1216 (Eastleigh) Squadron ATC

1216 (Eastleigh) Squadron have been up to so much that we've had to archive some of our older news articles! View them here.

In August 5 cadets and 3 members of staff joined Romsey, Fareham & Porchester and Southampton on Annual camp at RAF Digby, Lincolnshire. The cadets and staff were kept busy with a programme that included, flying, Newark Air Museum, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, College Hall Cranwell, swimming, climbing, L98 shooting, visits to 224 Signals and the Arial Erector School and a trip into Lincoln. For more pictures from camp click here.

In July 2008 Sgt Lucy Phillips travelled to Tanzania with her college to help build a new school. The Squadron are so proud of her achievement that we wanted to share it with you! To read more about her fantastic adventure click here.

On Friday 4th July the Civilian Committee held their first Annual General Meeting in the Squadron's new Headquarters, the Wing Chairman and Parents were in attendance and were not only treated to tea and cakes but to a variety of activities that the Cadets get up to on a regular basis! For more pictures from the evening click here.

Cupernham Junior School PTA asked 1216 (Eastleigh) Squadron to provide entertainment for their Summer Fete in the form of an Assault Course. The cadets decided that a normal Assault Course was perhaps not the best idea for under 11's and so they designed the “Escape from Cupernham” course.

On the surface this was just like an assault course, the difference was that all the obstacles were low level or "apparently" non-existent, as the course made a lot of use of light beam alarms and movement-detecting devices, although it did have conventional cam-net tunnels as well. It was truly a ‘thinking man’s’ assault course, and sheer speed alone was not enough.

The resulting course was used to capacity during the Fete and there was always an enthusiastic queue. The Cupernham PTA charged 25 pence per go, and raised a healthy sum for the School from the Squadron’s efforts.

Cadet Corporal Martin was IC the event, ably supported by Cadets Munton, Martin, Etheridge, Ingram, Peertum, and Gerrard. Flt Lt (Retd) Bastow provided logistic support .

Every year CI Bastow organises and runs the Squadron's annual Olympics and this year was better than ever! The 3 Squadron Flights battled it out in a range of activities including the "Grenade" & Spoon Race, Dry Skiing Challenge, Husky Race, Ground Controlled Approach and the Surrogate Rapids Run! (No "grenades", dogs or ducks were harmed in the competition!) Not only were flight points up for grabs, but points could also be lost so the teams had everything to play for!

Flight	Men's "Grenade" & Spoon Race	Women's "Grenade" & Spoon Race	Dry Skiing Challenge	Husky Race	Ground Controlled Approach	Surrogate Rapids Run	Total	Position
A	-10	-10	+50	+20	+30	+17	97	3
B	-10	-10	+40	+60	+20	+12	112	2
ITF	+15	-10	+30	+40	+40	+7	122	1

CONGRATULATIONS to all those who represented the Squadron at Wing Activities Day on Sunday 22nd June at AGC Worthy Down. The Squadron was crowned champions, beating the other 20 Squadrons in the Wing - very well done! The team competed in a variety of activities and came in the following individual positions:

Drill/Insp	Command Tasks	Public Speaking	Aircraft recognition	Shooting	Confidence Course	Total	Position
12	2	4	9	1	5	33	1

Congratulations to all those who took part at the Inter-Squadron Athletics on Sunday 11th May. The Squadron came 2nd out of 21 units, the 1216 junior men won their class and we had 17 podium finishes - what a fantastic achievement! Those cadets who had a podium finish were:

Cdt Etheridge 1st High Jump
Cdt Wakefield 1st Discuss
Cdt Gray 1st Javelin
Cpl Orrell 1st 100m
Class C Men 1st 4x100m Relay
Cpl Presland 2nd High Jump
Cdt Tait 2nd Discuss
Cpl Beckerleg 2nd Discuss
F/S Kent D 2nd Javelin
F/S Kent D 2nd 800m
Class D Girls 2nd 4x100m Relay
Cdt McGarrity 3rd Javelin
Cpl Orrell 3rd Long Jump
Cdt Thomas 3rd Shot Putt
Sgt Phillips 3rd Javelin
F/S Kent M 3rd 400m
Cpl Presland 3rd 200m

Congratulations to Cdt Wright who is now Cpl Wright and Cpl Phillips who is now Sgt Phillips - very well deserved!

On Friday 2nd May Wing Commander Clavell, Officer Commanding Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wing, made his first visit to the Squadron's new Headquarters. Wg Cdr Clavell started his evening by inspecting the cadets on parade and asking them their thoughts on the new building. He then had a tour of the facilities and met staff members.

On Tuesday 8th April, 1216 (Eastleigh) Squadron were handed the keys to their long awaited new headquarters. Cadets and staff said goodbye to the elderly port-a-cabins that had been their home for over 20 years and moved into the two story annex of the new community centre on Kingfisher Road. The facilities include a parade hall, 4 classrooms, 2 offices and Flemming Park as our back garden!

On Sunday the 6th April 1216 (Eastleigh) Squadron braved the snow to field both a male and female 5-A-Side football team against teams from across the Wing. Congratulations to the boys who came 3rd and the girls who came 7th. See more photos from the tournament here.

1216 (Eastleigh) Squadron joined other Squadrons from across the wing on Saturday 15th March to pull a Wessex helicopter at HMS Sultan to raise money for the regional training centres. See the pictures here!

1216 (Eastleigh) Squadron joined other Squadrons from across the Corps over February half term for a weeks skiing in Bavaria. Read Sgt Coombes' account of the trip and see more photos here.

1216 (Eastleigh) Squadron hosted it's first ever Dining-In Night on Saturday 8th March. The Squadron were honoured to welcome The Worshipful the Mayor of Eastleigh, Councillor Roger Smith, the Mayoress, Wing Commander Clavell and other friends of the squadron from across the Wing. The evening was a great success and enjoyed by all. A big "thank you" to Fg Off Rogers and Fg Off Harris for organising the event. See more photos from the evening here.

1216 (Eastleigh) Squadron received 3 presentations on Tuesday 5th February at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wing Headquarters at Newburgh House. Cadet Tait and Cadet Chase both received Wing Commander's Commendations for their part in the Junior Football Team success. Civilian Instructor Mr Andy Etheridge received a Regional Commandants Commendation for the First Aid he administered to Cpl Jegan Kandiah in November last year after he was knocked off his bike outside of the Squadron Headquarters.

Congratulations go to the following cadets and NCOs who were promoted at the start of 2008 - Happy New Year!

Cdt Orrell to Cpl Orrell, Cdt Rands to Cpl Rands, Cpl Coombes to Sgt Coombes and Cpl Kirtley to Sgt Kirtley - well done to you all.