After the hard work of exam preparation, the cadets and staff of 497 (Daventry) relaxed to a presentation from Sgt Ellen Seymour on her IACE trip last year. The presentation, entitled “How much trouble could we get into?” gave an insight into the two weeks Ellen spent in Belgiu, as part of a contingent of 17, containing cadets from America, Canada, Turkey, the Netherlands, Germany and France as well as the UK. In the introduction, the cadets were told that Belgium was famous for three things - chocolate, beer and Hercule Poirot.

Among the activities Ellen enjoyed in Belgium were a flight in an Augusta Westland, kayakking down the River Lesse, a visit to the Menin Gate Ceremony, stays with host families, a number of visits and formal dinners and visiting a number of Air Component bases. During the trip the cadets had plenty of opportunities to sample the beer and the chocolate, but sadly Hercule Poirot did not turn up!

Ellen told the cadets that it is always the people that turn a camp or trip from a good experience to an amazing one and that IACE was one of the best things she had done at cadets. Ellen also told the cadets that she had been on some amazing camps including Gibralter (twice), Cyprus, Nordic Skiing and RIAT Comms, and currently had her name in for the forthcoming TS Royalist sailing trip, because she was always willing to put her name up for new opportunities and to give them a go. She encouraged the cadets to do the same. Flt Lt Broom said “ a good presentation by Sgt Seymour, giving all cadets an insight on IACE and the activities that they can enjoy”.