Dewsbury Air Cadets are aiming high

The 96 Dewsbury Squadron Air Training Corps will represent its wing in the next stage of judging for the Lees Trophy, an award given to the country’s best squadron each year.

Commanding officer Flight Lieutenant Alan Curtis said: “It’s such a shame that people in the town don’t realise what a fantastic little unit it’s got sitting on its doorstep.

“The thing about us is we’re a small unit that fights above its weight.”

The squadron won the Air Training Corps’ National 3 Position Air Rifle Trophy last July, and it is currently leading in this year’s competition.

It also put in a strong performance at a cross country tournament earlier this month, coming fourth overall against larger squadrons.

Flight Sergeant James Bland came second in the senior men’s class, while Cadet Bryony Cooke came second in the junior girls category.

Cadet Cooke was named the South and West Yorkshire Wing’s female sports cadet of the year last year, and is a member of the North Region Netball Team.

Flt Lt Curtis said: “We talked about all the things we’ve managed to achieve in the past year, and our wing commander put us forward for the trophy.

“At the moment we’re competing against six wings in the northern area.”

The next step in the squadron’s bid to lift the Lees Trophy will be a visit by judges to the squadron’s headquarters in Vulcan Road.

l See the squadron’s listing on page 30 for meeting times.