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CADETS ‘INSPIRE AND ACHIEVE’ DURING LOCKDOWN ACTIVITIES

Baking Competition for VE Day 75

Cadets were invited to bake and decorate a cake in preparation for VE Day celebrations for their ‘stay at home’ tea parties, as part of their lockdown activities.  The winning entry came from Cadet Blakely,  with a very professional looking tiered cake with blue dripping icing on top, decorated with roses.  A wide selection of entries were received, the first in was a carrot cake from the Commandant, and more followed in various designs from Union flags, to a camouflage cake, to poppies, and even a spitfire.  Lance Corporal Webber came second in the competition, making his cake with ingredients like condensed milk, as they would have done in the 1940s due to Wartime rationing. It was just a shame they couldn’t be taste tested, other than at home!

Lincolnshire ACF VE Day Bake off

30 Day Fitness challenge

Aplin family fitness challenge

Cadets have been determined to remain active and healthy at home, with some taking part in a 30-day fitness challenge. The Aplin family from North Hykeham detachment also took part in the challenge. Dad, Staff Sergeant Mark Aplin, of the Army Reserve and a non-uniform Volunteer in ACF, Cadet Sergeant Major Tegan Aplin, Cadet Sergeant Cerys Aplin and Lance Corporal Leuan Aplin all took part in the 30-day fitness challenge which also went towards their Duke of Edinburgh physical section.  Mum Mav also got involved being timekeeper – and making sure the family didn’t miss any sit-ups! The Aplin family documented their journey through photos shared online, encouraging Cadets and others to join in on lockdown activities.

NAAFI packs delivered to vulnerable veterans

Captain Paul Robb, County Medical Support Officer and his wife Jayne, along with Staff Sergeant Instructor Palmer and Sergeant Instructor Moloney, spent VE Day Bank Holiday delivering Navy Army Air Force Institute (NAAFI) packs to vulnerable veterans in nursing homes around the Grantham area.

Both Jayne and Paul are Street Pastors in Grantham and can often be seen on the streets in the early hours helping the homeless find somewhere to sleep for the night.  Jayne and Paul wanted to continue to help their local community in the current crisis, so Jayne set up a Facebook page called Grantham Area COVID-19 Support Page, which has helped to inform and provide a service to those in the area in need. The group received funding from a couple of Lincolnshire County Council Councillors to carry out COVID 19 support projects. Councillor Linda Whootten asked if there was anything that could be done for the local veterans.

Jayne came up with the idea of providing a VE75 Day goody bag for as many veterans as possible, to show they were not forgotten. This quickly expanded and Jayne and her husband teamed up with Grantham RL and RLC units to use some of the donated funds to deliver a ‘NAAFI’ style goody bag to as many Cadets as possible, therefore giving them an opportunity to commemorate this important occasion.

Observing government guidelines on social distancing, the team delivered the goody bags all through VE Day. Jayne commented: “The chance for the veterans to remember, and to see us able to span the generations, has been profoundly moving. It was also wonderful to see many Cadets get themselves into uniform to receive their goody bags on this special day.”

If you are interested in joining the Army Cadet Force, find a Unit near you here.

Veterans and Cadets with their goody bags