Archive for August, 2008
Air Cadet Exchange for Kat
Cadet Warrant Officer Katrina Couchman spent part of her summer as one of the Conducting Cadets for those cadets visiting from overseas for two weeks as part of the International Air Cadet Exchange.
“As a conducting cadet, I had the pleasure of escorting cadets from Hong Kong, Australia, Canada, the USA, Germany and Ghana on several trips to parts of the UK.
For the London phase, I was a bit of a tourist myself! We had the rare experience of walking along Downing Street, and of watching the Changing of the Guard from inside Buckingham Palace Gates, as well as the more usual things such as the Tower of London, a Thames cruise, Hendon RAF Museum and a day out at Thorpe Park theme park.
Our first stop in the north was Manchester, starting with meeting the Mayor, before moving on to Liverpool, BAe Warton (where the Eurofighter Typhoon is partly built) and of course, the famous ‘curry mile’. A trip to Castleton down the mine and a pub lunch afterwards helped us to show the best of the English countryside to our visitors.
Next up was Headquarters Air Cadets, RAF Cranwell. During our all-too-brief stay we had gliding oportunities at RAF Syerston, as well as visiting nearby Lincoln. Cranwell’s College Hall was the venue for our formal IACE dinner, and a chance to swap gifts between hosts and guests.
Our final location was to Yorkshire. This included a day in the historic city of York and the Jorvik Viking Museum, Leeds and back down to Alton Towers, one of the highlights of the whole group.
Returning to London, we regrouped with the other regional parties for the last night barbecue before all going our separate ways. The Ghanaians gave a performance of traditional drumming and songs, which I will never, ever forget.
By acting as a Conducting Cadet, I have learned about countries I have never visited before (but would like to, soon), and made a great many friends. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience from start to finish, and feel very lucky to have been a part of it.
This has been the best two weeks of my life. Can’t wait for the reunion!”
