During the evening, the Officer in Charge, Flying Officer Kenyon RAFVR(T), had the opportunity to celebrate the hard work of the Air Cadets and staff during the recent exams. Following some tough exam sessions during previous years, the results just keep getting better with three Credits to celebrate at Senior Cadet level. Corporal Poole, Cadets Watson-Evans, Malam and West were all presented with their Senior Cadet badge on final parade. Corporal Holmes was also congratulated for passing his Master Cadet exam, however, the squadron will have to wait until his badge arrives in the post before they can present it to him. These presentations follow some successful work for Cadet Bhundia who also recently passed his Leading Cadet exam online.
Well done to all cadets who sat exams for their hard work and also a large thanks to the staff team who put a lot of effort into making the cadets ready to sit the exams, especially to CI Diane Reeves, the squadron training officer.
Plt Off McGlynn.

1181 Squadron meet on a Monday and Thursday from 7.00pm to 9.30pm and are based in the ATC hut in the grounds of Wreake Valley College. We are actively recruiting new members and any interested parties should contact Flying Officer Kenyon on oc.1181@aircadets.org  or visit www.1181sqn.org.uk

Eight boys from the Under 10’s kwik cricket section of Syston Town cricket club took part in the 6th Thrussington fun run to raise funds for their club. The event took place on Saturday 3rd March in Thrussington and the boys had to cover the three quarter mile circuit whilst negotiating monster hay bales and water crossings.

They all thoroughly enjoyed it and between them they raised over £200, of which Matthew Evans individually raised £61. He was awarded a £20 gift voucher to use at Talent Cricket in Loughborough to kit himself out for the coming season.

The kwik cricket section have a thriving group of children from age seven to ten years. If your child is interested in having a go at cricket, then come along to one of our training sessions on a Wednesday night. The outdoor training began on Wednesday 11th April from 6.00pm to 7.30pm at our Potters Lane ground. For further information visit our website www.systontowncc.com or contact Liam Tailby on 07989 561 373.

During one parade evening, staff at 1181 (Syston) Squadron received a fantastic phonecall from Mr Barry Smart. Mr Smart is the branch Chairman of the Leicester Branch of the Royal Air Force Association (RAFA). During his career, he had been involved with the Air Training Corps and was keen to develop links with the squadron. As well as being the Commanding Officer at many local units including 2229 (Loughborough) Squadron during his time, Mr Smart had been a wing staff officer with South Midlands Wing before it became South and East Midlands Wing.
The squadron invited Mr and Mrs Smart to join them during a parade evening to see what the cadets get the opportunities to do night to night. Welcomed by the squadron Adjutant, Pilot Officer McGlynn RAFVR(T), Mr and Mrs Smart were shown around the squadron, getting to see cadets involved in exam preparation, aircraft recognition and to the delight of Mr Smart, the squadron’s flight simulator in action. After the tour, they had the chance to discuss the support that the squadron can offer to Leicester RAFA. Following a fantastic evening, the squadron was lucky enough to be invited to be formally adopted by the Leicester Branch RAFA.
The formal adoption means that the two organisations are able to support each other and help each other to grow. With one of the quickest turnarounds in certificate making, Mr and Mrs Smart were able to formally present the squadron with their certificate recognising the link between the branch and 1181 (Syston) Squadron at their annual awards evening, less than a fortnight after they had visited the unit.
Flying Officer Kenyon RAFVR(T), Officer in Charge at 1181 (Syston) Squadron commented, “It’s fantastic that we are able to develop a link with RAFA Leicester. The work that the Royal Air Force Association does is vital in supporting RAF personnel past and present and Air Cadet groups across the country. We are very proud to have been formally adopted by the branch and are extremely grateful to Mr Smart for getting in contact with us and his hard work in making this happen. All of the cadets and staff look forward to working with the branch members in the future!”
Plt Off McGlynn.

1181 Squadron meet on a Monday and Thursday from 7.00pm to 9.30pm and are based in the ATC hut in the grounds of Wreake Valley College. We are actively recruiting new members and any interested parties should contact Flying Officer Kenyon on oc.1181@aircadets.org  or visit www.1181sqn.org.uk

1181 Squadron meet on a Monday and Thursday from 7.00pm to 9.30pm and are based in the ATC hut in the grounds of Wreake Valley College. We are actively recruiting new members and any interested parties should contact Flying Officer Kenyon on oc.1181@aircadets.org  or visit www.1181sqn.org.uk

Lion President Ruth Johnson presented cheques for £2,500 to David Lindley of LOROS, and Sophie Stevens from the Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance Service, £3,000 to Jenny Pearce from Vista and Rainbows’ representative Jennifer Leach received a cheque for £4,250.

