2028 Sqn - Community

Locally 2028 Squadron is involved annualy in the British Legion Poppy Appeal and Remembrance Sunday Parade in Southam. We also look after the Holywell a local Heritage Site on behalf of the Town Council. A History of the Holywell can be seen by going to the Links Section and visiting the Holywell Web Site. In fact in 2007 it was refurbished and Cadets were invited to the re-opening of the Site. We also collect on behalf of the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal every year and attend the Annual Memorial Service at the Battle of Britain Plaque in Leamington Spa and much much more.

Our Civilian Committee is strong in supporting us and they help with many of the arrangements for our Community activities, together with fund-raising and assistance with transport. They also support us during our regular 24 Hour Drill Marathons with food and drink. Their greatest achievement to date was to be instrumental in the Squadron being awarded a Lottery Grant of nearly 10,000 pounds for IT training equipment and other essential items such as sports kit and D of E equipment in early 2007. They have also obtained grants and equipment from Warwickshire County Council and the local Branch of the Lions. In 2009 they were able to get a donation of tents from a local company, Go Outdoors in Coventry worth no less than 2000 pounds!

We also look forward to meeting our Ex Cadets and Staff to catch up on their experiences since leaving the ATC. A number of them go on to join the Armed Services, not always the Royal Air Force! In August 2007 one of our Cadets went to the Defence Sixth Form College at Welbeck, a first for 2028 Squadron and another Cadet joined the Royal Navy and is now an Officer. We have also had a Cadet join the Royal Military Police and the Queen Alexander's Royal Army Nursing Corps.

In January 2008 Cadets, Staff and members of the Civilian Committee performed Cinderella in Pantomime to the people of Southam and raised some 964.87 pounds towards Squadron Funds.

We joined the residents of Galanos House a local British Legion Care Home, to celebrate D-Day 65 on June 6th 2009 and visit them on a regular basis.

More recently we took part in a service of dedication to a new Air Crew Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum and Armed Forces Day celebrations at Napton in Warwickshire during June 2010. We also were one of three Squadrons who took part in a Help for Heroes Air Show Charity event in August 2010.

The latest success for 2028 Squadron was the appointment in March 2011 of one of our Cadets as the ATC Lord Lieutenant's Cadet for Warwickshire for 12 months. This was the first time a Cadet from 2028 had been given such a high accolade.

In July 2011 we had the great honour to receive an Ex Cadet who had joined the Royal Air Force after leaving the Cadets. He had become 'Red 4' in the Red Arrows, another 'first' for 2028! Sadly on the 20th August 2011 Flt Lt Jon Egging 'Red 4' died during an Air Show when his Hawk crashed. Cadets and Staff had the honour to be at his Memorial Service at Lincoln Cathedral in November 2011.