Cadets and Adults from 1st Battalion The Highlanders have had their efforts in keeping morale up within the Battalion rewarded.
Six members of the Battalion have recently been presented with a Colonel Cadets Coin for Excellence by Colonel Patrick O’Meara, Colonel Cadets 51 Brigade, in recognition of their efforts over the past six months in keeping both the Cadets and Adults motivated during the organisation’s current suspension of training.
Cadet Lance Corporal Keegan Campbell (15), from Brora Detachment, was awarded his coin for putting his time during lockdown to good use by doing good for his local community. At the beginning of lockdown, Keegan helped deliver meals to local people who were shielding and unable to get out of their homes. Lance Corporal Campbell also took up the Alzheimer Scotland Fundraising Cycle for Dementia challenge and pedalled 150 miles in May, raising £1337 for the charity.
Cadet Lance Corporal Liam Mackay (16), also from Brora Detachment, was presented his coin for the hard work he put in to marking VE Day in his local village. Unfortunately due to the current global pandemic, the event did not go ahead. However, he published a video of himself performing a piping tribute for the day. Both Liam and Keegan were also involved in the Battalion’s own St. Valéry tributes earlier this year where they both visited local St. Valéry Veteran David Beaumont.
Cadet Staff Sergeant Jake Rendall (17), from Lerwick Detachment, was awarded his coin for the huge amount of work he put into lessons for the Battalion’s Orkney & Shetland Battery’s online training during the current suspension of face-to-face training. His assistance was a massive help to the Adults of the Battery who put the training together, as well as encouraging the Cadets of the Battery to participate in as well as get them involved in the wider ACF Challenges.
Lieutenant Catherine Browne (35), from Kirkwall Detachment, was nominated for her coin for her efforts in keeping the Cadets of Orkney & Shetland Battery up to date with their training by putting together Online Training for the Cadets of the Battery. Catherine has also been involved in ACF Music, performing in the recent ACFA Scotland Music Videos that were published online.
Staff Sergeant Instructor Alistair Wilson (61), from Kirkwall Detachment, was nominated for his coin for putting together additional Online Training for the Cadets of Orkney & Shetland Battery. He has also been involved with putting together the Battalion’s new Traditional Music Band, which also had Cadets involved in the recent ACFA Scotland Music Videos.
The final coin presented was to the Battalion’s Training Safety Advisor, Warrant Officer 2 James Fraser, for his efforts in keeping the flame alive for the Cadets when they return to training. In the background, he’s been producing training aids and updating the Battalion’s SharePoint site for their Adults to deliver the best possible training for the Cadets when they return to normal training. He has also been active within the community, delivering food parcels to his neighbours and vulnerable people who were shielding at the start of lockdown.
To find out more about 1st Battalion The Highlanders ACF, click here.
