First Bognor Regis Mayor's Cadets receive certificates

The first Mayor’s Cadets received their certificates and badges at the town council’s meeting.

Two of the three cadets selected met deputy town mayor Cllr Pat Dillon on Monday to be congratulated on their achievements.

Ordinary Cadet Ryan Birch was proposed by the sea cadets at TS Sir Alec Rose and Corporal Fred Worthington from the town’s air cadets.

Cllr Dillon said the status of Mayor’s Cadets would see the three young people join the mayor or deputy mayor at civic functions. These will include twinning events and civic services.

“The cadets put forward by their individual officers are sound, worthy individuals.”

OC Birch, 15, said: “I’m honoured to be a Mayor’s Cadet. It’s something to be proud of and to show people.”

He has been a sea cadet for five years. “It gives me a lot of experience and gets me out,” he said. “We do seamanship, drilling, classroom training and go out on the water.”

Warrant Officer Gary Edgington MBE, of TS Sir Alec Rose, said: “I put OC Birch forward because he is a trier. It’s not about being the best at everything. It’s a reward for effort, good behaviour and so on.”

For the air cadets, Cpl Worthington, 15, a member for 18 months, said: “I’m quite excited to be a Mayor’s Cadet and I’m looking forward to it. I love going camping and flying.

“I’m looking for a career in the RAF because I want to be a pilot. I’ve already flown a plane from RAF Benson. It was a Grobtutor, which is like a two-seat Cessna, and I took the controls with the pilot sat next to me.”

A badge and certificate will also be given to the Army cadet.