F Squadron News

‘F’ Squadron at Band Camp 2006

On 8th April 8 cadets and 2 instructors from the Corps of Drums of ‘F’ (LDY) Squadron, LNR ACF travelled to Altcar Training Camp, Liverpool to take part in the annual ‘Cadet Force Music Concentration for Army Cadet Force and Combined Cadet Force Personnel’ or as we prefer to call it ‘Band Camp’!

A week was spent with other cadet musicians from across the country taking part in both military and musical training. The week culminated with a Beating the Retreat parade by the massed bands that involving all 419 cadets who had attended the camp.

During this parade two cadets from ‘F’ (LDY) Squadron received awards for their training. L/Cpl Hannah Smith (Shepshed Troop) received a Gold Medal as the Best Drummer in the Junior Corps of Drums and Cadet Ryan Hibbert (Coalville Troop) received a Bronze Medal for the Best Effort on the Flute as a new player (he normally plays the Glockenspiel !).

Other achievements included L/Cpl Krysti Hanslow learning to read music – not something normally required by Corps of Drums cadets where tunes are learnt by having the notes written down as letters.

During the final day Major Andy Ball, the OC of ‘F’ Squadron, visited and learnt the differences between a ‘Band’ and a ‘Corps of Drums’. “Oh, yes, it’s all to do with the instruments they play” he confidently said afterwards.

With this camp under their belt the cadets are now looking forward to the October half term break when they will be travelling to Longmoor camp for the ‘National Corps of Drums Camp’.