Following what can be described as a very successful year, No 163 (Coventry-Phoenix) Sqn rolled out the red carpet and extended a very hospitable greeting to all who joined the Sqn at their recently held Presentation and Awards Night.

Taking their seats alongside family and friends of the cadets in the Canley TA Centre Drill Hall, the Sqn were very fortunate to have the following special guests in attendance:

• Squadron Leader R W Foster RAFVR(T) – Wing BTEC/Health and Safety Officer
• Mrs H Foster
• Mr J Hardy – Honorary Treasurer, No 163 (Coventry-Phoenix) Sqn
• Mrs G Dawkins – Honoary Chairman, No 8F (1 st City of Coventry) Sqn
• WO D Gates – SWO No 8F (1 st City of Coventry) Sqn

Once everyone was settled, Flight Lieutenant L Vile RAFVR(T), Officer Commanding No 163 (Coventry-Phoenix) Sqn, took to the floor to give his opening address which included a warm greeting and thanks to all who had turned up as well as a note of appreciation to all, for the help and support that they had given the Sqn.

From here it was straight into the presentation proceedings that would acknowledge and commend the cadets on their achievements which had come about as a result of hard work and determination.

This first round was to include a multitude of awards for Duke of Edinburgh, flying and gliding and first aid, as well as awards for attendances on many wing courses.

With the first round of presentations complete, the guests were invited to take a circuit around the buffet table and partake in a snack and a hot drink, which, even with there being a large quantity of food, needed to be done at a bit more than a leisurely pace as the cadets were also homing in on the food.

The guests were at this time also given the opportunity to walk around the Sqn to see the activity storyboards that showed in pictures some of the activities that their Sons and Daughters had taken part in.

In addition to this, family and friends were also able to view the exhibitions and demonstrations which had been set up and arranged as follows:

Classroom 1 – Adventure Training

This included a display of the range of Adventure Training Equipment that the Sqn had been fortunate enough to be able to buy using a grant obtained for the Sqn by Flight Lieutenant A Sinfield RAFVR(T), the Squadrons Training Officer and Mrs G Dawkins, Honorary Chairman No 8F (1 st City of Coventry) Sqn.

Included in the display was one of the tents that the Sqn owned, which had been set up to depict a Duke of Edinburgh campsite complete with sleeping bag, roll mat, cooker, wayfarer meals and first aid kit.

Classroom 2 – Gliding

With gliding being one of the Core Activities of The Air Training Corps, the guests were able to watch the “Expand Your Horizons” DVD that the cadets view before attending a Gliding Allocation, thus gaining a birdseye view of what Gliding in The Air Training Corps involves.

Canley Range – No 8 and L98A2 Demonstration

Under the watchful eye of Sgt (ATC) S Mason, parents were able to watch as cadets were put through their paces on the two types of rifles that are used in The Air Training Corps.

Having taken on sufficient amounts of food and hot beverages, it was back into the drill hall for the second half of the evening, which got underway with the cadets putting on a continuity drill display of a favourite sequence called the Magic Circle.

However, Cadet Flight Sergeant Enya Tabram who had been assisted by Cadet Warrant Officer Naomi Boyfield had come up with a change to the routine which involved some of the cadets crossing over in the centre of the circle with some highly innovative manoeuvres which were thoroughly well received.

Following the completion of this display of brilliance, there was still the matter of the last few trophies to be presented and cadet promotions to be made.

As Flight Lieutenant Vile introduced this part of the night, the looks of expectation could be seen on the faces of the cadets as they waited to see who was to receive a trophy and who was to receive an increase in rank status and as the following announcements were made, the recipients were all clearly surprised and very happy.

• NCO of the Year – Sgt Dale
• Sports Cadet of the Year – Cdt Messam
• Cadet of the Year – Cdt Coles

In addition to these prestigious awards, Flt Lt Mandy Sinfield was awarded the CO's award, for her hard work and dedication to the squadron.

To round off the evening of awards, Sgt Enya Tabram was promoted to Flt Sgt, and Cdts Messam and Morrow were both promoted to the rank of Cpl.

The presentation of a bouquet of flowers to the following and a short note of repeated thanks to the cadets for all their efforts and hard work in making the Squadron the success that it is as well as to the guests again for their continued support brought the evening to a very satisfactory conclusion.

• Flight Lieutenant A Sinfield RAFVR(T) – Squadron Training Officer
• Miss (CI) K Legge – Squadron Flying/Gliding and Media Communications Officer
• Mrs G Dawkins – Honorary Chairman, No 8F (1 st City of Coventry) Sqn
• Mrs K Boyfield – Vice Chaiman, No 163 (Coventry-Phoenix) Sqn
• Mrs H Foster

As the last of the guests departed and with the great tidy up underway, our wonderings of how we thought the evening had been received become known as the feedback that been given throughout the evening was extremely positive in nature with all who attended thoroughly enjoying what they had seen.

Of the evening Flight Lieutenant L Vile RAFVR(T), Officer Commanding No 163 (Coventry-Phoenix) Sqn said, “whilst we acknowledge the efforts and achievements of the cadets on a regular basis, occasions such as this really give us a chance to acknowledge what the cadets have done and award them with the recognition that they deserve.”

He went onto say, “to be able to show the cadet's families, relatives and friends what they have accomplished makes me very proud and hopefully will be a point of inspiration for their younger Brothers and Sisters to also join us. “

Flight Lieutenant Vile concluded by saying; “the award of the accolades that the cadets have been bestowed with is made more rewarding by the fact that we were able to conduct this evening in front of so many honoured and distinguished guests and I would like to take this opportunity once again of thanking them for being with us on this fantastic evening”.