29,035 feet... Done!

It wasn't the easiest of challenges by any means, but the Cadets of Alnwick Detachment (and a few friends) successfully completed the Everest Climb.  To raise funds to pay for equipment, trips, etc... members of the detachment climbed a total of 29,050 feet using the 30 foot mobile climbing tower.

The challenge was completed in just under 7 hours, under the watchful eyes of SSI's Ralph Brown and Michael Weightman.  The weather was perfect for the climb, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, albeit pretty knackered by the end!

Now the next challenge comes... collecting in that sponsorship!  Well done everyone!

Alnwick Army & Air Cadets with the dignitaries

Tonight saw the affiliation of the Alnwick Detachment, Army Cadet Force, and the 1801 (Alnwick) Squadron, Air Training Corps to the Alnmouth and District Branch of the Royal British Legion.

Karen Larkin joins Alnwick Detachment in front of the Jools Holland stage

12 cadets from the detachment turned up to assist Karen Larkin, and the Grace House Children's Hospice Appeal, at the Alnwick Pastures - before Jools Holland and his Orchestra took to the stage.

The cadets spent 2 hours selling raffle tickets which also allowed customers a duck into the Alnwick Gardens Duck Race, and entry into the Gardens on 12th September.

A mini-competition between the groups of cadets to see who could sell the most tickets is going to be close to call.  Karen will be coming to award the winners this week.

As a bonus, the cadets (along with SSI Brown and CSM Lawrence) were allowed to stay to to watch the gig, and have some bait from the Northumberland Gazette tent.

Some of the new cadets

Thursday 25th March saw the basic training cadets be given their cap badge & hackle, as they formally became members of the detachment.  Ten new cadets have been enrolled into Alnwick, and seven into Broomhill.  Unfortunately the parade clashed with one of the school ski trips, so four of the Alnwick cadets missed the night.  They will be enrolled informally at the next parade night.

Cadet Commandant, Colonel Smith gave out the basic training pass awards, along with best recruit, best cadet and promotions.

Congratulations to all the cadets for a very good night!

Alnwick:

Best Recruit: Cdt Beveridge

Best Cadet: Cdt Netherwood

Promotion: L/Cpl Netherwood (from cadet)

Broomhill

Best Recruit: Cdt Eason

Best Cadet: Cdt Mayes

Three Star Award: L/Cpl Wintrip

Promotion: Cpl Wintrip (from L/Cpl)

Alnwick and Broomhill Detachments have just returned from a successful week's ski trip in Samoens, France.  

Ten cadets from Alnwick and four from Broomhill along with Staff Sergeants Ralph Brown and Becky Matthewson attended the trip, raising funds at various events throughout the year.

The trip was a great success, with a mix of cadets having some experience, to absolute beginners. By the end of the week all cadets were skiing from Samoens, right across the mountains to the villages of Morillon and Les Carroz and off-pisting along great runs such as the Marvel, the Dahu and the Sairon.

Lt Lister and the Rothbury cadets head out on their trip to Samoens on March 6th, where they will also be looking to have a great time.

Members of the ski party are pictured (from L to R): L/Cpl Mark Newson, S/Sgt Michael Sargent, L/Cpl Will Young, L/Cpl Mark Robertson, L/Cpl Kevin Straughan, Cdt Lydia  Donaldson, L/Cpl Joe Pendrich, L/Cpl Ed Inkster, L/Cpl Luke Wintrip, Cdt Kate Netherwood, L/Cpl Meg Straker, Cdt Emily Brunton, L/Cpl Ellie Tribe & L/Cpl Callum Turnbull.

All photos and videos are on the photo gallery.

Cadets collecting on Friday

Alnwick detachment have been out in force raising funds for The Royal British Legions Poppy Appeal.

Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, cadets donned the streets of Alnwick filling countless poppy tins with generous donations from the public - all impressed with the smart turnout of the cadets.

Saturday morning, they also assisted with the Alnmouth & District Branchs' Coffee Morning.  This was an admiral effort, which was somewhat thwarted by two other coffee mornings arranged last minute for the same day.  None-the-less, the cadets endeavoured, successfully raising almost £200 from the tombla, bric-a-brac and cake sale.

A very, very young Sargent...

Congratulations to our new promotions within the detachment.  On Sunday 25th October our very own Michael Sargent (pictured left from 2006 - how he's aged!) was awarded the rank of Staff Sergeant.  This is testament to all the hard work, and leadership he has shown time and time again throughout his time in the ACF.

