meet some of our people

Although an ATC cadet at my school squadron it was some years later that I was invited to attend a squadron in the area of Plymouth where I was a police constable. After a year as a civilian instructor I was commissioned in 1968. I later went on to command another squadron in Plymouth. This was followed by many years in command of a squadron in North Devon. I later became a Wing Staff Officer in Devon Wing and as a result of my police career transferred to Plymouth and Cornwall Wing in 1987 again in the role as a wing staff officer. In my current role as the Training Officer for the Plymouth & Cornwall Wing ATC I have a responsibility for providing courses for both cadets and adult members of staff.

The adult courses were designed “in house” to meet three differing needs. The first was to provide instructional technique training. It is essential that the training of cadets is provided in a competent manner which they should find interesting and enjoyable, after all unlike school they can leave if they don’t like it! Another vital need is the knowledge and skills required to command a unit. It is frequently the case that individuals appointed to command have not experienced command in their civilian occupation. The third need is the understanding of what is required to be an effective leader.

Cadet courses are concerned with providing them with the skills to by effective Junior and later Senior NCOs. There is and has been for several years a national syllabus for these courses. We in the Wing had already, through trial and error, designed our own courses some years earlier. With the introduction of the national syllabus we needed to make some adjustments but much of what we did was incorporated into the syllabus.

All cadets in the Wing are registered for the BTEC Intermediate Award in Aviation Studies on successful completion of their Staff Cadet Part 1 examination. I am responsible for ensuring that the standards set by Edexcel and by HQAC are observed. I deal with all matters relating to the Award. I have other duties such as overseeing the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme within the Wing. In this capacity I have been a member of the Cornwall County D of E Panel. This body promotes the scheme throughout the county. It also provides support and training for civilian centres and school groups offering the Award to young people.

I also have a responsibility for overseeing the activities of a number of squadrons in Plymouth & South Devon. This means occasional visits to the units and once a year conducting an annual inspection.

For many years I regularly attend the Pre-Bisley Shooting Course as Camp Commandant. The top shooting teams in the Corps assemble for a period of intensive coaching and competition prior to attending the Inter Service Cadet Rifle Meeting at Bisley in early July. The meeting is a competition between cadets from the Army Cadet Force, the Sea Cadet Corps and ourselves. There are also cadets from Canada and occasionally Australia taking part.

Professional Life.

I retired from the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary almost 9 years ago as a Superintendent. I found that my experience and training as a member of the RAFVR(T) stood me in good stead. It is not always easy to combine a police career with that of a Squadron Commander but with an understanding wife it is possible. You derive a great deal of satisfaction in dealing with keen and ambitious youngsters. It certainly is a welcome break from dealing with juvenile delinquents.