HM Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk, Lady Dannatt MBE, held an annual reception at Thetford Cadet Training Centre on Saturday 14th May to give out some very special awards to volunteer cadet instructors.
The lunchtime reception included a Service of Celebration and award presentations, as well as appointing the Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets for the coming year.
RFCA Members and staff present at the event included Lt Gen Jacko Page (Hon Col NACF), Col Jamie Athill (last event as Chair of the Norfolk RFCA), Col Tim Allen (new Chair of the Norfolk RFCA), Col Marc Godfrey (Colonel Cadets for East Anglia), Colonel Kearn Malin (Commandant of Norfolk ACF), Lt Col Alison Falcon (Deputy Chief Executive of East Anglia RFCA, representing the Chief Executive), Major (Retd) Bob Gibbs (Cadet Executive Officer of Norfolk ACF), Wg Cdr (Retd) Stew Geary (Vice Chair), Wg Cdr Jason Allan (OC N&S Wg RAFAC).
The Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets are selected from the very best cadets in the county, usually those who have made the most of the opportunities available through cadets and typically having achieved the highest ranks in their Cadet Force. They will gain an introduction to civic life by accompanying the Lord-Lieutenant in her duties when practical to do so. For 2022, the Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets are: Cadet Bdr Kaitlyn Aldous (Army Cadet Force), Cadet FS Emily COX (RAF Air Cadets) and Cadet AB Paget (Sea Cadets).
Lord Lieutenant’s Certificates of Meritorious Service were presented to three adult instructors: SSI Carl Brandwood of Norfolk ACF, WO Karen Lyons of Norfolk & Suffolk Wing RAF Air Cadets and FS Michael Gardiner of Norfolk & Suffolk Wing RAF Air Cadets. The Lord-Lieutenant also presented Norfolk Army Cadet Force Commissions to 2nd Lieutenant Anna Ashton, 2nd Lieutenant Christopher Cocksedge and 2nd Lieutenant Colette Codling.
Maj K A Pickering of Norfolk ACF was awarded his MBE. Major Pickering is no stranger to the Lord-Lieutenant awards event, having previously been in receipt of a Meritorious Service Award in 2016 at the Norwich Army Reserve Centre. Family members were able to see their loved ones receive their various awards and commendations. The very successful and well-attended event was organised by the RFCA’s Major Bob Gibbs and his team for the Norfolk lieutenancy.
More stories from the lieutenancies support to cadets in East Anglia are found here.