Royal Air Force Air Cadets’ Annual Awards – 31st January 2025

31 (Tower Hamlets) Squadron Royal Air Force Cadets held their Annual Awards Ceremony on 31st January at the Army Training Centre on Mile End Road. Past Master Rowlie McBeath and the Clerk represented the Gunmakers, with whom the Squadron is affiliated.

Seventy Cadets on parade were applauded by parents and guardians, supporters – including a representative of the also-affiliated Fishmongers’ Company – and the principal guest, the Speaker of the Council of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The Squadron’s band was in powerful and tuneful form. That the Squadron is thriving was amply demonstrated by the number, coverage and breadth of the Awards made, covering aircraft knowledge, leadership, musicianship and initiative, amongst other topics.

The Gunmakers’ Cannon Trophy, a gift from Past Master Gilbert Archer which the Company presented to the Squadron last year, was awarded for the first time, to Flight Sergeant Daniyal Rafique. He was the only Cadet for 2024 that represented the Squadron at the Cadet Skill at Arms Meet (CadetSAM) and also achieved a coveted Cadet 50, his third one as a Cadet. He was also a member of the winning Royal Air Force Air Cadets team in the Inter Service Final. A worthy winner indeed. All the winners and those receiving promotions were loudly applauded and raucously cheered.