As part of our goals, London Wing provides training for it’s leaders, whether a cadet or member of staff. 12 members of staff attended the Wing’s Staff Development course at RAF Uxbridge, an ideal setting to learn about our parent service. Whilst on the other side of London at the Mile End Territorial Army Centre in East London 35 cadets where being put through their paces on the Wing’s Cadet NCO Courses.

For the young Corporals of the Wing, the Junior NCO Course offers them their first step in development and aims to increase confidence as well as prepare them with a variety of challenges what a Junior NCO could expect to cope with. Faced with command tasks, welfare awareness and challenging their standards of uniform and drill, the cadets performed fantastically well, returning to their Squadron’s with enthusiasm and plenty of ideas from their peers and instructors alike.

Joining the Corporals in the same location were the Senior Cadet NCOs, some of whom were newly promoted Sergeants. These cadets took the next step on the cadet NCO career ladder, explored the management aspects of the Senior NCO role in a relaxed workshop format with their peers from across the Wing, empowering them with the skills required to become the next generation of leaders within London Wing.

Completing the weekend of development provided by the Volunteer Adult Staff of London Wing was the Staff Development Course for potential Adult members of staff at RAF Uxbridge. Candidates ranged from senior cadets looking to step in adult roles as well as current staff members. All were participating in the Wing Staff Development Course. The course is designed to inform and prepare individuals who have ambitions to step into a uniformed role whether it be as an Officer or Senior NCO.

Officer in charge of Training for London Wing, Squadron Leader Julian Loxton commented, “I put in a few miles this weekend, spending Saturday with the Staff Development Course and Sunday with the NCO Course, there is a lot of joined up thinking with these courses. What was particularly satisfying this weekend were the 6 Cadet NCOs on the Staff Development Course, all graduates of the NCO Courses!.”

All in all, a very successful weekend for the London Wing Team at all levels.

On Sunday the 22 November 2009, London Wing Squadrons competed in the Annual London Wing Cross Country Competition held at Epping Forest on a very wet and muddy morning!

241 (Wanstead and Woodford) Squadron were victorious on the day but the competition was strong in all classes of entry giving the Champions a run for their money.

The weather was kind to the participants for the actual race, but the heavens opened as the members of the Wing was prepared together so that the results and medals could to be presented.

241 (Woodford and Wanstead) Squadron provided 30 cadets and staff members to mark the course and supervise the event. Congratulations to all the Squadrons and individuals who took part in the Cross Country Competition, including the several members of staff who also ran the 3 mile course around Epping Forest.

The winners will all have the chance to represent London Wing at the London and South East Region Competition on the 6^th December 2009 at RAF Uxbridge when they will compete against other represenatives from across the Region. The Air Cadet Orgainisation encourages and supports all its members to take an active involvement in sporting activies with Sporting hero’s such as Linford Christie having been an active member of the Air Training Corps in London when he was a teenager.

Members of YOU London were given the privilege of speaking to Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London and other members of the London Assembly at City Hall in Central London in order to tell him about their organisations and volunteering.

YOU London is a unique partnership of the uniformed youth organisations in Greater London which has come together to promote their organisations and the opportunities they provide to both young and old. The presentation team consisted of 6 young people and 3 adult volunteers who came from a mixture of the partner groups.

Flight Lieutenant Leroy Smith RAFVR(T), who is the Officer Commanding of 343(Camberwell)Squadron, based in Flodden Road, Camberwell, was one of the adult presenters.  The team had the opportunity to explain to Boris, his deputies and key advisors how their organisations help shape the youth of London. The cadet presenters focused on their life changing experiences as members of their organisations whilst the adults discussed why they volunteer and just how easy and enjoyable it is.

After the presentations finished the Mayor and his advisors had a discussion with the YOU team about volunteering in the Capital. Mayor Boris Johnson was clearly impressed with the presentations, saying: “the presentations from the young people were brilliant and it was encouraging to hear how much the trainers are clearly getting out of volunteering, the variety of options provided by these organisations is excellent.”

The Chairman of YOU London, Hugh Purcell, also present for the meeting finished off by emphasising the need for all the youth groups to have adult volunteers

leaders which the Mayor took on board, saying that he hopes to “build a serious culture of adult volunteering in London.”

Flight Lieutenant Leroy Smith commented; “it was a privilege to speak with Mayor Boris Johnson today. He made us feel at ease so we could relax and get our message across. It was also really interesting to have some time after the presentations to discuss the wider aspects of volunteering with the Mayor and those present today.”

YOU organisations presenting to the Mayor were; the Sea Cadets, Army Cadets, Girl Guides, Scouts, Volunteer Police Cadets and Community Fire Cadets with adults from the Air Cadets, Girls Brigade and Boys Brigade.

Fierce weather could not dampen the spirits of over 100 cadets and staff from the London Wing who were on hand to welcome the 682nd Lord Mayor of London – Alderman and Solicitor Nick Anstee.

Each year, in a tradition that started back in 1215 with the creation of the “Magna Carta”, the Lord Mayor of the City of London is required to swear a pledge of allegiance to the Sovereign in front of the Lord Chief Justice and the Judges and Masters of the Queen’s Bench Division at the Royal Courts of Justice.

The procession – over 3 miles long – is a unique combination of State Procession, Military Parade and Carnival. It starts with a flypast from the Royal Air Force and is watched by large crowds who line the streets and is televised live to a national and   international audience.

This year the rain didn’t create the only “sea of blue” as Air Cadets could be seen flooding this year’s event in no less than five locations along the route!

• A marching contingent of 50 staff and cadets from London Wing.

• A sixty strong marching band from the London & South East Region Band.
• A group of cadets and staff from London Wing were on the YOU London float
• A group of cadets and staff from 1475 (Dulwich) Squadron act as the Lord Mayor’s Heraldic Banner Bearers
• Flight Lieutenant Chris Ibbitson RAFVR(T) performed his duties as the first Lord Mayor of the City of London’s Air Aides-de-camp for 2009.  A unique role introduced by the outgoing Lord Mayor, Alderman Ian Luder.

The London Wing Cadets also supported the Royal Air Force Association and the Worshipful Company of Fanmakers with their floats this year.

“The weather was a challenge this year but the Air Cadets marched forth in their usual steadfast and enthusiastic manner” said Flight Lieutenant Chris Ibbitson, Officer in Charge of the Air Cadet contingent this year.