement!

The cadets had opportunity to enjoy the flight simulator, mountain biking and fieldcraft sessions in between competitions and some were lucky enough to meet the ‘boss’, Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty, Commandant Air Cadets.

1st Place Diarama - 2152 Sqn
Some notable wins on the day were 2152 (North Bristol) Squadron taking the trophies for Foot Drill and Banner Drill, while 93 (City of Bath) Squadron picked up 1st place in the Continuity Drill Display. 1860 (East Bristol) Squadron and 2124 (Bristol Airport) Squadron shared 1st place for Senior First Aid!

2152 Sqn showing off their trophies
After all the scores had been tallied, there could only be one overall winner. This year, that honour goes to 1860 (East Bristol) Squadron. Congratulations to Flight Lieutenant Wild and her team.

Thanks to all support staff as well as the cadets for working hard and making the day a huge success!

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Awards for Air Cadet Staff

Recognition for Bristol & Gloucestershire Wing of the Royal Force Air Cadets came in the military section of Queen’s Birthday Honours List, with two of our own adult volunteers being rightly awarded for their many years of service and commitment to the cadet forces in the local area.

Wing Commander David Cox MBE, FCA, MCGI


Wing Commander David Cox, Officer Commanding Bristol & Gloucestershire Wing, receives an MBE for his tireless 48 years service to the organisation. He was commissioned into the Volunteer Reserve (Training) Branch of the Royal Air Force in 1981 and has commanded both 2146 (South East Bristol) Squadron and 2152 (North Bristol) Squadron. He proved to be an inspirational leader, encouraging his staff and cadets alike to strive for the top honours in the Corps. As a Wing Staff Officer he has held many appointments, bringing to each of them his characteristic enthusiasm and leadership. In November 2002 he was appointed Officer Commanding Bristol and Gloucestershire Wing, responsible for nearly 1200 cadets. He has led many initiatives to motivate and enthuse the young people and adults under his command and has passionately guided units to offer all possible opportunities to their cadets. Committed to reducing the administrative burden for volunteers he continually seeks to streamline processes, including designing a tool to ease the accounting workload on the civilian welfare committees, which will be adopted across the Corps. David is a successful accountant, a family man with 2 children and grandchildren. His contribution as a new, young officer was rewarded with the award of the Lord Lieutenant’s (Avon) Certificate and his long association and commitment to the Corps has earned him 4 clasps to his Cadet Forces Medal. More recently he has completed his Level 7, Master’s Degree equivalent, City & Guilds Membership in Strategic Youth Management.

Warrant Officer Brian Simmons


For his continued dedicated service Warrant Officer Brian Simmons has been awarded the Chief of the Air Staff Deputy Commander’s Commendation. With over 50 years service to the Royal Air Force Air Cadets, Warrant Officer Simmons is a most respected and valued member of the Wing and the South West Region, putting the needs of cadets and colleagues before his own. A warrant officer for over 42 years, Brian continues to be a key player within his Wing. He has held various appointments, including 15 years as the Wing Warrant Officer. He is also a leading volunteer for the Duke of Edinburgh Award, adventurous training, road marching and sport within his Squadron and across the Wing. He had directly trained and supported hundreds of cadets, allowing them to partake in the Nijmegen Marches. He had influenced and moulded hundreds of young people between the ages of 12 and 20 years into becoming useful citizens, and this has earned him the praise and respect of all who have known him. Brian is married to Alison and they 2 sons and a daughter.

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Community Spirit in Bishops Cleeve

Cadets and staff from 2328 (Bishops Cleeve) Squadron raised over £900 at the Bishop’s Cleeve Street Fair.

Crowds flocked to the unit’s ‘Burger Bar’ and also their ‘Tea and Cakes’ stand in the village’s historic Tythe Barn.

At the same time, other cadets and staff were on car parking duties at Court Farm Open Day near Stoke Orchard, which also attracted hundreds of visitors. During the afternoon a USAF B2 flew over at low level. Some people thought it was a pre-arranged ‘Fly Past’!

2328 (Bishops Cleeve) Squadron works hard to promote the RAF Air Cadets and the Royal Air Force in the local community. Their efforts were rewarded with a new staff volunteer!

Want to get involved in a Squadron near you? Get in touch now to find out more.

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Ten Tors 2017

Last weekend, two teams from Bristol & Gloucestershire Wing took part in the annual Ten Tors Challenge on Dartmoor. 

The event sees young people from across the country ‘yomp’ across the moors, along routes of 35, 45 or 55 miles. 

It is a big physical challenge and cadets train for several months beforehand.  Those that complete it should be rightly proud of their personal achievement! 


Team Manager of our 35 mile teams, Flight Lieutenant Dawn Adam, had this to say:

“There are no words to explain the feeling you have when the teams set off after you have trained them for 6 months through sun, wind, rain and hailstones. As well as some blood, sweat and tears…and that’s just from the training staff! 

“The walk up to the start line has got to be one of the longest - filled with hope and holding back the tears.  Then the worry for the next two days of waiting and checking, waiting and checking. The dreaded phone call that you don’t recognise, hoping its a parent and not the ‘fall out cell’!  Not to mention the noise, early mornings, late nights, setting up and taking down the huge camp. 

“All of this is worth it when you know the teams are on the way back and with some luck, a fair wind and good navigation they will make it in before 1700hrs on Sunday. 

