Mossbourne Federation meet Chief of the Defence Staff

On 26 September, a group of year 8 and 9 cadets, from the Mossbourne Federation Combined Cadet Force (London Borough of Hackney) performed their inaugural parade and inspection for the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Nick Carter, GCB, CBE, DSO, ADC.

As they marched along with the Coldstream Guards’ Band, the cadets (aged between 12 and 14) were marking the Federation’s initiation into the national Cadet Expansion Programme, which was launched by the government in 2012 to increase the number of schools with cadet units to 500 by March 2020.

The two schools; Mossbourne Community Academy and Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy, both joined the programme in 2018 after receiving charitable funding from the Honourable Artillery Company. Along with Government funding this additional funding gives pupils the chance to benefit from a range of skills and opportunities that the programme has to offer, including team work, discipline and residential trips.

Talking after the event, Cadet Zaid Sabah, 13, from Dalston said, “I was so nervous about the performance, but now that we’ve done it I’m so proud of myself and my fellow cadets. I can’t wait to tell everyone about it!”

As if the honour of parading and an inspection by General Sir Nick Carter wasn’t enough, the event was held at the prestigious Grocers’ Hall. Peter Hughes, Chief Executive Officer of the Mossbourne Federation summed up the day, “It has been a tremendous honour for the Mossbourne Federation Combined Cadet Force contingent to have General Sir Nick Carter as their very first inspecting officer and for the event to be held at the splendid Grocers’ Hall.”

After the event, the cadets, joined General Sir Nick Carter and members of Mossbourne staff to enjoy afternoon tea.