On Thursday 21 May a celebratory black-tie dinner was held
for the CCF. The dinner was to say farewell to the senior cadets, leaving at
the end of this term. The cadets have been part of CCF during their time at the
school, undergoing many different training courses and expeditions.
The Combined Cadet Force is designed to offer young people,
aged between 13 and 18, the opportunity to tackle a broad range of challenging,
exciting, adventurous and educational activities. Learning the attributes of
personal responsibility, leadership and self-discipline is forefront at the aim
of the CCF, complementing skills learnt at school, and further expanding physical
and mental horizons.
The cadets have enjoyed the whole experience in the CCF, embarking
upon such tasks as skiing, flying and adventure training expeditions. It is not
all thrill-seeking activities that push the body; the cadets have been on
leadership courses and summer camps, and have most recently become mentors. As
senior cadets, they have been responsible for mentoring junior cadets, and
assisting the staff to deliver the training programme- both of which have been
performed to an incredibly high standard.
Senior cadets and the staff who have been leading them came
together in the Old Viking Room to enjoy a sumptuous meal. School Staff
Instructor of CCF, Mr Steve MacPherson, organised the dinner to show
appreciation of the tremendous hard work and effort exemplified in the boys’
behaviour. He said of the senior cadets that ‘the officers and cadets of
Shiplake College CCF would like to take the time to thank our senior cadets for
their dedication and ardour, and wish them all the very in their future
endeavours.’