On Thursday 28th October, 1094 Ely Squadron held their annual dining in evening in the historic and beautiful Monastic Barn dining hall at King’s School Ely.
With many of the older cadets on Exam Leave and several unfortunately isolating the dinner was still well attended with many of the Squadron’s most recent recruit intake attending.
The evening was a superb opportunity for the cadets to experience what a dining in evening on a RAF station would be like. This event like many others had been postponed due to COVID and the squadron were thrilled for it to finally go ahead.
The Squadron was delighted to be joined by a number of guests with the principal speech being delivered by The Squadron’s guest of honour Wing Commander Duncan Clark RAF OC Operations Wing at RAF Marham.
Our other guests included Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire’s Wing Commander Anthony Kelly RAFAC and his wife Mrs Sue Kelly, Royal British Legion President Group Captain Ian Lindsay (ret’d) and Royal British Legion Chairman Mr. David Martin.
The cadets were treated to a fantastic three course meal, pictures of which are included; however the food was so good that the Squadron’s official photographer for the evening forgot to get a picture of his starter as he had eaten it before he thought about taking photos of the courses being served.
Judging by the number of clean plates around the hall it looked as if all the guests, staff, civilian committee members and cadets thoroughly enjoyed the superb cuisine provided by the School’s chefs.
Wing Commander Clark delivered a truly inspirational speech describing his journey from being an Air Cadet himself, joining in 1991, to joining the RAF and progressing through the ranks within the RAF as a Tornado fast jet pilot.
The Wing Commader’s speech had many key pointers and advice not only for those cadets considering joining the RAF but for apptoaching life in general listing his 5 rules for life abd expanding on each with exciting and fascinating experiences from his career as a front line Tornado Pilot.
The whole Squadron were extremely grateful that he gave so generously of his time and his experience, his speech certainly had a tremendous effect on raising morale encouraging the cadets present to take advantage of all the unique opportunities being an Air Cadet can bring.
What we do Commandant Air Cadets
Rule Number 1 – Choose Something you enjoy.
You will spend a lot of your life, perhaps 45 years, in the career that you choose – so try and choose something that you will enjoy.
Rule Number 2 – Be the very best you can at what you choose to do.
Rule Number 3 – You will go faster by yourself but you will go further together.
Rule Number 4 – When things go wrong, adapt, be resilient and come up with a new plan – always look for a new opportunity.
Rule Number 5 – Set yourself goals, but remember to enjoy the journey.
From 1094 Ely Squadron Royal Air Force Air Cadets
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