Mr. Norman Brown was born one hundred years ago in Newcastle on 23rd March 1924 and in 1938 at the tender age of 14, he became one of the very first Air Cadets in the country when he joined the newly formed Air Defence Cadet Corps.
Norman went on to achieve another Air Cadet first, when – on 5th February 1941 as a seventeen year old hoping to join the Royal Air Force – he became one of the first air cadets to join the newly formed Air Training Corps which took over all the existing ADCC Units and rapidly expanded to see Air Cadet Squadrons springing up in every community across the Country, including Ely.
With the Second World War raging across Europe and the Battle of Britain having only just been won by the RAF in the Skies overhead, Norman knew that he wanted to join up and defend his country.
At the age of 18, he left home for the first time, as he left 361 Gateshead Squadron – Air Cadets to join the Royal Air Force where he went on to serve on RAF Lancaster Bombers.
With so many bomber bases in Cambridgeshire and the East of England, Mr. Brown settled in Cambridgeshire and on Saturday, at his Oakington home he received a signed birthday card from The King and Queen wishing him a happy 100th birthday.
Mr. Brown’s family, who have connections with Ely’s Air Cadet Squadron, arranged a special surprise guard of honour to welcome him as he stepped out of a vintage 100-year-old Rolls Royce at Girton Social Club for a family celebration along with a long-term family friend and 80’s Pop Star Sonia.
Mr. Brown -who obviously hasn’t forgotten his military training- stood to attention smartly returning the Salute and inspected the cadets in the Guard of Honour, speaking with the cadets and thanking them individually.
What a marvellous evening and a marvellous man, Happy Birthday Sir, and thank you for your years of service.
From 1094 Ely Squadron Royal Air Force Air Cadets
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