News

November 7th 2013

East Midlands Reserve Forces and Cadets Association (RFCA) has been working closely with contractors John Martin Hoyes of Lincoln to complete the redevelopment works and is now delighted to be officially opening the centre that will be used by the Army Cadet Force (ACF) and Air Training Corps (ATC) in Long Eaton for years to come.

The new joint cadet training facility has been developed to replace two cadet training huts that formerly existed on the site at Grange Park, Station Road in Long Eaton. These huts, which were built over 40 years ago, were extremely tired and not suitable for renovation.

The new building, which was jointly funded by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and Headquarters (HQ) Air Cadets, includes a drill hall, radio room, office spaces, classrooms and toilet areas that will be shared between both Army and Air Cadets in the Derbyshire area.

Brigadier Harry Nickerson, the Commander of 49 (East) Brigade and Group Captain Nigel Gorman, the Regional Commandant of Central and East Region Air Training Corps, will be officially opening the centre by unveiling a plaque in the drill hall.

A number of cadets from both the ACF and ATC will be at the opening event and attendees will be able to see examples of cadet activities taking place around the centre. Other invitees will include local councillors, representatives from the ACF and ATC, the contract and design team as well as other local organisations who have supported the project’s development.

Group Captain Nick Sharpe, Chief Executive at East Midlands RFCA, said: “We are delighted that the project has ran smoothly and that the new facilities are now open for local cadet groups to use for years to come.”

Officer Commanding C Company Derbyshire Army Cadet Force, Major Garry Newbury, said: “The training and experiences offered to young people in the ACF are extensive, and this new training facility will allow us to continue to organise a variety of activities and events from field craft, map reading and compass activities to sporting and adventurous events for local cadets.”

The Wing Executive Officer for South and East Midlands Wing, Squadron Leader John Hill, said: “2195 Long Eaton Squadron cadets and staff have been waiting for their old wooden huts to be replaced by this fabulous, state of the art building and now look forward to striving ahead with new initiatives, training and recruitment with a firm aim of increasing their cadet numbers from the local population”.

If you would like to find out more about joining either the ACF or ATC as a cadet or adult volunteer in Long Eaton please contact:

Derbyshire ACF on 01332 772025 or South and East Midlands Wing ATC on 01780 417 297.