241 (Wanstead & Woodford) Squadron ATC

On Saturday 27 June the Sqn participated in the First Armed Forces Day event at Valentines Park. In company with the British Legion, Territorial Army and the Army Cadets the Sqn celebrated the Armed Forces of the UK and their continueing service. The Sqn provided a stand about the role of the Squadron and its participation in the life of the community, and a Flight Simulator giving visitors a chance to try their skills at flying a varity of aircraft.

The event was visited by the Mayor of Redbridge, Cllr Chan, and we were please to discover that his son had been a member of the Sqn in the late 1990s. The photos show the Display Stand with the Team and Cllr and Mrs Chan, Cllr Chan trying his skills on the simulator and lastly Sgts McCormack and Sinclair

16 Cadets and the OC Sqn paraded at Ilford Town Hall on Monday morning as part of the formal launch of Armed Forces Day, a national initiative to raise the profile of the Armed Forces throughout the country. In the presence of the Mayor of Redbridge, Cllr Chan, the Deputy Lord Liuetenant, Colonel Hall, standard bearers of various ex Service Associations, members of the Territorial Army, the Army Cade Forces and cadets from 4F (Ilford) Sqn with our cadets made up the largest contingent and represented the "Light Blue" of the RAF at the event.

A short ceremoney saw the raising of the specially commissioned Armed Forces Day Flag from the Town Hall, and the Last Post and Reveille being sounded by a Trumpeter. On Saturday the Sqn will be present in Valentines Park as part of the Armed Forces Day display from 13 - 1700hrs and will be running the Flight Simulator for members of the public to have a go! The pictures show CWO Caroline Dent carrying the Sqn Banner with the other standard bearers and the cadets on the steps of the Town Hall.

On Thursday 08 December 2008 Wanstead and Woodford's 241 Squadron, Air Training Corps (ATC), based in Finchingfield Avenue, was presented with the coveted Lees Trophy, awarded to the best ATC Squadron in the United Kingdom. To qualify for this outstanding award the Squadron had to demonstrate that it offers its Cadets a breadth and depth of activities, provides help in the community and as a unit continually strives for excellence.

At a special presentation for Cadets, parents and local dignitaries including The Worshipful the Mayor of Redbrige, Councillor Mrs Loraine Sladden, the Cadets presented their list of impressive achievements for 2008. The Lees Trophy was formally awarded at the end of the evening by the Chief of Air Staff, the head of the RAF, Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy KCB CBE DSO BSc(Eng) FRAeS RAF.

241 Squadron has over one hundred and fifty Cadets (aged 13-18) in its ranks and is one of the largest providers of Duke of Edinburgh Awards in the Corps. Sir Glenn was extremely impressed with the Squadrons outstanding achievements. He said “You have formed an absolutely fantastic squadron. I have never heard such an impressive resume of successes. I wish you all the best in your future careers and I am sure that your experience here will hold you in tremendous stead for the future. It just remains for me to say to enjoy yourselves and exploit the opportunities you are given”.