Stories and pictures from this decade. As always let us know if you have a story or photograph you would like to add

1991
In January the cadets wrote supportive letters to the troops in the Gulf War. Many received pictures and letters back.

In March the first cadet from the squadron made a flight in the new Vigilant glider.

We celebrated our 50th Anniversary with a dinner on April 6th and held two open evenings including one where Welland Valley Radio Society ran a special amateur radio station using the call sign GB50ATC and during the day received over 200 contacts from all over Europe, including Russia and Scandinavia. A trip to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight was also arranged and a special parade held on April 7th.

 

 The squadron bus made its first outing to the RAF Museum at RAF Cosford.

 
 Cadets were invited to a reception held for the local troops returning from the Gulf War and formed a guard of honour at the Council Chamber.

 

 
  4 cadets were part of the Wing Continuity Rifle Display Team which performed at Duxford as part of the Corps 50th Anniversary celebrations

 

The first edition of the newsletter (later named FlyPast) was printed.

The sponsored 24 hour  'march to no where' raised £400. Using a rolling road outside the Grammar School a relay of cadets marched for 24 hours.

 The picture below was taken at 0400 and shows Sgt Phil Standish cheerfully marching on.
  

Summer Camp was at RAF Chivenor where Cdt Linda Tetley was Best Cadet and was awarded a flight in the Hawk jet aircraft.

 

In November the cadets formed a Guard of Honour as Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal opened the new Leisure Centre.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


The Squadron was 7th in the Auster Trophy, 12th in the Wing Lees Trophy

Cpl Mark Jepson won a flying scholarship. He also attended a two week outdoor activities course at Granton on Spey in November

David Standish selected to attend the 50th Anniversary Red-dedication Ceremony at St Clement Danes, the RAF Church. The event was attended by The Duke of Edinburgh

FS Phillip Standish attended Frimley Park Cadet Leadership Course

Lead Melton Mowbray's 50th anniversary parade

1992
Won the Wing Aircraft Recognition Competition for the second year

3rd in Wing Lees trophy

3rd in Wing Auster Trophy

1st in Wing Field day aircraft recognition

3rd overall in Wing Field Day

Won Boys trophy at Wing Cross Country for the 3rd successive year. Junior Boys were 2nd.

 

Ex CWO Phillip Standish notified he had won his Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award

 

The band was invited to play for the Leicester Market Traders for the official opening of the refurbished market. The band led a parade through Leicester and round the market where they were led by Bruce Forsyth who officially opened the market. Bruce later accepted the invitation to become honorary drum major for the Squadron.

 

 Our new drum major

 




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nov 14th saw the squadron move out of the old headquarters at the Cattle Market to its new one at the Leisure Centre.

 

 

 

 A fancy dress fun run raised £320 divided between Hippo and Rainbows charities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bus vandalised when thieves stole a rear wheel leaving the vehicle propped up on blocks of wood. The comments of the CO as the bus crashed to the ground as he drove off were unprintable. Tungstone Batteries donated £250 to help towards the cost of repair.

 

Cadets were featured in the Mark Lamar breakfast TV show when they beat the bass drum and crashed cymbals for a quiz held in Harborough

 

The band led the Remembrance Day Parade at Oakham. This meant travelling straight from the Harborough parade over to Oakham for their afternoon parade (we still do this now)

 

Summer camp became famous for the 'ghost of Cadet Warner' (not from this squadron). At the end of the night exercise he did not report back. Several cadets confirmed he had been on the bus and one said they had sat next to him.

Search parties scoured the grounds and the edge of the lake and staff toured the countryside looking for him.

The CO reported visiting one house about 0030 and finding caged wild animals in the hall and dirty clothing strewn all over the floor, he refused the offer of a cup of tea! Finally the Camp Commandant made the decision to call out the police, which was done. Then a phone call was made back to the camp office where Fg Off Hallam, the duty officer, informed the Camp Commandant that Warner was safe and sound, he had never departed for the exercise and was fast asleep in bed.

1993
The squadron came 2nd in the Wing Lees Trophy competition and 3rd in the Auster Trophy for best squadron in the Wing.

Won Boys trophy at Wing Cross Country for the 4th successive year. 

Won Junior Boys trophy at Wing Swimming

The Squadron was given permission to form a detached flight at Rothwell under the command of Fg Off Paul Bourne. The inaugural parade in Rothwell was supported by 1084 cadets and the band

 

 
 Fund raising started for the new extension, the first event a shoe cleaning day in the town centre which raised £150 towards the £25,000 target.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Later in the year the limited edition print Calm Before the Storm was put on sale.

An auction raised £1100 towards the new building fund. Top prize was a day with the Red Arrows.

 

FS David Standish completed his flying scholarship

Cpl Linda Tetley was Wing Sportswoman of the year

FS David Standish was awarded an International Air Cadet Exchange

 

 

 
 Cadets presented a copy of the Squadron print Calm before the Storm to 617 (Dambusters) Squadron. The cadets were treated to a tour of the Squadron and the cockpit of a Tornado and hardened aircraft shelter before watching the Tornados take off from close quarters

 

Cpl Richard Day and FS David Standish both completed the Cadet Leadership Course at Frimley Park.

 
1994

 

 The cadets provided flag bearers for the Lions District Convention

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sgt D Brookes was awarded a flying scholarship

 

FS D Standish and Cpl Linda Tetley spent the day with the Red Arrows as reward for their efforts in 1993. They toured the hangar, saw a display and sat in on the pilots de-briefing.

 

The band won a Merit Award in a Harborough Mail community awards promotion.

 

Work began on the new extension to the HQ

 

The junior boys swimming team retained the trophy for winning their class at the Wing Swimming Championships, scoring 31 points out of a possible 36.

