Army cadets in Thornbury have been rewarded for their work during lockdown. The cadets have continued training through virtual sessions and their achievements were recently recognised when the Commandant of Bristol Army Cadet Force presented certificates and trophies at an awards ceremony held via Zoom. The B Company area Cadet of the Year award was presented to Cdt Butler, 16, from Thornbury. Butler has played Senior girls’ football for South West district, winning the national competition. She now proudly wears the ‘ACF Champion’ badge. This year she has also completed her Junior Instructors course and the St John Ambulance 1st Aid award. She is a regular attender at detachment and Company events and has had a very good year, previously being awarded Cadet of the Month 2 times and detachment Cadet of the Year. She has developed greatly in her ACF career. Since this award, Butler has also been promoted to Cadet Lance Corporal.
Army cadets from Thornbury took part in a 24-hour charity event to support the Royal British Legion. Following the cancellation of the Poppy Appeal on the last weekend before Remembrance Sunday, the cadets went above and beyond to raise money for the appeal. The event and challenges were devised for cadets and instructors from the whole area of Bristol Army Cadet Force – with Thornbury cadets joining detachments from Keynsham, Ashton, Avonmouth and Yate. Everyone participated in a 24-hour virtual harbour patrol base and ‘Stag On’ with a target set to raise £1000. Participants logged on to Zoom for the programme crammed full of challenges, competitions and alternative versions of lessons which included: rifle firing positions, building an improvised shelter and an alternative camouflaged face .