1507 (Chester-le-Street) Squadron

NEWCASTLE AVIATION ACADEMY

Last night saw a group of our cadets visit the Newcastle College Aviation Academy at Newcastle Airport.

They were given a fantastic insight into what the college offers and a tour of the facilities and the aircraft.

They finished the evening on the flight simulators, testing their flying skills. All the cadets agreed that it was a fantastic evening and very informative.

We are back next month with our second group.

Last night was our Annual Formal Inspection in front of our Deputy Wing Commander Sqn Ldr Sheedy and SNCO Fs Waite.

The first part of the night consisted of a Parade and March Past showcasing both our Cadets and Staff completing a set Drill and Banner Drill routine.

The second part of the night took place back at Squadron and involved the Squadron Leader and SNCO having a chat with everyone involved with the Squadron starting with our Commanding Officer, Flt Lt Emily Sleightholme and following on with our Civilian Committee, Staff and finally the Cadets themselves.

The night went really well with lots of positive feedback.

Massive thank you to those Cadets who took part during a very busy exam season and for all of the hard work you have put in preparing for the inspection.

Great support from all of the parents who came to watch as well.

Lord-Lieutenant of County Durham
Councillor Tracie Smith
Durham Northumberland Wing Air Cadets
Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets
North of England RFCA
Regional Commandant North - Air Cadets
Chester-le-Street Sea Cadets
South Pelaw & Hilda Park Community
Pelton Community Centre
Perkinsville Residents Association
Ouston, Urpeth and surrounding Villages Group
Heel & Toe Children's Charity
Cestrian Community Volunteers
Friends of Riverside Park Chester le Street
Park View School
Hermitage Academy
Biddick Academy
North Durham Academy
Framwellgate School Durham
Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy
Tanfield School

This weekend, our bronze Duke of Edinburgh group have successfully completed their training expedition.

Over the weekend they have covered setting and pitching a tent, stove safety and successfully cooking a meal, learning to work as a team and completing 2 navigation training walks.
On Saturday cadets set off from Durham City Centre, walking through Finchale Priory to Moor House Scout Centre. After an overnight camp, cadets set off for their second walk towards Chester-le-Street, finishing at the squadron HQ.

The cadets worked brilliantly as a team and completed their expedition training despite the challenging sunny and warm weather conditions throughout the weekend.

Well done all!

Durham Northumberland Wing Air Cadets
Royal Air Force Air Cadets
North Region - Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Councillor Tracie Smith
Chester le Street and District Area Action Partnership
Chester le Street

Today Staff & Cadets from 1507 (Chester-le-Street) Squadron were assisting our local Heel & Toe Children’s Charity with their Superhero Fun Run.
The event took place in Chester Park and the Cadets were used as Marshalls ensuring all of the participants were kept on the right track.
Many thanks to all of you who took part, you were a credit to the Squadron.

Lord-Lieutenant of County Durham
Councillor Tracie Smith
Durham Northumberland Wing Air Cadets
Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets
North of England RFCA
Regional Commandant North - Air Cadets
Chester-le-Street Sea Cadets
South Pelaw & Hilda Park Community
Pelton Community Centre
Perkinsville Residents Association
Ouston, Urpeth and surrounding Villages Group
Heel & Toe Children's Charity
Cestrian Community Volunteers
Friends of Riverside Park Chester le Street
Park View School
Hermitage Academy
Biddick Academy
North Durham Academy
Framwellgate School Durham
Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy
Tanfield School

Friday Night was Badges and Awards Night

Congratulations to the following Cadets

Sgt Pearson & Cpl Bailey – Bronze Duke of Edinburgh
Sgt Pearson, Cpl O’Roarty, Cpl Todd, Cpl Jones & Cpl Bailey – Senior Classification
Cdt H Scott & Cdt Thornton – Basic Radio Operator
Fs Cummings – Marksman on the Air Rifle
Cdt Hewitt & Cdt Perry – Basic Swimming Competency
Cpl Jones, Cpl Todd, Cpl Bailey, Cpl O’Roarty, Cdt Heron-Riley & Cdt Thornton – Intermediate Swimming Competency.

Well done to you all.

Lord-Lieutenant of County Durham
Councillor Tracie Smith
Durham Northumberland Wing Air Cadets
Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets
North of England RFCA
Regional Commandant North - Air Cadets
Chester-le-Street Sea Cadets
South Pelaw & Hilda Park Community
Pelton Community Centre
Perkinsville Residents Association
Ouston, Urpeth and surrounding Villages Group
Heel & Toe Children's Charity
Cestrian Community Volunteers
Friends of Riverside Park Chester le Street
Park View School
Hermitage Academy
Biddick Academy
North Durham Academy
Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy
Framwellgate School Durham
St Leonards
Tanfield School
North Durham Academy

Last night Cadets and Staff were out assisting our Honorary President and local Councillor Tracie Smith with a litter pick.

This was our first planned litter pick of the year and we were in the South Pelaw area heading up through Viador and continuing through the streets towards the woods near the railway line.

Many thanks to all of the Cadets who helped out. It was a busy night for them for as soon as we got back they were straight into Drill Practice for our upcoming Annual Inspection.

