News
November 19th 2021
Volunteer Air Cadets Training Officer receives Vorderman Award
Pilot Officer Sam Hurry won the 2021 Vorderman Award.
Pilot Officer Sam Hurry, the Adult Volunteer Training Officer for 2160 Sleaford Squadron Air Cadets, is the 2021 recipient of the Vorderman Award from No 1 Group of the Royal Air Force (RAF).
The Vorderman Award is given annually to an individual, military or civilian, or an RAF Station, who have made the greatest contribution to the Air Cadets during the past year. It is named after Carol Vorderman, the first woman to be made an Ambassador to the RAF Air Cadets in 2014.
Pilot Officer Hurry received his award at a ceremony held at RAF Waddington by No 1 Group, who coordinate all of the RAF’s frontline, fast-jet force elements and the Intelligence Surveillance, Targeting and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) work.
In the citation for the award, Pilot Officer Hurry was commended for his response to the national COVID-19 lockdown, moving parade nights online and thinking of new ideas for the syllabus to replace physical training. New qualifications were offered to the Cadets, and he personally delivered the Foundation Space Course to the entire Squadron over four weeks.
By hosting virtual open nights, the Squadron even hit maximum capacity, with 60 new recruits making up a full intake until September 2022.
Pilot Officer Hurry was also noted to have been key to several fundraising events held by 2160 Squadron, which included raising over £1,000 for the Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire Air Ambulance.
Alongside being the Training Officer for 2160, Hurry is also a Gliding Instructor at 644 Volunteer Gliding Squadron. In his role as Deputy Health and Safety Officer, he was instrumental in preparing the Squadron’s resumption of flying in a safe environment for staff and Cadets.
“Without people like Sam and Vickie, the Air Cadet offer would be a mere shadow of what our young people enjoy today.” – Air Commodore Tony Keeling, Air Cadets Commandant
Commandant of the Air Cadets, Air Commodore Tony Keeling, took a selfie with award winners Sam Hurry and Vickie Delaney.
The end of the award citation reads: “His dedication to the Cadets of his Squadron and those who, through his efforts, experience the thrill of glider flight, are worthy of formal recognition, and he is, therefore, most deserving of the award of the 1 Group Vorderman Award for support to the RAF Air Cadet Organisation.”
Commandant of the Air Cadets, Air Commodore Tony Keeling, presented both the 2020 award to Flying Officer Vickie Delaney, and the 2021 award to Sam at the ceremony.
Afterwards he wrote: “I’m sure that you’ll agree that both Vickie and Sam are worthy winners of the Vorderman Award, and are typical of the brilliant Volunteers and Service Instructors who contribute so much of their time and talent to our organisation. Without people like Sam and Vickie, the Air Cadet offer would be a mere shadow of what our young people enjoy today.”
Find out more about the RAF Air Cadets.