A mention has to also go to Calum Turnbull, who has been given the rank of Lance Corporal within the detachment.

Well done boys!

Where are we?

Cadets from all over W company were up and around Otterburn the weekend of 23-25 October.  Two star training cadets were out on their expedition, walking from various locations to Grassleas for the overnight camp, before taking the Sunday morning hike to Elsdon.  The rain and hurricane-force winds did everything they could to make this expedition as tough as possible, but everyone survived, despite a few cold toes, and a couple of blown down tents...

All other cadets stayed in camp, but travelled out to Kielder for some bell boating, and partaking in other activities such as the DCCT.

Not many photos taken, as I was concerned for my camera during the non-stop rain on the Saturday, but what we have is online...

http://broomhillacf.myphotoalbum.com/view_album.php?set_albumName=album235

W Coy Colts Canter Team

A huge 'Well Done!' to our Colts Canter team for 2009.  They took part in the competition and did themselves very proud, despite coming last overall.  The cadets had a great experience, with some of the highest morale, and all thoroughly enjoyed the weekend.  As the most junior team to be taking part, perhaps the last place was a formality, but I know they made me very proud.  Commendations have come from our County HQ that with more experience, and a few years on their side, our team could be a force to be reckoned with.

Watch this space for 2010!

Erm... ok...

A big well done to Sgt Matthewson of Broomhill Detachment (and Alnwick of course!) for passing her Adult Instructors course at Frimley Park.

Sgt Matthewson was one of two NACF adults attending the course, and passed with a high B grade - getting an A in drill (as if we'd expect anything less!).

Sgt Hogarth of Z company was the other adult to pass.  Well done to you both!

The team crack on through Hipsburn

The W Company Colts canter team met up early tonight to get in a 6km forced march before the parade night training began.  Cpl Hale from Rothbury and L/Cpl Robertson from Broomhill made their way to meet the rest of the team at Alnwick before bussing out to Alnmouth.

The route along the old railway line is an uphill battle all of the way, so this would be a good test for the team, in place of carrying weapons.

Expected time based on Sundays route march would be 6km in 61 minutes.  So it was a fantastic achievement to complete the march (including a 2-minute forced water break) in 54 minutes 15 seconds.  There will a further two training sessions to improve on this speed.

Well done team - keep up the great effort!

The team pushes on through 7km...

W Company Colts Canter team for 2009, prepared for the competition at the beginning of October, with a final training weekend at Warcop.

The cadets were privvy to a look into the 2011 Annual Camp location, and carried out Shooting, Mapwork, Skill at Arms training, and a 7.5 km forced march - 1.5 km longer than needed for the actual competition.

L/Cpl Beaman was brought in as a last minute addition to the team.

Further preparation will be done over the next few Thursday nights, to finalise everything for the competition.

A few photos from the weekend of the march, and how tired it made the cadets, can be found here:

http://broomhillacf.myphotoalbum.com/view_album.php?set_albumName=album233

NACFs Mobile Climbing Tower

Saturday 29th August, and Staff Brown along with three Alnwick cadets (L/Cpls Straughan & Young, and Cadet Gillon) went to Swarland Show with the climbing wall.

The cadets helped attach the harnesses and helmets to wouldbe climbers before they approached the climbing tower to be attached and instructed by Staff Brown.

The show ran from noon to 4pm, and luckily the rain held off until the final climb.  A good day was had by all, and some funds were raised for the detachment.

Look at my duckies!

On Sunday 23rd August, ten cadets from Alnwick and two from Broomhill assisted with the annual Alnwick Garden Duck Race (raising funds for Grace House North East).

The cadets were tasked with taking baskets of rubber ducks from the bottom of the cascade, back up to the top ready for the next race.  Each race had 2000 ducks - 500 each of blue, yellow, red and green.

The 36,060 ducks (because only 60 were used in the grand final race) were transported 16 times during the 3 hours the cadets spent helping out under the watchful eye of Sgt Matthewson.  S/Sgt Brown was also present - talked in to helping out in the water collecting the ducks as they came to the bottom - if only his fall had been caught on camera!

The cadets behaviour was, as usual, impeccable, keeping on smiling even though it never stopped raining all afternoon.

Photos of this event are available at:http://broomhillacf.myphotoalbum.com/view_album.php?set_albumName=album231