Cadets visit Sandhurst and attend Sovereign’s Parade

A lucky group of cadets from Bedford Modern School CCF, Reigate Grammar School CCF and the Army Cadet Force had the opportunity to take part in a two-day visit to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

The visit took place on Thursday 14 and Friday 15 December, coinciding with the Sovereign’s Parade hosted by Prince Harry who inspected the Army’s newest batch of officer recruits graduating from the prestigious military academy.

For the cadets it was an opportunity to meet and talk with serving officer cadets and to gather information about the Academy to help them make informed future career choices.

Beginning their visit on Thursday, the cadets were given a tour of the Academy and a chance to witness military life at a training establishment.

The cadets also took part in Op Reflect activities during their visit to the Chapel. The Bedford Modern School CCF cadets identified seven former pupils of their school on the WW1 Roll of Honour that were trained at Sandhurst pre-war. The students managed to track down six of the seven names while in the Chapel.

On Thursday evening, two former Old Bedford Modern pupils currently on their commissioning courses at the Academy took time out to speak with the cadets. Ed Munno is part way through his training and will pass out at Easter next year and Ben Ramsden passed out during the Sovereign’s Parade on Friday marking the completion of a year’s intensive training.

Both spoke to the group about their experiences of life following school, University, the University Officers’ Training Corps and their time on the commissioning course.

Major Alex Smith, Contingent Commander & Outdoor Education Co-ordinator at Bedford Modern School, said: “I am extremely grateful that they gave up their time to support the cadet forces and their ‘old school’ - the night before the parade is extremely busy for the officer cadets. This was a valuable opportunity for our students, and something we do not normally have access to.”

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Friday saw the cadets helping the Academy staff seat parents and guests, and hand out programmes to dignitaries prior to the Sovereign’s Parade, a real honour for the both the CCF and ACF.

They then had the opportunity to watch the parade and listen to Prince Harry, who was representing Her Majesty The Queen, 11 years on from his own graduation.