“The walk to the finish line is the happiest then - there is nowhere we would rather be than watching the teams coming in with smiles on their faces and the tears running down ours.”

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Wing Alumnus Turns Pro!

Sam Blake (18 later this month) has signed a professional football contract with Bristol Rovers.

Sam was a cadet at 2002 (Kingswood) Squadron, leaving soon after being awarded a scholarship with Bristol Rovers Academy when he was 16.

Some cadets may remember playing alongside Sam in a Junior Wing Football Team, South West Region Junior Football Team, or swimming in the same Wing team at the South West Region championships.

Sam has been sidelined for the latter part of the 2016-17 season after suffering a serious ankle injury in a FA Youth Cup match but he had impressed enough before injury to convince Bristol Rovers to offer him a contract.

Sam is the son of Flight Lieutenant Nick Blake and nephew of Wing Commander Dave Cox (a Bristol City supporter!).

Good luck with your football career Sam - the Wing will watch your progress with great interest.

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Wing Alumnus Breaks Records!

An ex-cadet from Bristol & Gloucestershire Wing, apart from having a successful career in the Royal Air Force, is breaking records in the name of charity.

At about 6pm on 4 May 2017 (Star Wars Day), Squadron Leader Jez Allinson of RAF Benson crossed the line at Pinewood Studios in London after an epic 40 mile run wearing a genuine (heavy) Star Wars Storm Trooper outfit from the film series on its 40th birthday!

This is especially noteworthy as last Sunday he ran the London Marathon in the same outfit and was awarded a Guinness World Record Certificate for “fastest marathon dressed as a Star Wars character”.

Furthermore, in the week before that he ran three Half Marathons in three days in Orlando Florida at the Star wars Convention.

Jez, 42, did all this to raise money for his favourite charity, The Children’s Make a Wish Foundation, which provides fantastic experiences for very sick children.
He easily achieved his £10,000 target and the JustGiving pot keeps on rising!

Jez went to Filton High school and while still there joined 2152 (North Bristol) Squadron in Filton. A big highlight of his cadet career was being selected for the Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet. We were lucky enough to keep Jez as a staff member at 2152 until 1999, when he joined the RAF as Non-Commissioned Officer Aircrew (Rotary Wing).
His made and in 2008 he was encouraged to apply for a Commission.

He graduated from his Initial Officers Course with a distinction, and since then his career has taken off. Last year he reached the rank of Squadron Leader and has served all over the world.

Whilst at RAF Benson he acted as the Air Cadet Liaison Officer, working hard to make sure that the new generation of air cadets got the most out of their camps & visits.

He continues to be an avid supporter of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets, and we wish him all the best in his future fundraising efforts.

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Cadets represent RAFAC at St George’s Day Event

On Monday 24th April 2017 The Royal Society of St George, Gloucestershire Branch held their 39th St George’s Tide Service at Gloucester Cathedral.

The hour service saw music provided by the band of the Gloucestershire Police, concluded with a reception in the charter house.

The Royal Air Force Air Cadets were represented by Cadet Corporal Tiarna Crowther (1329 (Stroud) Squadron), Cadet Sergeant Thomas Corder (181 (City of Gloucester) Squadron), Cadet Corporal Jamie Molony (2328 (Bishops Cleeve) Squadron) carrying the RBL Youth Standard, and adult instructor Flight Sergeant Edward Smart.

3 members of the public were awarded Member of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) during the service by Dame Janet Trotter DBE.

Captain Robert Nairac GC Youth Awards were handed out by Mrs Pat Ayres MBE. In his memory awards are presented annually to Gloucestershire youngsters who have demonstrated some of the qualities and characteristics which Captain Naiac epitomised.

Big well done to our cadets for helping to make the event a success!

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Cadets visit RAF Brize Norton to learn about the A400

Eleven cadets from 2328 (Bishops Cleeve) Squadron were recently hosted by the A400M Training Services Department at RAF Brize Norton where aircrews and ground crews prepare to work on one of the Royal Air Force’s latest aircraft. The cadets rotated through three sections to learn about the Airbus A400M.

These sections included the flight simulator where the cadets experienced taxiing, take off and flying in various conditions. Cadets also visited the classroom where technicians are trained to maintain the aircraft. They also went inside a full size A400M fuselage to learn how the aircraft is loaded and the role played by the loadmaster. Rear doors were closed and stretchers were fixed in place so the cadets could appreciate how casualties can be transported.

The cadets really appreciated the efforts of their hosts in putting on a truly educational and very memorable visit.

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Road Marching Success!

Big congratulations to the Bristol & Gloucestershire Wing Road Marching Team for completing the RAF Two Day March at Cosford this weekend.

They earned the team medal for completing with more than 90% of the starting team, along with 1 one-day medal and 12 two-day medals.

The cadets also received their snazzy new road marching brassard badge that they can wear with hard-earned pride.

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Innsworth Cadets Make Great Impression on Jon Culshaw

Twenty five cadets from 2342 (Innsworth) Squadron recently helped raise £5,254.09 for Macmillan Cancer Support at “Another Evening with Jon Culshaw” in Gloucester.

The cadets received a huge thank you for all their help from Jon Culshaw, the leading impressionist and comedian, and have been invited back to help again next year.

Congratulations to all for supporting such a fantastic cause.