Combined Cadet Force

The Army Section has been disbanded at our own request; but it is hoped that in time we shall start it again. We did not have enough cadets in it to make it work well, and it would have been invidious to 'draft' recruits into the Section when there was room in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force Sections in which they had chosen to serve.

These two sections continue to flourish. We are very grateful to HMS Caledonia for taking the diesel boat Valley' into their care for the winter and giving it a splendid refit, and to the Royal Engineers for bringing a crane to lower Valley' into the Ouse again after her return from Rosyth. The RAF Section's Hang Glider has not yet made its mark on the history of flight, but persevering enthusiasts have high hopes; well hopes anyway.

The Annual Inspection on June 4th was favoured by excellent weather, and the Inspecting Officer, Major General G. de E. Collin, M.C., proved to be as shrewd and sympathetic a senior officer as any we have had in our time here. Some of the comments of the accompanying Staff Officers were, however, open to question, and we are questioning them as we have sometimes done in previous years. It does seem that staff officers need to be clear about what they are looking for at an Inspection, and by what criteria they ask their questions and make their reports, otherwise they are not very useful to us nor to the close association that should exist between the Services and the CCF. The Officers of our Contingent were well pleased with the efforts of the Cadets, and we thank Mr. Pemberton and Mr. Riley for adding some excitement to the occasion by the lead they gave to the excellent Wind Band.

We hope to revive the Corps of Drums, 'The Band' as we used to call it, and to give its members a proper share of CCF time for practice.

We are very pleased to welcome into the Contingent Pilot Officer P. G. Wise who will of course be on the strength of the Royal Air Force but will co-ordinate the training of the first year boys who will form a preCCF for their first year. These boys will have the option of enlisting in the Royal Navy or Royal Air Force Section at the end of their second term, and thus qualifying to attend a camp in the Easter or Summer holidays with the service of their choice: they will, however, continue their general training with the pre-CCF until the end of the school year. The training will be such that a boy who wishes to pursue the Duke of Edinburgh Award from his second year onwards will have done a good deal towards the Bronze Award standard: so we hope to make the best use of the resources of the CCF within the school generally.

D.G.C.

ROYAL NAVY SECTION

As usual, our thanks are due to CPO Ingrey for his regular and patient instruction throughout the term, and especially to H.M.S. Caledonia, our parent establishment at Rosyth. After a complete overhaul by the Artificers there, Valley' was returned in time for Inspection and re-launched with the help of an Army crane. Lockable covers have also been installed to discourage boarders. A party of a dozen new recruits from the third form visited H.M.S. Caledonia over the weekend before 23

the end of term, accompanied by Lt. Bulcock, Sub-Lt. Dawson and two NCOs. They left York by train on the afternoon of Friday, July 5th, returning on the following Monday evening after various activities, notably shooting and a ship visit.

Contingent Coxswain Littlefield is to be congratulated on the award of the Femie Cup for services to the CCF, like his brother before him. The R.N. Section as a whole is to be commended for an excellent turnout at the Annual Inspection on June 4th, conducted by Major-General Collin of North East District. A light jackstay was rigged across the Ouse for the occasion, under CPO Ingrey's supervision.

In the summer holidays a total of eight cadets attended an adventure training camp at Loch Ewe, and Sub-Lt. Dawson also went, for the first time, following in the wake of other St. Peter's CCF officers. Two cadets visited HMS Vernon for a diving course, and many of the new recruits attended a sailing course at HMS Ganges, accompanied by Lt. Bulcock.

The new uniform, consisting of No. 3 bell-bottom trousers, No. 8 shirt, black tie, seaman's jersey and Royal Marine beret, is about to make its way into service, not without some regret.

J.P.H.H.

R.A.F. SECTION

Senior N.C.Os in the section have been very active. Cpl. Bannister is to be congratulated on the award of a flying scholarship, the second the section has obtained during the past year. Cpl. Shepherd is hoping to qualify as a glider pilot in the summer holidays at R.A.F. Ouston near Newcastle. Both these N.C.Os have been studying air navigation during the past year and have been taking the 0 level examinations in this subject. Cpl. Spencer, who has been second in command for drill purposes, has been concerned with the other two corporals in the construction of the hang glider during the Easter term, and its trials in the Summer term. Senior N.C.Os were also present in a small party of cadets who had a very successful Easter camp in Germany at R.A.F. Giitersloh.

During the term 12 members of the preliminary year joined the R.A.F. section and 6 of these were able to get air experience flying at R.A.F. Church Fenton, on June 12th. This activity has now been fully restored and was also ava;lable on May 15th when members of flight B were also able to do some flying. Three members of flight B, cadets Park, Leefe, and Craggs were successful in passing part 2 of the R.A.F. proficiency at the end of the Easter term. During the Summer term this flight has undertaken a number of activities including model construction, dinghy drill and map making.