The Duchess of Gloucester has officially opened the new, purpose built, headquarters for Thames Valley Wing as part of the recently completed Edward Brookes Barracks near Abingdon. The new barracks cost £4 million to build, and alongside the Air Cadets hub, also houses elements of the Territorial Army.

The site has been named after the Edward Brooks, a former Territorial Army hero, who was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1917 and many of Sgt Major Brooks’ family attended the opening. His three grandchildren said they were extremely proud the barracks had been named in his honour. Continue reading →

he Cadets of 459 (Windsor) Squadron have proved that training does really count by winning the Thames Valley Wing Challenge event in style.

The team of 8 cadets based in the Royal Borough of Windsor have been training hard for 3 months ready to take on the 21 teams at the annual event held each July at Bramley Training Area near Basingstoke. This year the events included field craft, leadership exercises, a night exercise, orienteering together with a multitude of other exciting activities. Continue reading →

Air Commodore Gammage was guest of honour at Thames Valley Wing’s recent celebratory dinner.

Held at RAF Brize Norton, over 70 staff, Civilian Committee members, Instructor Cadets, friends and partners enjoyed an evening of top-class, candle lit hospitality in the Officers Mess with the evening run along the lines of a traditional dining in night. Continue reading →

Sqn Ldr Stephen New, Deputy Wing Commander for Thames Valley Wing, has been awarded a MBE in the Queens Birthdays Honours List.

Sqn Ldr New has served the Corps for 34 years and is still counting! His adult ATC service commenced in 1974; he was warranted in 1976, commissioned in 1985 and commanded 2267 (Brize Norton) Squadron from 1987 to 1998. He joined Wing Staff in 1998 and was promoted to Squadron Leader in 2002. Continue reading →

Sqn Ldr Duncan Mason, an ex-Cadet of Wokingham Squadron and current Harrier pilot, has joined the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight as a Hurricane Pilot.

To get prepared for the forthcoming display season Sqn Ldr Mason has been training on the Chipmunk and has just completed his first solo on the Hurricane. Continue reading →

The band of 2267 (Brize Norton) Squadron have played a starring role in a visit by The Princess Royal for the opening of a new £1.4m Community Centre on Shilton Park, Carterton.

The 9 Air Cadets, under the leadership of Cpl Katie Doakwere from RAF Brize Norton were delighted and honoured to have the opportunity to show-off their musical talents to a member of Royalty and also to the public on this special occasion. Continue reading →

Cadets from 459 (Windsor) and 2477 (Britwell) Squadrons attended their usual Air Cadet Sunday service at the start of February.

The big difference for cadets and staff this year was the invitation from the Dean of Windsor, the Right Reverend David Conner, to attend Sunday service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, in uniform. Continue reading →

Air cadets in Wantage are smiling after receiving a donation from a local business.

Infineum, a petroleum additive company based in Milton Hill Business Park, donated £500 to the Squadron through their community support project, SMILE.

Lynne Tregoning, a member of the SMILE committee, said: ‘It was our pleasure, we are always keen to help the local youngsters and the ATC clearly does very good work here’. Continue reading →