During 1988
Flt.Lt. Keith Warburton, H.Wilson and David Blaydes
were posted to the Squadron..
Flt Lt. Alan Chadwick and H.Wilson left the
Squadron.
It appeared, at this time, to be a case more Flight Lieutenants than Cadets.
Flt.Lt R.Pickstock was selected to represent the East
lancashire Wing at RAF Akrotiri
in Cyprus.
Late 1988 the squadron accepted the first
female cadets. For the first time in the 40 years history of
1471 Squadron ATC boy and girl cadets were enrolled at the Arkwright
St. HQ. Amongst the first girl cadets to be enrolled were Sarah Clement,
Debra Roberts, Louise Dickinson and Angela Collier.
Cadet Cpl.Mathew Clement was promoted to
Sgt. in May and was promoted to Flt.Sgt.in
Oct.1988 and was appointed Commander of the Drill Team.
In June he was awarded a Flying Scholarship at Speke Airport,
Liverpool, with Cheshire Air Training School and in July he completed his Flying
Scholarshipwas presented with his Flying Scholarship Badge
and made his first solo on June 28th.
He was also awarded his Duke of Edinburgh Expedition Bronze
and Silver medals and was a member of the Drill Team.
The Annual Camp was held at RAF.Leconfield,
Yorkshire. Flt.Lt. R.Pickstock was Camp Commandant
During 1989
Flt.Lt.D.Blaydes left the Squadron.
Flt.Lt. R.Pickstock was transfered to Wing Staff.
During 1990
Flt.Lt.P.R.Rowan (ex Wing
Staff) was appointed as Commanding Officer.
Warrant Officer G. Costin was commissioned to Plt.Off.
and transferred to 1099 (Worsley) Squadron.
Cadet Flt Sgt. Mathew Clement left the squadron joined
the RAF as an Officer Cadet and was commisioned the same year
[Post Squadron History: He
graduated from RAF College Cranwell in August and commenced flying on the Jet
Provost (T Mk3a and T Mk45a at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, Gazelle HT3 and Wessex HC2
helicopters at RAF Shawbury, Wessex HAR Mk2 at SARTU, RAF Valley and Seaking
HAR Mk3 at the Seaking OCU, RAF St.Mawgan.
Between 1994 and 2000 he served with 202 Squadron Leconfield, 22 Sqdn. at RAF
Valley and 78 Sqdn. in the Falkland Islands, completing 132 rescue missions
as a Search & Rescue pilot. He left the RAF in December 1999 and emigrated
to Hobart Tasmania, Australia].
The Annual Camp was held at RAF.
Leconfield Yorkshire.
During 1991
The Squadron held their 50th Anniversaryat their Arkwright
Street HQ.in Horwich where a presentation of photographs, equipment and
the Squadrons activities were on show. Many of the ex Cadets, NCOs and Officers
from 1942 to 1965 attended.
A service was also held at the Horwich Parish Church which
was conducted by the Sqdn. Chaplain the Rev. D.Gatenby.
Cadet Flt. Sgt. Mark Clarke attained his
BGT award for gliding at Salmesbury. He was, later in
the year, promoted to Cadet Warrant Officer and was awarded
his Navigator Wings.
Cadet Sgt.Karen McBarrons was selected as
the Wing Representative for the Dacre Broach. This is the premier competition
in the Corps to find the best female cadet. her name went forward to Regional
HQ. but she was unsuccesful in the regional selection.
Five Cadets cadets took part in the Duke of Edinburgh
Award expedition. Three cadets a member od staff attende an L98 rifle
training course at RAF Sealand.
All passed.
(Acting Cpl.) Terence Woods repesented
the Region at football.
He was later promoted to Cadet Cpl.and completed his Flying Scholarship
course at Carlisle.
The Taylor Trophy for Cadet of the Year was
presented to Cpl.Terry Woods by
Mr. Cyril Hicks, an ex Corporal, who was the first Cadet to win the
trophy in 1942.
Amongst the"Old Brigade" invited, by Flt.Lt. Rowan, were
Cyril Hicks, Jack Wood, Jim Jerams, John Holt, Keith.Yates, Eddie. Howarth,
Keith Bridges, John Walkden, Jim Firth.
Cadet Sgt.Karen McBarrons qualified to AGT standard
gliding at Salmesbury
and later attended RAF Camp in Germany.
The Annual Inspection by the Wing Commander took place
on Tuesday 12 th November. 34 Cadets out of 35 cadets were on parade.
The Annual Camp was held at RAF.
