Cadets from the Warwickshire and Birmingham Wing of the ATC have just returned from a week's summer camp hosted at RAF Boulmer in Northumberland. They had a very full and interesting programme.

The cadets spent lots of their time flying in Sea King Search and Rescue Helicopters and two lucky cadets went on a full training exercise which involved being winched in and out of the aircraft at various heights!)

The camp programme also had lot of other exiting activities such as:

• Small bore and full bore shooting, and for the elder cadets some valuable time on the state of the art weapons simulator, under the watchful eye of the RAF Regiment.

• Low ropes exercises and the instruction of qualified RAF personnel.

• Visits to the UK Command and Control Centre (A large underground bunker) which identifies and monitors all the UK 's airspace for both civil and military aircraft. Not normally available for visits by non RAF persons.

• Fieldcraft Training.

• Half day exercise based on an RAF electronic air warfare range with tanks, missile housings etc which fast jets practice engaging with simulated attacks.

• A private tour of Bamburgh Castle , a privately owned castle described as one of the finest in England.

• Visit to one of the best indoor splash centres in Europe ( Wet N Wild), with numerous terrifying slides.

• Visit to Segedunum Roman Fort - the start ( or end) of Hadrian's Wall.Where cadets were able to actually stand on the remains of the wall, and then climb onto a historically correct reconstruction of the wall, as well as visit a very interesting and modern interactive museum. (Most complained they had insufficient time here!)..

• Beach Sports and a very competitive challenge to build, occupy and defend large sand castles against the North Sea - the North Sea won!.

• All this and a disco on the last night!. Not a bad week for these very fortunate cadets.

Also whilst at Camp, Warrant Officer Derek Docker was presented with his 1 st clasp to the Cadet Forces Medal for 20 years service, and also a Central & East Regional Commandants Certificate of Merit by the Station Commander of RAF Boulmer, Group Captain Millington. The Certificate was to mark his impending retirement and to thank him on behalf of the Wing for his valued assistance especially as a member of the Small Arms Training team.

Squadron Leader Bryan Coats , the Camp Commandant , said " This weeks camp was a real challenge to cadets and staff alike, as the programme was so full and interesting, and all made full use of the facilities provided by RAF Boulmer. The cadet accommodation was excellent, as was the catering, and the Station personnel were exceptionally helpful. The cadets who attended this camp have been very fortunate indeed and will remember this camp for years to come".