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Best in the Corps

Article posted: Nov 21, 2007 by Sqn Ldr Pass

A former Cadet Warrant Officer from Loughborough has been awarded the Dacre Sword for being selected as the best male cadet in the Air Training Corps.

Now a Pilot Officer in the RAF VRT, Alistair Best was awarded the Dacre Sword by Air Commodore Gordon Moulds, Commandant Air Cadets, at a presentation held at No 2229 Loughborough Squadron’s Headquarters.

Assisting the Air Commodore was Gp Capt J. P. Dacre, the nephew of the late Air Commodore Dacre who bequeathed the sword to the Corps.

The short outdoor ceremony was attended by around thirty guests who, after a short prayer by the Wing Padre, and the presentation watched a march past by the squadron with Commandant Air Cadets taking the salute. Other notable guests included Central and East Region Commandant, Gp Capt Jon Ford, Wing Commander Nigel Dickinson, Officer Commanding South and East Midlands Wing and the Worshipful the Mayor of Charnwood, Cllr Joe Tormey.

Since joining the squadron in February 2001 Alistair has had a distinguished cadet career reaching its pinnacle this year with his selection as the Best Male Cadet in the Corps. Very much outdoor orientated, Alistair has taken part in eighteen expeditions around The Peak District, Wales and the Lake District. In May last year he completed the expedition to the Everest Base Camp with Gp Capt Cross.

No stranger to foreign travel, Alistair visited Canada on an International Air Cadet Exchange last year and also, the same year, went to Singapore on a cadet exchange. In addition there were two overseas camps at Gibraltar and Rheindahlen and winter skiing in Germany and Switzerland.

Other achievements include:

Flying and Gliding Scholarships
Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
Btec 1st Diploma in Public Service – Distinction
Junior Leader’s Course
Community Sports Leader
Basic Expedition Leader

When asked how she felt, Alistair’s Mother, Sylvia said “Proud, but not surprised” and she explained “Alistair has always been so focused and has the capability to maximise on any opportunity”

Squadron Commander, Flt Lt Kath Lane, in her narrative to the Dacre Sword Nomination, was impressed by his commitment to the squadron especially through periods of upheaval suffered by the squadron “without his continued support, his fellow cadets would have suffered. No matter what demands are placed on him, whether from the Corps, work or personal commitments, he has supported myself and the staff faultlessly”.

Currently working as a floor manager in a fast food outlet, Alistair is awaiting entry into the Royal Air Force.

Plt Off Lyndsay McGregor, an ex CWO with St Ives squadron, winner of the Dacre Brooch for the Best Female Cadet was also in attendance.

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