Squadron Mess Night
3 January 2012
On Friday 16th December 2011, 473 (Hartlepool) Squadron hosted a mess night to celebrate 70 years on the Air Training Corps. The mess night was a huge success with most cadets and their parents attending. The mess night was also combined with the presentation ceremony. The mess night had a few high status guests. These guests included the town’s mayor, Stuart Drummond, the head gliding instructor t RAF Topcliff, and Group Captain Madison, a former cadet of the squadron and now a well-established pilot in the RAF. The mess night was held within the Hartlepool rugby club on Easington road, just around the corner from the Squadrons HQ.
The night started off a bit slow while everyone arrived, but soon after, everyone was sat down a waiting to eat. After the meal some of the parents were caught a bit by surprise when everyone was served a glass of port for the royal toasts. This was then followed by an amazing presentation ceremony. To start off the ceremony the local RAFA presented their certificates to everyone who had taken part in any collection throughout the year, with the top three fund-raises receiving prizes and first place receiving the trophy. First place went to Cadet Bethan Maiden, raising over £600. All of this money is also tallied up to go towards a squadron total, which the squadron is hoping will clinch the national second place or even first place trophy. Next, the CVQO betec’s were presented to the master cadets by the town’s mayor, Stuart Drummond. The mayor then went on to present the squadrons CWO with his certificate and to say a few words on how important he felt the ATC was in the local community. The night then preceded into the squadrons prizes. These are, and went to:
- Sportsman of the year- To Corporal Adam Lake
- Best Uniform- To Corporal Alex May
- First Aider Of the year- To Corporal Katie Biggins
- Flight Engineer Award- To Jamie-Lee Sickling
- Best Shot- To Sergeant Damon Flint
- Pilot of the year- To Sergeant Damon Flint
- Best Cadet- To Sergeant Damon Flint
- Best new recruit- To cadet Sam Henderson
- Best NCO- To Flight Sergeant Martin Murphy
With the three highest awards being presented by Group Captain Madison: Best New Recruit, Best Cadet and Best NCO.
The evening then finished with a bit of chill out time for everyone. The squadron staff is already hoping to make this event an annual occurrence, and is already looking into bigger venues.
This event was definitely the highlight of the past year, not because of the food, or the guests, but because of the amazing amount of talent that is within the Squadron’s cadets. It was a proud night for all. Staff, parents and of course the main people…THE CADETS!
