News
November 14th 2013
Long Eaton Joint Cadet Training Centre is officially opened
A new Army Cadet Force (ACF) and Air Training Corps (ATC) training facility was officially opened last night (Wednesday 13 November).
East Midlands Reserve Forces and Cadets Association (RFCA) has been working closely with contractors, John Martin Hoyes of Lincoln and Arch Lodge Construction Project Management Ltd, to complete the redevelopment works and is now delighted that the centre is officially open for use by the cadet organisations in Long Eaton.
The centre, which is based on Grange Park, Station Road in Long Eaton has been developed to replace two wooden cadet training huts that formerly existed on the site and were 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, kitchen 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, officially opened the centre by unveiling a plaque in the drill hall, and were joined by the Mayor of Erewash Borough Council, Councillor Val Clare.
A number of cadets from both the ACF and ATC attended the event and guests had the opportunity to see a range of cadet activities being undertaken in the centre.
Group Captain Nick Sharpe, Chief Executive at East Midlands RFCA, said: “We are pleased that the centre is now officially open to be used by local cadets and adult volunteers for years to come. The project has taken eight months to complete and has cost £450,000.”
Officer Commanding C Company Derbyshire Army Cadet Force, Major Garry Newbury, said: “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.”Cadet activity
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 2195 (Long Eaton) Squadron 0115 9465432.
