News
February 13th 2019
80th Anniversary for Grantham Air Cadets
47F (Grantham) Squadron at the Church
Air Cadets from Grantham celebrated the 80th Anniversary of the Squadron’s founding last month.
An open afternoon was held at the Squadron for some of the 2,500 former cadets and staff, with a service of thanksgiving and blessing of the Squadron Standard at St.Wulfrum’s Church the following day.
The Colour Party at the Church
Flight Lieutenant Andrew Cutts RAFAC, a senior adult volunteer, said: “As the current Commanding Officer I am acutely aware of the history and legacy of the Squadron that sits with us. I am always incredibly proud of all our cadets, and their enthusiastic and active involvement the celebrations was commented upon by all of our guests. They showed incredible maturity and a deep understanding of the importance of our squadron in the story of the Air Cadets and the Grantham area.
“It was fantastic to see former cadets and staff meeting the next generation. Many of our old cadets have had great careers, both within the Armed Forces and outside. I am sure their life stories will inspire our current cadets to go on and do amazing things.”
47F (Grantham) Squadron can trace its roots back to well before the Air Training Corps was formed.
In 1939, an organisation called the Air Defence Cadet Corps (ADCC) was created by Air Commodore Chamier, after this a flood of ADCC squadrons opened.
With the support of Air Vice-Marshall Longmore, his wife Lady Longmore, and the town Mayor Alderman John Foster, Grantham was to be at the forefront of this movement.
When the Royal Warrant was issued in 1941 transforming the ADCC into the Air Training Corps, the first fifty squadrons were given the honour of placing the F after their number signifying they were ‘Founder’ squadrons.
The squadron’s first home was in a couple of rooms at the back of the old Post Office building on Wharf Road.
Former Cadets touring the Squadron on the open day
As the unit expanded it moved to wooden buildings which were formerly part of the old Girls Central School. Situated in Middlemore Yard off Castlegate, the buildings were demolished to make way for a car park resulting in the unit moving once again.
In 1968 the unit took up residence in its current location at Triggs Yard. A second building was added in 1989 and its opening ceremony formed part of the squadron’s fiftieth anniversary celebrations that year.
Over the past 80 years of its existence, well over 2500 young people have been members of the Squadron.
If you want to find out more about joining the Air Cadets click here.
“It was fantastic to see former cadets and staff meeting the next generation. Many of our old cadets have had great careers, both within the Armed Forces and outside. I am sure their life stories will inspire our current cadets to go on and do amazing things.”