The funds were raised by the Club from a range of activities throughout the year, including a 10K Road Race around Rothley village and a golf tournament organised jointly with Leicester Charnwood and Thurnby Lions.

Guest of Honour at the event was Lion District Governor Robin Dukes, accompanied by his wife Rosemary, who congratulated the Club on their success and generosity, not only to those local good causes in attendance, but also to several international campaigns organised by Lions Clubs International, such as Sight Savers and Water Aid, vitally important Third World Programmes.  He was impressed by the range of other beneficiaries which had receved support during the year, including Children with Cancer, Diabetes UK, English Federation of Disability Sport, Marie Curie Cancer Care and Wishes4kids. Lion President Ruth then presented Rosemary with a cheque for £500 for the District Governor’s wife’s chosen charity, the National Autistic Society.

Following the presentations, Lions and guests danced to the music and beautiful singing voice of entertainer Jackie Lee, who had insisted that her fee should be included in the cheque given to Rainbows, her favourite children’s charity.

In 1996, Mark was working for Leicester City Council under the banner of Saffron Soccer Schools, followed by a move to Peterborough United F.C. and then finally starting his own business, Mark Hedley Soccer Schools back in 2002.

Marks football history was brought up in Leicester playing for local clubs, Birstall CC, Anstey Swifts and representing Beaumont Leys School, Leicester Boys and the County Squad.  In 1991, at 16 years old, he went to play professionally at Chesterfield F.C. when his career was cut short by a series of bad injuries.

He then passed his first coaching award and went into full time coaching, but only in football. Mark holds several qualifications in different sports but football has always been his main passion, having also worked for our local club Leicester City F.C. for nine seasons in the Academy department with the elite young players who were preparing to becoming professional players themselves.

Celebrating his 15th year of providing sport in Syston, Mark will once again be running soccer schools at the Syston Rugby F.C. on Barkby Road, Queniborough during the first week of Easter, Monday to Thursday 2nd to 5th April for five to 13 year olds from 9.30am to 3.00pm daily. This will be followed by an evening development session and all summer camps in the area.

For more information please call Mark on 0116 276 1560, email markhedleysoccer@googlemail.com  or go to www.markhedleysoccer.co.uk

From 13th to 15th February I was selected to take part in RAF Non-Commissioned Aircrew work experience at RAF College Cranwell. There were 12 cadets selected from all over the UK to attend this experience. During the first day, we had a tour around the main RAF College building where we were informed of the building’s history and looked around the memorabilia on display. We then took part in a physical fitness test, visited the safety section and the crewman-training centre. On the next day we had a visit out to RAF Waddington and whilst on the base we visited No 54(R) Squadron and No 8 Squadron to see the E-3D Sentry AEW1. Then we visited No 5 Squadron to visit the Sentinel R1 aircraft. This was a very enjoyable experience and I would recommend it to anyone as it can give a really good insight to RAF life and the jobs that you can do.
Sgt Andrew Norman
(16 yrs old)

1181 Squadron meet on a Monday and Thursday from 7.00pm to 9.30pm and are based in the ATC hut in the grounds of Wreake Valley College. We are actively recruit new members and any interested parties should contact Flying Officer Kenyon on oc.1181@aircadets.org

So if you fancy a sing or just want to listen please come and help us celebrate. Tickets are available from Sally on 0116 260 6095, cost £7. Refreshments will be on sale and you will be seated cabaret style. All proceeds from the evenings will go to the refurbishment of the Old Chapel.
SARIC is a registered charity no. 1111557.

Each club entered a male and a female team. Loughborough ladies won their division and the Syston men’s team were also triumphant.  Overall the Loughborough club won the most points, making them champions of the night for the second year running. The support from other students in the audience was magnificent with all three clubs having people cheering for them. It was a fabulous night of fun for all competitors and spectators and a great end to a great year of achievements for Mr Freer and his students.

The year ahead for the students and the Tae Kwon Do Association of Great Britain, T.A.G.B, looks to be even more exciting with plenty of things to look forward to, including seminars with grand master C.K Choi, ninth Dan black belt and founder member of Tae Kwon Do, and exclusively for Mr Freer’s students, a seminar with the England National Coach, Master Kenny Walton.

Mr Freer has many of his students preparing for their black belt gradings to join his already 100 plus black belt students. In addition there are four lady black belts, all grading for their fourth degree black belts, who if successful, will give Mr Freer eight fourth degree black belt ladies overall, overtaking the number of fourth dan men in the club, a great achievement for any Tae Kwon Do club and its instructor.

In 2013 the club will celebrate 30 years of the T.A.G.B and Mr Freer will also celebrate his 30 years of training in Tae Kwon Do. Over the coming months and years there is a lot to look forward to in the world of Tae Kwon Do and it is an exciting sport to be part of!