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23
Combined Cadet Force
Nick Coram-Wright, Contingent Commander
All three sections of the CCF had a busy
year and a very strong team of NCOs and
senior cadets led activities both in and out
of School.
The
Navy Section
took advantage of
warm days early in the Autumn Term and
learnt to windsurf on Farmoor Reservoir.
During the first Field Weekend they canoed
from the school boat club into Oxford,
stopping for a refreshing dip at Tumbling
Bay, and then returning for supper and a
fire-lighting competition by the Thames at
Godstow. The second day was spent
learning to sail back at Farmoor, with
NCO Ed Tanner acting as lead instructor.
In the later part of the term activities
included building improvised shelters, night
exercises on the golf course, and first aid
training. During the Spring Term, Navy
cadets were among the last pupils to shoot
.22 on the school range before it was
demolished. For the second Field Weekend,
they headed down to Portsmouth to stay
aboard HMS Bristol. Very high winds
meant that they were unable to sail as
intended but they did head out into the
Solent for navigational exercises on powered
craft. Cadets visited HMS Victory and the
Mary Rose, were given a guided tour of the
battlements at Southsea by Fiona Wickens,
and visited the impressive tapestries and
other exhibits at the D-Day Museum. In the
Summer Term, along with signalling,
archery and leadership exercises, cadets were
given a three-week course in punting by
veteran puntsman Tony Snell.
The
Army Section
had another very
good year with large numbers of the Fourth
Form opting for this section and many from
the Fifth and Sixth Forms staying on as very
effective NCOs. The Autumn Term camp at
Bramley Training area was a great success
despite the variable weather. All the cadets
stayed out under bashas and the senior
NCOs delivered the bulk of the training
alongside the permanent CCF staff. The
highlight for most was the night-time escape
and evasion exercise. The final day was
taken up by a busy rotation of basic training
including weapons lessons, first aid
scenarios and command tasks. The cadets
returned to school with a good
understanding of what the Army Section
had to offer and everyone had a clear sense
of purpose for the year ahead. The Spring
Term camp allowed the cadets to put into
practice the skills learnt over the preceding
months. The focus was fieldcraft and there
were blank firing exercises as well as
simulated battles with laser guns (during the
day and at night). Accommodation was in
luxurious barrack rooms and this together
with hot meals in the mess made the
experience very different to the bashas and
ration packs of the term before!
The prospect of an air experience flight is
the reason why many pupils choose the
RAF and this year the vast majority of
RAF
Section
cadets flew at least once, either in
the Grob Tutor or in a Griffin helicopter at
RAF Shawbury. On the Sunday of the
Autumn Field Weekend the cadets visited