HART TEAM VISIT

On Wednesday 24th April 2024 our parade night re-located to the North East Ambulance Service Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) HQ for a visit.

The Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) is made up of specially trained paramedics who are trained and equipped to help in large-scale emergencies, such as building collapses, train crashes and large-scale motorway accidents, or incidents involving hazardous materials.

They work alongside police and fire and rescue services within the ‘inner cordon’ or ‘hot zone’ of the major incident, and their job is to help save lives by triaging and treating casualties. They are also there to look after other emergency personnel who can become injured themselves when attending these types of emergencies.

On Saturday 13 April twelve of our Cadets paid a visit to Whickham Thorns Outdoor Activity Centre.

They took part in Laser Tag, ran the Assault Course, Crate Stacking, Indoor Climbing and Snow Tubing.

All thoroughly enjoyed themselves and had a great day.

Thanks to Charlotte and the team for another fantastic day.

On Sunday 9 of our Cadets took part in the Inter Squadron Volleyball Competition held at Maiden Castle Sports Centre.

The team were Sgt's Gibson-Lee & Bryden, Cpl's Hector, Jones & Todd and Cdt's Dent, Morrison, Heron-Riley & Gardener.

They acquitted themselves brilliantly and were very unlucky not to come away with a medal.

We won our first four games putting us in control of our league but unfortunately couldn't maintain the momentum and finished with two losses from our final two games.

This meant we finished equal on points in second place in our league only missing out on a medal match by goal difference.

Well done to all, you did the Squadron proud.

Congratulations to Fs Elliot Cummings and Cdt Toby Scott on completing this.

Today some of our cadets had a great day out in and around South Shields, following the coastal path between Marsden and Whitburn and walking across Cleadon Hills completing some initial expedition training.

We put into practice some of the classroom work we’ve been doing recently on map reading and initial expedition training. We looked at setting maps, pacing, measuring distances and identifying features on the map. Despite it being a bit wet during parts of the day, we still had a great day and learnt a lot and managed to say hello to the Exmoor Ponies on Cleadon Hills!

Durham Northumberland Wing Air Cadets
Regional Commandant North - Air Cadets
Councillor Tracie Smith
Commandant Air Cadets
Royal Air Force Air Cadets
North Region - Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Tanfield School
Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy
Durham Academy
Hermitage Academy
North Durham Academy
Chester le Street and District Area Action Partnership
St Leonard's Catholic School, Durham
Chester le Street
Park View School
St Robert of Newminster Catholic School

Last night our Cadets were back on the range.

Following recent training on the Scorpion Air Rifle a number of the Cadets were on the range for the first time under the watchful eye of our RCO, CI Young.

They are now well on their way to their first CLF while a couple of our more experienced Cadets are progressing onto their higher CLF’s.

This is just one of the many activities that we offer.
If you think this might be for you or you know someone who is in at least year 8 at School and might be interested then please get in touch.

Today some of our cadets had a great day out in Chopwell Woods completing some initial expedition training.
We put into practice some of the classroom work we’ve been doing recently on map reading and initial expedition training. We looked at setting maps, pacing, measuring distances and identifying features on the map. Despite it being chilly during parts of the day, we still had a great day and learnt a lot!

Durham Northumberland Wing Air Cadets
Councillor Tracie Smith
Chester le Street and District Area Action Partnership
Chester le Street
Regional Commandant North - Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets
Park View School
Hermitage Academy
Tanfield School
St Robert of Newminster Catholic School
Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy
North Durham Academy
St Leonard's Catholic School, Durham
Durham Academy

Today five of our Cadets spent the day at Simonside Climbing Wall taking part in the Inter-Squadron Climbing Competition against 26 other Squadrons from across the Wing.

It was a very tough competition but all of our Cadets acquitted themselves brilliantly.

Well done to Sgt Bryden, Cpl O'Roarty, Cpl Jones, Cdt Hawthornwaite and Cdt Dorner who all took part in todays competition.

Cpl's O'Roarty & Jones both came third in their respective categories with Sgt Bryden also making the final in his category.

Cdt's Hawthornwaite & Dorner both did us proud today as well with Cdt Dorner only missing out on a place in the final by a fraction.

Thank you all for coming along and giving your best.

And a final thank you to all of the Staff of DNW Wing who helped out today and made this event possible.

Lord-Lieutenant of County Durham
Councillor Tracie Smith
Durham Northumberland Wing Air Cadets
Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets
North of England RFCA
Regional Commandant North - Air Cadets
Chester-le-Street Sea Cadets
Chester-le-Street
South Pelaw & Hilda Park Community
Pelton Community Centre
Perkinsville Residents Association
Ouston, Urpeth and surrounding Villages Group
Heel & Toe Children's Charity
Cestrian Community Volunteers
Friends of Riverside Park Chester le Street
Park View School
Hermitage Academy
Biddick Academy
Durham Academy
Durham Johnston Comprehensive School
Framwellgate School Durham
Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy
St Robert of Newminster Catholic School
St Leonards Catholic School Durham
Tanfield School
North Durham Academy