On Friday 28 March, the CCF celebrated its Annual General Inspection in front of an audience of approximately 200, friends, family and Old Edwardians. We were very proud to welcome Major General Tim Hodgetts CB CBE KHS DL, chairman of Nato’s Committee of the Chiefs of Military Services and Master General Army Medical Services, who presided over the Parade as the Inspecting Officer.
After parading onto the square to the accompaniment of Section specific music, the cadets and audience were then entertained with displays from the RAF RAST Competition Drill team, the newly created Corps of Drums and the Field Gun Teams before each Section set about their evening’s work; showcasing a variety of activities that would encompass a normal Friday afternoon in the CCF.
The evening built towards the Field Gun Competition finals which were held on the KEHS astro pitches and saw a fiercely competitive series of races that was ultimately won by the Army Section.
Moving into the RPAC for the awards ceremony, Major General Hodgetts shared in the celebrations by kindly handing out the trophies and certificates to the cadets before rounding off the evening with some warm and kind words of commendation and thanks for the hard work and training he had witnessed.
Prizes are given in each Section to cadets who have stood out in each of the three different year groups by displaying the traits and qualities most valued in the CCF: dedication, leadership, resilience, honesty and courage. The most sought after award of the evening is the Knight Memorial Medal – endowed by parents of Flying Officer Dennis Knight OE who was a KES cadet and lost his life flying a Hurricane defending the island of Malta in WW2, they are given to senior cadets who best exemplify the ideals listed on the certificate and the medals are awarded at Speech Day. This year’s winners are: Royal Navy: William (Sixths). Army: Larry (Sixths). RAF: Tom (Sixths).
The final award of the night went to Lieutenant Tracey Mahony from Selly Oak Trust School who was presented with her Coronation Medal. In recognition of her dedication and ceaseless hard work with their Royal Naval Section, the Selly Oak Trust School Senior Top Cadet will henceforth be awarded the Mahony Cup – and we are delighted that Tracey was able to award the cup for the first time on Friday.
