Group Captain Ian ‘Cab’ Townsend, Officer Commanding RAF Marham, acted as the Reviewing Officer for the Graduation Parade of Thompson Intake this week. Numbering 110 Graduates in all, they marched out on to the Henderson Parade Square on a bright but breezy day behind Flight Commander, Flt Lt T Clarke, to the sound of The Band Of The Royal Air Force Regiment, led by WO P Craggs. As they came to a halt in front of full stands of family and friends they came to a general salute as a Hawk T2 from RAF Valley roared overhead.
Image by: RAF Halton Photographic Section
Thompson Intake then proceeded with the formal act of Graduating from 10 weeks of Basic Recruit Training. The Queen’s Colour, as always, was paraded and borne by Fg Of J Gregory with Colour Warrant Officer Dave Iliffe and Colour Escorts, Sgts’ M Consterdine and Sgt S Perkes making up the Colour party.
Group Captain Townsend presented trophies and prizes to the top recruits, who were:
AC Bennett – The Rothschild Trophy, awarded to the recruit who achieves the highest overall standard in Initial Force Protection Training and
The Mayor of Aylesbury Trophy awarded for the best overall performance in all aspects of training on No.9 Flight.
AC Wood- The Dusty Millar Memorial Trophy, awarded to the recruit who has shown the greatest willingness to help others as voted for by their fellow recruits on the Intake.
AC Tadman - The Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire’s Trophy, awarded for the best overall performance in all aspects of training on No.10 Flight.
AC Black – The Halton Aircraft Apprentice Trophy, awarded to the recruit who achieves the highest overall standard in drill and deportment.
AC Ramscar - The Halton Apprentice Shield, awarded to the recruit who has displayed the highest overall standard of effort, determination and achievement in physical education.
AC Halton - The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund Trophy, awarded for displaying the greatest effort and determination on No.9 Flight.
AC Hebden – The Station Commander’s Cup, awarded for displaying the greatest effort and determination on No.10 Flight.
Image by: RAF Halton Photographic Section
The Lord Trenchard Trophy is awarded to the Flight whose performance has been the best overall in General Service Training and General Service Knowledge.
It was awarded to No. 9 Flight and collected on their behalf by AC Rai.
Following Graduation, recruits will clear their bed space, pack all their kit and leave to join their next Training Station. Depending on their trade and when their individual training Phase 2 courses are scheduled to begin, those locations will vary; some recruits will commence their Phase 2 Training immediately, while others will “hold” on The Servicemen Awaiting Trade Training Flight, SATTs at RAF Halton until their Phase 2 Training course start date matures.
