Thursday 29 th July saw the “retirement” of CWO Adam Wilkes from 487 Kingstanding and Perry Barr Sqn ATC.

CWO Wilkes had joined the ATC back in 2003 and since then he had not only attained the highest rank available to cadets, but also passed his gliding scholarship along the way.

Over the past few years Adam has been instrumental in the rise of 487 Sqn to where it is now, at the very top of the league. He has led the Sqn's drill team for the past three years and during that time the Sqn has risen from 9 th place overall to 4 th in 2010.

Adam has also represented the Wing in various sports and he was a keen member of the Sqn's football team.

In 2009, Adam was selected to place a reef on the newly commissioned remembrance stone at our TA Base in Kingstanding. He has also for the past few years accepted the youth award at the Royal British Legion club in Kingstanding on behalf of 487 Sqn.

Adam has also been a keen member of the Sqn's shooting team which has won the Collins trophy for the past two years.

It's not all bad news though, on Tuesday 3 rd August, Adam will be “re-joining” the Sqn as a Civilian instructor!

Flt Lt Brendan O'Neill, OC 487 Sqn commented “It's sad to see Adam come to the end of his uniformed service in the ATC. He's helped our Sqn increase our standards in all areas and his quiet confident manner has helped both the cadets, and in particular, our NCO's perform at a much higher level. We all now look forward to him becoming a CI where he can help to keep our Sqn at the very top”.