Army cadets in Thornbury have been rewarded for their work during lockdown.

The cadets have continued training through virtual sessions and their achievements were recently recognised when the Commandant of Bristol Army Cadet Force presented certificates and trophies at an awards ceremony held via Zoom.

The B Company area Cadet of the Year award was presented to Cdt Butler, 16, from Thornbury. Butler has played Senior girls’ football for South West district, winning the national competition. She now proudly wears the ‘ACF Champion’ badge. This year she has also completed her Junior Instructors course and the St John Ambulance 1st Aid award. She is a regular attender at detachment and Company events and has had a very good year, previously being awarded Cadet of the Month 2 times and detachment Cadet of the Year. She has developed greatly in her ACF career. Since this award, Butler has also been promoted to Cadet Lance Corporal.

Cdt Curran, 17, from Dursley was awarded the ‘Commandants Coin for Excellence’.

Commandants Coin which was awarded to Cdt Curran

Commandants Coin which was awarded to Cdt Curran

Curran has attended consistently over the last 13 months throughout lockdown and has twice previously been recognised by HQ instructors for her enthusiasm and commitment to the ACF. She has also been Cadet of the Month on two occasions.

The latest Cadet of the Month award went to Cdt Elliott (15), from Tytherington. Elliott has attended enthusiastically throughout the whole lockdown period and has shown a great deal of commitment to the ACF. He won this award last April too and continues to show the potential be a cadet NCO in the future.

Nationally, Corporal Buckley, 17, from Kington and Detachment Commander Sergeant Major Kevin Arnold both participated in ACF Sports virtual running events. In the four weeks of February they finished 2nd in Bristol and 4th in the South West in separate weeks, in a maximum distance running competition with 42 miles and 66 miles respectively. In April they both competed in the National virtual 10-kilometre race. These events whilst promoting fitness and wellbeing also raise money for service charities.

The detachment is looking ahead now with two Thornbury cadets having been nominated for the Mayor of Thornbury’s Youth Award, the results being expected to be announced shortly. A new detachment commander will take over at Thornbury when Staff Sergeant Liam Read, following his promotion last year, will be appointed. Army Cadet activities planned for the next few months include a three-day expedition in May, a training weekend away in June and our Annual Camp period in August.

Cadet activities restart with an open evening on Thursday, May 13 and the unit is currently recruiting new members aged 12-18. Thornbury Army Cadets meet every Thursday next to the Fire Station on Gloucester Road in Thornbury, from 7pm-9.30pm. For more information Telephone 0117 986 3344 or email wx-bri-enquiries@RFCA.gov.uk The ACF is keen to recruit new instructors too, no previous experience is needed.