News & Events
02.03.2010
Air cadet Organisation National concert band - 2010 Camp
On Saturday 13th February I set off on my journey to Royal Air Force Cranwell, Lincolnshire for the Air cadet Organisation National concert band Camp. I arrived at my accommodation for the week at around half past two and met my roommate before unpacking and meeting the other 43 cadets on camp.
We had a briefing that evening as to what would be happening during the week as an over view as we got a more in depth briefing each evening.
Sunday: Wake up was at 0630, breakfast at 0730 and then either church or FAMEX (familiarisation exercise) then drill (ready for the inter flight competition at the end of the week) before lunch and then a Music practise in the afternoon and then a music practise in the evening. Roll call was at 2230 and lights out at 2300.
Monday: Wake up at 0630, breakfast at 0730 and then out to the drill square again for practise before going to the band room for practise until lunch. After lunch we went over to the east side of the base to take part in a Low ropes adventure course. This consisted of team building games like ‘Evolution’ before heading off in flights to the low ropes area. I was photographer for the exercise and I certainly had a laugh watching the flight amble their way round a forest, blindfolded, trying to climb over, under and through obstacles. After loosing all feeling in my hands and toes we returned to our rooms to get changed before tea at 1700 and then music practise until 2030. Briefing at 2100, roll call at 2230 and lights out at 2300.
Tuesday: Wake up at 0630, breakfast at 0730 out to the drill square for practise before getting on buses and heading to Royal Air Force Scampton, the home of the Red arrows display team. We watched their new display, watched the GYPO team (second year pilots) do a very action packed daring display before the EDNA team (first year pilots, including Kirsty Moore) did a slightly more relaxed basic manoeuvres display. Once the pilots returned to the ground we had pictures taken with a Red arrows aircraft and the pilots, the cadets formed a large ‘150’ (for cadets 150) in front of the aircraft and then we got on the bus and headed home. The afternoon was spent doing music practise and then the evening was a disco. Roll call and lights out were slightly later than normal, as I didn’t have time to check before I fell asleep.
Wednesday: Wake up at 0630, breakfast at 0730 and then out to the drill square again for practise before going to the band room for practise until lunch. After lunch we split into two teams one who went shooting and the other went to the gym for a PT session. I went to the gym and endured an RAF fitness test and then a friendly game of football. Once this was over we all headed back to the block to have showers and prepare for the dining in night. Roll call was once again later but for a good reason, dining in night is a big part of the annual camp and this year was special as it was Squadron Leader Peter Slaney’s last camp as head of music.
Thursday: Wake up at 0630, breakfast at 0730 and then out to the drill square again for practise before going to the band room for practise until lunch. After lunch we split into two flights and did a team building exercise and bowling. My flight (B) took part in bowling first and then the team building and flight A did the reverse. Tea was at 1700 and then music practise until 2030. Briefing at 2100, roll call at 2230 and lights out at 2300.
Friday: Wake up at 0630, breakfast at 0730 and then out to the drill square again for practise before going to the band room to tidy up and pack instrument onto buses. We headed over to the Concert hall for sound checks and set up. We then returned to accommodation to get into No.1 uniform for a tour round Cranwell College hall and then a drill competition outside the front of College hall, which B flight won by one point! A quick photo shoot and then it was tea at 1700 and then into trouser for the girls before returning to the concert hall for the evening concert in front of friends, family and squadron staff.
Saturday: Wake up at 0700 and breakfast at 0730 before returning to the block for packing and a mass cleaning session before our parents arrived at about 1200.
I returned form the camp the proud owner of an Air training corps concert band musicians badge and knowing that I was the first member of 759 Beccles squadron to ever attend the camp.