North Luffenham .When the Cadets visited RAF
Marham and had a group photograph taken ( see Photos).
During 1992
The Annual Presentation was held at the Royal British
Legion where the Town Mayor Cllr. Bob Ronson made the presentations
and handed over the J.W.Heathcock Trophy to Cadet of the Year Cadet
WO. Mike Norbury.
Mrs R.Davies joined the Squadron as a Civilian
Instructor.She completed a CI. Training Course at the Air Cadet Training
Centre RAF Newton. Later in the year she completed a Commisioning interview
at Wing HQ. and was intervied at Region on 16th. December.
Mr.W.Heaton joined the Sqdn. as Civilian Instructor
and completed his Regional CI. Training Course at RAF
Sealand.
Cadet Sgt Terence Woods completed his Flying Scholarship
training, at Carlisle Airport, and was presented with his Flying Scholarship
Award. He later obtained his private pilot's licence.
Cadet Sgt.Karen McBarrons qualified for her Advanced Gliding
Certificate and continued her training to become a gliding instructor at
the ATC's gliding
school at Samlesbury Preston.
Cadet Warrant Officer Mark Clarke completed his gliding proficiency
course to add to his Navigator Wings.
Cadet Sgt.Daniel Cornes completed his initial gliding course at ATC's
gliding school at Samlesbury and is continuing with his training,
hoping to fly solo in the ATC's most modern aircraftthe Vigilant.
A joint expedition was held in Oct. with Wigan Sqdn for Bronze
quakification and Silver practice.
24 cadets and 4 members of staff visited Barton Aerodome(Manchester)and
on another occasion 24 cadets and 3 members of staff completed an adventure
training weekend at Hulton Park Scout Camp.
Flying visits were also made to RAF Woodvale (10 cadets),
and RAF
Finningley (12 cadets).
Recruitng. The Sqdn. strength in Dec. was 31 enrolled
cadets.
After a presentation at Rivington & Blackrod Grammar High School. 6
Cadets applied but were deferred until 1994.
70 Cadets, including representatives from Horwich,Worsley,
and Salford ATC. squadrons along with 15 veterans of the second World War,
and the Worsley squadron ATC band, gathered with the RAF Association to
commemorate the 51st. Anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
The Sqdn. took part in the Rememberance Day Dedication
Service and Parade on Nov 7th.and 8th. and a memorial parade with
723 (Wigan) Sqdn on Nov 15th. at the Wellington Bomber Monument in
Anglezarke.
The Annual Inspection took place on 30th.Oct.
by the Wing Commander and Sqdn.Ldr. D. Blaydes
The Annual Camp was held at RAF.
North Luffenham
with cadets from 1855 (Royton) Sqdn.
During 1993
The Annual Prize night, Feb 1993, was held in the Horwich
British Legion, Deputy Town Mayor Mark Perks presented the awards.
Mrs R.Davies Civilian Instructor was commisioned as
Plt.Off
Three Cadets represented East Lancs Wing in Cross Country
running at RAF Stafford. Of these, two went on gain Regional "blues"
and one Flt.Sgt. Karen McBarrons, represented the Corps against Edinburgh
AC.
Shooting was a little hit and miss with the closure of
the ranges at Fletcher St. TA Centre and RAF
Woodvale and the continued closure of the range at British Aerospace, Lostock.
Coupled with this full-bore shooting at the RAF
Sealand ranges was cancelled on a number of occasions. To at least partially
overcome this problem, a range was built in the Main Hall which became very
popular with the cadets.
Recruitng.
In April 8 cadets were enrolled as a result of deferments from 1992. A presetation
was made in September, by Plt.Off. Rosemary Davies, to year 9 (3rd
Form) assembly at Rivington & Blackrod Grammar High School. As a result
of this there was an intake of 22 cadets of whom 19 maintained their interest
and were enrolled, plus 6 cadets whose application to join were deffered
until 1994.
The Sqdn. strength rose from 31 enrolled cadets in January to 56 in December.
Adventure Training was a major activity this tear
and cadets participated as below:
Holcombe Moor Wing Adv.Trg. Weekend - 5 male, 1 female, 2 staff.
Llanbedr Adventure Training Week - 4 male, 1 female, 1 staff.
Lake District Hillwalking - 5 male, 4 female, 2 staff.
Holcombe Moor Regional Adv.Trg. Week - 2 male.
Anglezarke Quarries, Bolton Mountain Rescue Abseiling - 2 male.
Eccleston Old Hall Farm Adv.Trg. weekend - 30 cadets, 4 staff.
