Young people in Warwick have the chance to “take to the skies”, “Paddy” Brown leader of Warwick Air Cadets told the Rotary Club of Warwick this week, and get a chance to do things others only dream about.

The 30 members of 1368 Squadron Warwick & Leamington Air cadets moved into new premises in November last year, on the Stratford Road Warwick next to Playbox theatre and Aylesford School. Air Cadets are a national organisation sponsored by the Royal Air Force, with over 30,000 members across the UK. Meetings are held on Monday and Wednesday evenings and Cadets can be boys or girls between 12 and 20.

The squadron promotes an interest in aviation, providing adventure sports including flying training, gliding, climbing, sailing, expeditions, and rifle training. Many cadets enrol on Duke of Edinburgh awards and travel overseas, as well as supporting local organisations collecting for the Poppy appeal, and help at the Town Bonfire. Cadets often go on to fly for a career, or join other forces, the Army, or Police.

Currently four cadets are in South Africa on Operation Drakensburg Elephant, where they will learn about the local culture and environment before undertaking building work at a hospital. Recently they volunteered to help at the International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, and raised money for SSAFA at the Game Fair. Cadet of the month Cpl Marsh has been awarded a flying lesson at Wellesbourne airfield.

Thanking Paddy for his presentation Rotarian Trevor Jones expressed surprise that we knew so little about the Air Cadets and wished them well in their new premises which would allow them to develop and grow. President John Hibben then presented Paddy with a contribution towards their activities.

Warwick Air cadets have a website www.1368aircadets.org where you can find out more about them.

  “Paddy” Brown & Pres. John Hibben

Cpl Marsh Cadet of the month