500 Headcorn Squadron help Kent Wing win regional Banner Drill

Five cadets from 500 (Headcorn) Squadron have put Kent Wing in the regional history books by winning the London and South East Region (LASER Banner Drill competition.

The competition was held at the Annual Field Day at RAF Northolt on Saturday 4th October and saw 12 teams of cadets from across the regions compete for the prestigious title.

After success in the Wing Banner Competition in September, the Headcorn team were chosen to travel to the RAF Station in Middlesex to represent Kent Wing.

Banner Bearer Sergeant Rhys Nicholls (16) who attends Homewood 6th  Form Centre in Tenterden, Banner Escorts Corporal Michael Carty (16) who attends Towers School in Ashford and Corporal Ellie Hodge (15) who also attends Homewood School. The Orderly, Cadet Samuel Kitchen (15) Maidstone Grammar for Boys and Banner Warrant Officer, Flight Sergeant Lawrence Dale (17) from Homewood 6th Form Centre.

The banner drill sequence took about 15 minutes to perform and the team had been training since the beginning of August.

Two of the team had previous experience as they carried the Corps and Wing Banners at the Annual Battle of Britain Memorial Parade at Capel Le Ferne in July.

The team trained under the guidance of Adult Sergeant Mills, the Squadron Drill and Discipline Officer, he said: “I am sincerely proud of their achievements at both Wing and Region levels and impressed with their dedication and commitment. We are now all working towards the National Banner Drill Finals at RAF Halton on 29th November, where all 6 of the Regional winners will battle for the national title.

After winning the regional event, the top two banner bearers were chosen to represent the ATC live on TV at the Annual Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday 8th November.