September 21, 2023
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Caithness Cadets from 1st Battalion The Highlanders Army Cadet Force (ACF) held a presentation evening in Thurso.
The 8 June event at the Royal British Legion saw the Lord-Lieutenant of Caithness, Viscount John Thurso, attend as guest of honour to make several presentations to the cadets and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs) of Caithness Company.
The first presentation (main image, above) was made to (from left) Lucy Herd (13), Tyler Richardson (12) and Euan Young (13), from Halkirk Detachment, who all received their Basic Certificates and Badges from the Lord-Lieutenant, marking the completion of their Basic Syllabus Training – the first step on the cadet ladder.
The Lord-Lieutenant made several promotions including to Halkirk Detachment Potential Instructors Simon Flear (40) and Christopher Gunn (25), who received their promotions to Sergeant Instructor, following completion of the Advanced Instruction Course which is the final course an Adult Volunteer completes in becoming an Adult Instructor with the ACF.
During the course the PIs deliver lessons on Navigation, Fieldcraft and Drill, and are also given the opportunity to gain new knowledge, skills and friends from outside their respective Army Cadet County.
Also receiving a promotion to Sergeant was Cadet Corporal Calum Prideaux (17), from Halkirk Detachment.
Adults from the Battalion were also recognised for their long service to the Army Cadets. SMI Keith Farquhar (46), from Halkirk Detachment, was presented with a Lord-Lieutenant’s Certificate for Meritorious Service. SMI Farquhar has been part of the Battalion since 2005.
Cadets were also commended for their community work, which saw Halkirk cadets Sgt Calum Prideaux and Cpl John Bremner (17) both receive an Army Cadet Charitable Trust President’s award for Community Service for their work in the local Halkirk Community, that includes the regular litter picking the Detachment takes part in.
The final presentation was to Cpl Keanu Jones (16), from Thurso Detachment, who received his Certificate of Appointment as the new Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadet of Caithness.
The year-long appointment will see Cpl Jones given the honour of assisting the Lord-Lieutenant of Caithness in their duties in his capacity as His Majesty’s Representative to the County of Caithness.
Cpl Jones has been a member of the Army Cadet Force since September 2018. Over his time with the cadets he has taken part in everything available to a cadet in the ACF. He recently represented the Battalion in the Cadet Cambrian Patrol held in Wales, assisting the team in claiming Gold. Cpl Jones takes over the position from fellow cadet, Sgt Callum Prideaux.