Wing Survival Weekend - 4 cadets.
Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme undertaken by 19 cadets.
10 cadets participated in the Wing practice expedition weekend in May and were
ready to take their qualifying expedition later in the year. However this event
was postponed until 1994 following the tradgedy at
RAF Valley (see below).
The year ended on a sad note with the death of one of our
founder cadets, Mr.Cyril Hicks in October. He was a gentleman
in the true sense and word and will be missed by all those who knew him
especially his contemporaries in the Squadron.
There was very little Flying Experience activity in the
first six months. However the latter half of the year saw the balance recouped
with 56 Chipmunk flights completed at RAf Woodvale. Additional places
were obtained, through mid-week allocations, during the Summer Holidays and
a number of flights following the RAF
Valley tradgedy, (see below), as a means of recovering any loss of confidence
suffered by some cadets.
Camps.
1 cadet went to RAF.
Laarbruch and 1 cadet to Hereford during the year.
Annual Camp was held in July when 5 male, 6
female and 2 staff attended RAF
Machrihanish
In August 9 male, 4 female, 3 staff. attended RAF. Valley the
Search and Rescue Training Unit of the RAF.
During this visit a major tragedytook place on August 12th.
when an RAF Wessex HAR.2 helicopter, on a training mission, spiraled into
a lake at the Welsh beauty spot of Llanberis claiming the
lives of 3 cadets and injuring the crew of 3 and one cadet.
The lives of 15 year old Christopher Bailey of 1471 Squadron.
and 17 year old Mark Oakden and Amanda Whitehead from Bury
Squadron were lost. They were the first cadets to be involved in
a fatal accident whilst on duty in the Air Training Corps.
Christopher's funeral took place at Horwich Parish
Church on the 19th.August. Rev.Dennis Gatenby the rector of Horwich
and chaplain to 1471 Squadron officiated. Cadets from Horwich and Bolton
Squadrons formed a guard of honour and a Chipmunk aircraft flew overhead.
During 1994
The Annual Prize night was held in the Horwich British
Legion, Horwich Cllr. Mark Perks presented the awards. Among the
awards was a cup in memory of Christopher Bailey. This was named as the
Chris Bailey Trophy and was to be awarded to the first class cadet
of the year.
Cadet Cheryl Eastham was the first cadet to receive this award.
Other awards were awarded to cadets Gilian Fox, Andrew Gamble,
Michael Westwell, Robert Masefield, Sarah Woldcroft, Linda Gibbons, Michael
Swift, Mathew Stevens, Bella Taylor, Daniel Hill, Cheryl Eastham, Kathryn
Whatmough, Rachel Flannagan, Sgt. Daniel Cornes, Cpl's. Steven
Smith, Paul Smith and Heidi Allsop
The group took the Wing Spitfire Trophy for the most
improved Squadron.
Congratulations were also in order to Cdt.D.Hill (Best on
camp), Sgt. Hearn (RAF Marksman), Cpl. Boulding (ATC and RAF Marksman) and
Cadet B.Taylor ( Most improved Cadet).
Cadets attended the British Aerospace's Air Display
at Lostock on the 4th. June and assisted in various
activities. The air displays were given by a Chipmunk, Tucano and Spitfire.
The Annual Camp was held at RAF.
Cosford The first day was spent exploring the base and getting to know
the other cadets from Worsley and Blackburn. On Sunday a visit was made to the
air museum which contains planes from small 2 seater's to fast jets from all
nationalities. The real week began when all cadets went to RAF. Shawbury where
half of the cadets flew and the other half were trained to use the L98. A swimming
competion was held in the evening at RAF
Cosford The cadets who did not fly on this day swapped activities later
in the week. During the week a navigation exercise was held around the base
and cadets had to take the assault course. A visit was also made to the Joint
School of Photography on the base and the weapons training unit.
During 1995
The Annual Prize night was held in the Squadron Headquarters.
Wing Commander David Forbes, Officer Commanding East Lancashire Wing,
presented the awards to:
Cadet Craig Cook, the Chris Bailey Trophy, as first class of the
year and sports cadet of the year.
Sgt.Michael Gresty, the Taylor Trophy, as Cadet of the year,
Cadets Alex Small and Michael Westwell, joint
winners of the probationer of the year.
Sgt. Heidi Allsop received a reward for the Best Flight ("B"Flight).
Flying Officer T.Lundy was presented with the Cadet
Forces Medal for 12 years service with RAF.VR(T)
The Annual Camp was held at RAF.
Locking.
