DATE 24-02-08    

NEWS

Cambs Army Cadets Hit The Right Note

Cadet Lance Corporal Sam Davies (15) from Cambridge plays the drum and Cadet Corporal Rob Evans (16) from Peterborough looks forward to the future

Drum Major Charlotte Greeno (18) teaches Ada Lasek (13) the flute

Cambridgeshire Army Cadet Force is hitting all the right notes with a newly reformed Corps of Drums - and having friends in the right places certainly helps.

At the beginning of the year Captain Lynn Herriot and the County Director of Cadet Music John Shaw took on the task of remodelling the band to enable male and female cadets aged 12 to 18 from all over the county to join.  “I did music in the Girls Brigade some years ago and really enjoyed it”, said Lynn. “When I was appointed recently to lead the band I was overjoyed”

For the last 30 years the band has been based at the Territorial Army Centre at Fletton, Peterborough and distances meant that only local young people could take part. “We’ve changed that all now", said John. “ We have opened up premises at Fletton and Bottisham near Cambridge so that cadets can take part on Monday evenings from all over Cambridgeshire”

And it’s not just music that’s on offer. As army cadets youngsters can take part in a huge range of challenging and exiting activities including expeditions, scuba diving, motorcycling, shooting and much more. If they chose to concentrate on music, qualifications up to BTec level are available – equivalent to four GCSEs – and all for free. They learn instruments such as flute, drums, bugle, cymbals and bell lyre all from scratch under the expert tuition of John and the friends he has involved from his previous military years with the 13/18 Royal Hussars and latterly the Queens Dragoon Guards.

At the band training day on 24 February regular army soldier and Drum Major Steve O’Brien of the Household Division (Welsh Guards) gave instruction in music, drill and deportment. “The two cadet Drum Majors will benefit in particular from a professional input” he said. “When they are out there leading the band at public events all eyes will be on them. I can help them develop leadership and bearing – essential attributes to ensure performances are outstanding”.  Assisting Steve on the day was Lance Sergeant Kelvin Jenkins from the Irish Guards Band. “I got involved through John really”, he said. “As a serving soldier I can obtain the right uniforms and equipment to help the youngsters look and play the part” – and his help has certainly been appreciated. When the Guards division recently changed the shade of their red tunics Kelvin was quick to snap up a few of the decommissioned ones for the kids.

The band has 34 cadet members and is growing all the time thanks to Lynn and John. “Cadet Force Music is a very popular attraction and is the footprint of the armed services in our local community”, said Lynn. “We attend public events throughout Cambridgeshire and perform for some very important people.”

We will be at the Territorial Army 100^th anniversary celebrations at Ely Cathedral on 8^th June, being reviewed by the Lord Lieutenant and later this year we are looking to produce a music CD for sale to the public”.

It’s certainly all action and the cadets taking part love it. Thirteen year old girl cadet Ada Lasek from Poland joined up three months ago. Ada, who attends Parkside School in Cambridge and has a first language of Polish has settled in superbly - learning the basics of flute playing in just three weeks. “I love something different and this is it !” she said.  Her fellow cadet and flute instructor for the day was 18 year old Drum Major Charlotte Greeno from Cambridge. Charlotte has been a cadet for five years and been involved in cadet music for four. Before she joined she had no musical background whatsoever and now plans to take up teaching music to nursery age children as a career. “Its great that we now have premises at Peterborough and Bottisham”, she said. “The cadet numbers are equally divided between the two and the same training is available at each place. We always have vacancies for any young person who wants to join and take up music”.

Charlotte was backed up by Cadet Corporal Rob Evans (16) from Peterborough. Rob works as an insurance administrator in the city and has been in the ACF for four years. He plays ‘lead tipper’ (head drummer) in the band and is looking to join the Royal Marines when he is 18. “It’s a fantastic grounding in life and the skills you learn in the cadets are second to none. I will be ready for whatever life brings” he said.

There is no doubt that the growing numbers of cadets being attracted to cadet force music in Cambridgeshire will ensure some excellent entertainment at public events for many years to come and some very skilled young people. And this is just the beginning. To crown the event, at the end of the days training, John Shaw was presented by Cambridgeshire Commandant Colonel Roger Herriot with a Lord Lieutenant’s Commendation for his devotion to duty in supporting the band.  Make no mistake – we will hear a lot more from the Cambridgeshire ACF Corps of Drums!

The cadet band in training for public events

Drum Majors Samantha Ibbett (17) and Charlotte Greeno (18) with professional Drum Major Steve O’Brien from the Welsh Guards

John Shaw receives the Lord Lieutenant’s Commendation from Col Roger Herriot