Our week of awards and presentations continued on Wednesday 4th October at RAF Digby, with the Wing Annual Presentation Evening, taking place in the WO & Sgts Mess.
It was the first time since 2019 that we have been able to recognise those who have received awards or have been recognised in different ways. Sadly, the pandemic restrictions for many meant that several recipients had their awards posted or presented locally.
The evening started with several presentations to our top achieving cadets, with the formal presentation of their Cadet Warrant Officer certificates from Wing Commander Daniel Withnall, OC Trent Wing. Following on it was also chance to present several of our newly commissioned CFAV's with their Cadet Forces Commissioning Scrolls, reflecting on the duty and commitment they have undertaken to lead units, manage staff and cadets, driving the wing forward.
We are fortunate to have excellent staff both Civilian and Uniformed within the wing, volunteer and paid staff. Many of those were recognised with Commandant Air Cadets Certificates of Meritorious Service and others with their Cadet Forces Medal's and subsequent clasps for long service. We were privileged to welcome Group Captain Christopher Melville, Commander ISTAR to make the presentations as our guest of honour, having started his career as a cadet with 47F Grantham Squadron and now Service Instructor with 2160 (Sleaford) Squadron.
There were 2 key presentations to recognise 2 individuals.
Squadron Leader Terence Shird, received an Air Officer Commanding 22 Group Commendation, in recognition of his efforts both with 195 (Grimsby) Squadron, but more recently for his work on Wing Staff as the Wing Training Officer.
The final presentation of the evening was to Flight Lieutenant Michael North of 384 (Mansfield) Squadron, recognising over 1/2 a century of uniformed service with the RAF Air Cadets and to the community of Mansfield. He was presented with a Chief of the Air Staff's Commendation, recognising his commitment, spirit, passion and dedication to the many thousands of cadets he has supported over the last 50 years.
