10 February 2009
RAF Valley Awards go to 1557 (Friars School) Sqn
18 year-old Cdt Sgt Cerys Gibson wins the 2008 Charlton Cup - and gets a Hawk flight into the bargain!
The Annual Charlton-Griffin Awards presented by RAF Valley for 2008 have gone once more to 1557 (Friars School) Sqn at Bangor, North Wales. Open to Squadrons parented by RAF Valley, the nominated cadet is awarded the Charlton Cup, and the Squadron producing the winning cadet is presented with the Griffin Shield.
The Awards, which date back to 1991 were presented at RAF Valley by Mr. Stan Charlton and Air Commodore Andy Griffin.
Mr. Charlton has a long association with RAF Valley, being the first member of the RAF, as a Corporal to set foot on the then new airfield back in in 1941. Fifty years later in 1991, he contacted the Station Commander at RAF Valley (then Group Captain Andy Griffin) requesting a visit to see how much had changed since his days based there.
Following a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable visit, Mr. Charlton expressed his wish to present a cup to the station, to be awarded annually to a person or team as a prize, and asked the Station Commander to nominate a worthy recipient. The result of this was that the Charlton-Griffin Cup was to be awarded to the most deserving cadet from an Air Cadet squadron parented by RAF Valley.
Mr. Charlton and Air Commodore Griffin travel to North Wales annually to present the Awards.
Cadet Sergeant Gibson was nominated for her hard work and loyalty to the squadron; she assists with expeditions and teaches subjects to younger cadets such as map reading, and also produces the squadron newsletter.
She is also a holder of Duke of Edinburgh Bronze and Silver Awards, a qualified First Aider and in addition to having successfully completed Gliding and Flying Scholarships, is also holder of a BTEC Award in Aviation Studies.
OC 1557 Sqn, Flt Lt Nina Thomas said: "We are all very proud of Cerys, who is an example to our younger cadets. She has made the most of her Air Cadet career to date, and has travelled extensively to RAF bases in the UK and to the USAF base at Ramstein, Germany. Where she gets the time to do all her activities amazes me; she is also a trained 'buddy' at school to help new pupils settle in and volunteers during school breaks and after school hours to help year 7 pupils with reading and maths."
The RAF Valley Griffin Shield was presented to Flight Lieutenant Thomas by Air Commodore Andy Griffin, in recognition of the support given by the squadron's volunteer staff to the activities of the young people in their care.
The current Station Commander, Group Captain Neil Connell OBE said: "The nominations for this year's award were all of a very high quality, which reflects tremendously on the good things that young people do and that there are high achievers out there. We are very pleased to be able to support our local youngsters and volunteer staff within the Air Cadets through these Awards, and I am very pleased that we can continue to play our traditional role by offering Cerys a flight in one of our Hawk aircraft."
Cerys, who wasn't aware that she had been nominated is over the moon.
“I am totally amazed” she said. “I had no idea of my nomination for the Award and am very proud that the squadron has been recognized for the hard work that everyone puts in. I really enjoy all the flying opportunities I've had with the Air Cadets and will make the most of a once in a lifetime flight in a Hawk!”
Cerys is currently studying for her A levels, and hopes to continue her education at Oxford reading Law and French.
1557 Sqn have now won the Awards three times; pictured with Mr Charlton, Cerys and Air Commodore Griffin are the former cadets who won the Charlton Cup previously, Civilian Instructor Mr Paul Green and Sergeant (ATC) Glyn Davies.
Article written by Mr Richard Foxhall for Wales and West Wesbite
Back to main page