 

5 cadets took part in a 40km sponsored walk round Rutland Water raising £120 for Rainbows

1995
Bus vandalised yet again, the window was smashed to steal the road fund tax.

 

 

 The new extension was opened by Sir Keith Williamson. A fly past by Bulldogs of East Midlands University Air Squadron added to the spectacle.

 

Cadets from the Squadron received a letter of commendation form Air Vice Marshall J A G May for their work after an RAF Hawk crashed during their summer camp at RAF Valley. The Hawk suffered a burst tyre on landing and the pilot had to eject. The Hawk crashed nearby and the cadets helped to form a security area round the site to ensure the safety of the public and protect the wreckage until a permanent guard could be summoned form RAF Valley. The pilot was not injured.

 

Cpl Scott Alvey and Cdt Sharon Towers completed a free fall tandem parachute jump from 12,000 feet to raise money towards a new bus. Over £500 was raised. Cpl Alvey described the jump "there was no sensation of falling, just the rush of cold air and wind noise. I couldn't believe we were over 2 miles high and heading for the ground at 120 mph. We fell for 45 seconds and then had to pull the rip cord" Cdt Towers took up the story. "There was a tremendous jerk and the sensation of going up again as we slowed from 120 mph to 30 mph in about 3 seconds. The quietness was unreal and the view was amazing. As we came in to land I was whooping with delight not realising that the noise was reaching the ground but I was so excited at what I had done. We managed to land with out falling over and competed what must be the ultimate thrill" Flt Lt Standish also completed a jump.

 

 11,000 feet to go

1996
4 cadets take part in the Barmy Army Assault Course at Bicester raising £200 for the Anthony Nolan Appeal.

Captain David Herring an ex Cadet Warrant Officer was awarded the MBE for services in Northern Ireland

 

17 Cadets took part in the Harborough Fun Run round the Leisure Centre fields winning the team award.

 

 

 









10 cadets and staff completed the Amateur Radio Societies Novice Radio Exam and so qualified for their radio licence to take to the air waves


1997
Our first trip to Belgium. Didn't know what to expect but Tynecot was awe inspiring. We arrived in a cold damp mist and as the sun started to break through, the mist rolled back and the full size of the cemetery gradually revealed itself. Sent shivers down most of our spines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


The squadron renewed it's involvement with the Nijmegen 4 day March when Flt Lt Standish led a Wing Team with 3 cadets from the Squadron. The last time the squadron had been involved was in about 17 years ago The team finished intact having won the Yogi Adams trophy at the RAF WARMA 2 Day qualifying event. The Squadron involvement was CWO David Standish, Sgt Paddy Quinn, Cdt Emma O'Neill. CI Samantha Turner, who was an ex cadet and the then CWO Darrell Hill, later to be a Fg Off on the Squadron were both part of the team. (Charlie Hurst completed WARMA but had to be withdrawn from Nijmegen on the evening of our departure with a throat infection)  

 
 The team with the Yogie Adams Trophy at the RAF WARMA 2 day qualifying march. The first time it has been awarded

 
 The team after the finish of the Nijmegen March.

1998

 

 Flt Lt Standish takes his last salute from Sgt Michael Standish as he leaves the Squadron to go onto Wing Staff.

 
 Cadets from the squadron were a major part of the Wing band that were runners up in the Corps Band Championship. They formed 50% of the band under the direction of Wing Bandmaster Flt Lt Standish

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 
 Cadets were in the Wing band that played at the Disabled World Cup at Rushden & Diamonds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At this event the band played Dad's Army after which Flt Lt Standish was summoned to the organiser's office and told that the band mustn't play this tune again as it might be offensive to the German team taking part in the competition. The band played before the semi final and as the teams came onto the pitch the band started to play Dambusters. The crowd joined in with the usual actions and sound effects just as the German team ran onto the pitch. It wasn't a deliberate act honestly!

 

Charlie Hurst finally makes Nijmegen. After missing out last year due to a last minute illness Charlie finally achieved the coveted medal for the 100 mile road march

1999
We entered the largest team in the Fernie Walk raising money for Macmillan Cancer relief.

Gp Capt Ford (Regional Commandant and past AOC Air Cadets) visited the Squadron on his rounds of the Region.

 

Cadets from the Squadron were in the Wing Band that played at the Corps Athletic Championships at RAF Cosford.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Cdt Cathy O'Neill passed away after a brave battle against a spinal tumour.

 

 

 

 

 

 



2000
  A new banner was dedicated as part of the Millennium Celebrations. Marshall of the Royal Air Force Sir Keith Williamson (Squadron President) took the salute and guests included 4 previous CO's.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Wing Athletics   Winners Junior Boys Trophy
 Wing Field Day     Winners Full Band
   Winners Fanfare
   Winners Percussion
 Region Field Day    Winners Full Band
   Runners up Fanfare Section

            

        

                                        
                                       

        
                                       

 

 

 

Band invited to play at its first Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Cottesmore

 

 

 

 Band started the Rainbows Walk for Life Charity Event which raised £114,000

 


 
 Proud parent Mr Merve Gaskin presented new band equipment thanking the Squadron for what it had done to help his children progress.

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Cdt Greenhalgh-Brown broke the Region breaststroke record at Region Swimming Championships.

 

The band played at RAF Cottesmore's Battle of Britain celebration outside the Officers Mess.

 

Cadets raise £1000 for Macmillan Cancer relief in memory of Cathy O'Neill who died in 1999. The money was raised through a Ten Peaks Challenge in the Lake District by 4 cadets (£500), a 25km sponsored walk (£400) and a disco (£150).