News April 2008

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Aprils News from 2200 (Oldham) Squadron   Four Oldham Air Cadets spent a successful week on Easter Camp Cadets from 2200 (Oldham) Squadron Air Training Corps have recently returned from a successful week from 5th to 12th April on their annual Easter camp, which this year was held at RAF Kinloss in Scotland. Following an overnight coach journey from Manchester, the cadets were able to settle into their accommodation, begin to make new friends and receive briefing on the week’s events. Then it was timefor breakfast and a well earned rest! Cadet Jordon Crowther, Cadet Corporal Jenny Harvey, Cadet Alexander Richards and Cadet Corporal Hannah Taala joined cadets from other squadrons in East Lancashire Wing to participate in a variety of activities. These included shooting, flying and gliding, and initiative exercises,as well as a night exercise. There were also visits to units such as the RAF Police Dog Section and the Nimrod flight simulator, where the cadets were ableto try this out for themselves. There were also opportunities for work experience in the engineering section and the armoury. Jenny Harvey, who won the Cadet ofthe Week Award said: “It was a really good week. The visits were interestingand the activities were all fun. I was lucky enough to fly in a Nimrod whichwas an amazing experience.” Jordon Crowther  added: “This was my first camp, and it was really good.  I would certainly attend another.” Flying Officer Mike Holroyd, Officerin Charge of the Squadron who also attended said: “Camps are an important partof cadet life. They are held at least twice a year in summer and Easter in the UK and overseas, and engender life skills such as teamwork and self sufficiency”   Oldham Squadron meets at WellyholeStreet, Lees on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 7pm to 9pm. In addition tosport, activities include adventure training, shooting, flying and gliding,water sports Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, camps (overseas and in the UK)  and much more. New recruits are always welcomeand can call at the Squadron on any Monday or Wednesday evening or telephone0161 624 1937 for further information. Alternatively, you can e-mail the squadron at oc@2200atc.org.uk, or visit the website: www.2200atc.org.uk   CAMP From the Cadets: RAF Kinloss 5th – 12th April 08   Every year an Easter camp is run through wing. Around 30 cadets from different squadrons are selected to go to an RAF base for a week. This year East lancs wing ran their Easter camp at RAF. Kinloss, the base best known for its rugby team and the Nimrods which are based there. The lucky 30 were chosen from Oldham, Heywood, Burnley, Radcliffe, Hyde and Hattersley andSalford squadron. The coach journey up there took a tiring 9 hours and it was straight down to business on arrival. Because there was so much planned for the week, we had to keep to a very tight and strict schedule. The 30 of us were split into 2 flights, ‘A’ and ‘B’ who would go on to compete against each other throughout the week in a shooting competition, daily room inspections, night exercises, quizzes, sports and other games. Many opportunities came about during the week form some people doing their work experience at certain sections to some cadets getting to go flying and gliding for the first time. Section visits on the base meant that most cadets got to see the fire section and walk around the Nimrod where they got to see how the equipment inside is used. Visits to the neighbouring station, RAF Lossiemouth meant that cadets got to walk around the Chinook, Sea King and even sit in a Tornado. Cpl Rachel Barlow (352 Burnley Sqn), adult WO Seddon (2301 Heywood Sqn) and I were extremely privileged to get the opportunity to fly in the Nimrod. At certain points in the busy schedule we were left with ‘free time’ which would usually be spent on the stairs polishing shoes or with uniform maintenance. As a change from this, Cpl Hannah Taala (2200 Oldham Sqn) organised an X factor night, where all the cadets dressed up and sang their little hearts out! Needless to say, the night was a hit and everybody had an excellent time. Towards the end of the week we visited Fort George on the shores of Moray Firth and then headed off to the Aquadome in Inverness which was full of water slides and wave machines! To finish the day off and to decide the winning flight, we all went bowling but nothing really could prevent ‘B’ flight from utterly thrashing the poor defenceless ‘A’ flight.   To draw an end to the Easter camp, Cpl Hannah Taala and Cpl Tom Rigby (2301 Heywood Sqn) had organised a sods opera and a paper plate award ceremony, where the Oldham cadets, Alex Richards won a joint ‘boy band of the week’ award, Jordan Crowther won the ‘smile of the week’ award and I won the ‘drama queen of the week’ award. All in all Kinloss was fantastic and everyone who went thoroughly enjoyed themselves!   Cpl Jenny Harvey.   News April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 Older