This year promises to be one of the most memorable years in the Cadet Forces’ history, as 2010 is their 150th birthday and all four Cadet Forces representing some 130,000 cadets and their 25,000 adult volunteers, will be involved in celebrating a century and a half of success.

“Cadet150” will be marked at all levels of the Cadet Forces with a programme of activities designed to celebrate and promote the success and value of the Cadet movement throughout communities in every corner of the UK during the year.  

We were extremely honoured, when Cadet CSM (now Cdt U/O) Sam Troop, of A Company, was selected as the East Midlands Cadet Ambassador. He recently met Her Majesty the Queen when he attended a reception at Buckingham Palace.

We held our own Cadet150 Celebrations on Sunday 6 June 2010 when we united at MOD North Luffenham in Rutland. As well as 950 cadets, adults instructors and officers on Parade we estimate there were approximately the same amount of visitors. Official guests included Major Gen MJ Rutledge OBE, the General Officer Commanding 5th Division, Lady Juliet Townsend LVO, Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire, Jennifer, Lady Gretton JP, Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire and Dr Laurence Howard OBE, Lord Lieutenant of Rutland, as well as many other senior military officers and civic dignitaries.  It was a superb day that we will all remember for many years to come.

There are other events being planned in some of the major town centres in our Counties and I will keep you updated of these as the details emerge.

The ACF in Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland is thriving; I hope that we will get that message across to the communities that we serve in 2010.

Stephen Davies
Colonel
Commandant (ACF)
LNR ACF