Hot on the heels of a very successful awards night the Cadets of 886 Squadron gathered together again the very next evening having chosen a formal Dining-In night to mark their first 25 years as an independent ATC Squadron.

This time the venue was the Earl De Grey Room at the Unicorn Hotel, a fine building with it’s own historical connotations. The cadets were joined by the Squadron Staff and guest speaker Sqn Ldr Simon Johnston (O.C. 642 Volunteer Gliding Sqn Linton on Ouse) who had already been introduced to the cadets at the previous night’s Awards Evening.

Pre-dinner drinks were held in an adjacent reception room during which the extremely smart turn-out of everyone present was being admired. The formal proceedings then opened with a royal toast proposed, as tradition has it, by the newest enrolled cadet Jessica Tenant. All present then went on to enjoy a sumptuous feast with all but CI Bacon kept guessing as to the dessert which ultimately proved to be the highly popular Sticky Toffee pudding.

And so to the speeches:-

These began with CI Bacon firstly thanking the Unicorn Staff for their welcoming and efficient manner, followed by credit to Sergeant McCarthy who carried out all of the ground work organisation for the evening before allowing him to step in at the end in true glory hunting style.

“The Boss” Flt Lt Crebbin then went on to speak of how the ATC staff all functioned to support the cadets themselves and the benefits and enjoyment that could be gained from being a cadet. He also gave some very detailed accounts of his time as a cadet which demonstrated the high spirits that are an essential part of the ATC ethos.

Sqn Ldr Johnston, deputising at extremely short notice then gave an inspirational talk which not only picked up on the “high spirits” but also described how a lack of academic success need not be a barrier to eventual reaching the heights in aviation as he revealed that a bit of effort with a sponge and some hot soapy water can, in the right circumstances, be your passport to a career that has included flying all manner of aircraft and even displaying with the Red Arrows.

Finally Sergeant Cobbett presented two coveted wooden spoons for certain events that took place on Wing Training Day.

The first was to Flight Sergeant Thornton in recognition of the fact that, having drilled his squad mercilessly in the run-up (including extra drill in the rain on the previous morning), come the glorious day itself - he fluffed the essential instructions himself.

The second wooden spoon went to Cadet Maughn for the cold calculating manner in which he concealed the minibus keys inside the vehicle and then locked it, thereby ensuring that the whole squad suffered along with Flt.Sgt. Thornton by having to walk from Linton to Ripon.

The evening concluded with traditional Mess Games that included a sit-down tug-of-war and a bottle walk.

Written by CI R McCarthy, posted by Sgt W Cobbett ATC, 886 (City of Ripon) Squadron
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