CCF
Round-up
by
David ColeT
his was a memorable year for
the CCF, and there were many
highlights. The first came in
October, when Captain Peter
Belfield's dream came true.
After a month of intensive
training by the Royal Marine Pringle Trophy
team, getting up at 6.00 every morning,
practising section attacks, foot drill, navigation
and various other skills, the section under
Charles Morris won the coveted Sir Steuart
Pringle Trophy for the first time. Having come
fifth in the two previous years, the section was
determined to improve and learn from their
mistakes, and over the two days at Lympstone
they did just that and returned to school
victorious, clutching several trophies.
In November both Colour Sergeant Charles
Morris (Royal Marine section) and Colour
Serjeant Fleur Netley (Army section) were
officially appointed Lord Lieutenant Cadets at a
ceremony in the Bishop's Palace in Wells. This
was the first time that two cadets from the
same unit had been appointed, and it is a great
tribute to King's, carrying on a long tradition of
success.
In May the CCF celebrated 'Cadet 150' (150
years of the cadet movement in the UK) and
'50 Years of Ten Tors'. The afternoon began
with a parade on the front square attended by
many parents and OAs. The guard of honour
was filled by ranks from the Royal Navy, Royal
Marine and Army sections, and the inspecting
officer was Brigadier Neil Marshall OBE,
Commander Royal Artillery 3rd (UK) Division.
The Pringle Trophy team gave a faultless drill
demonstration. The Brigadier then opened the
'Cadet 150' copse planted by Army section
NCOs the previous winter. The rest of the
afternoon gave our guests a chance to watch
various stances and a noisy section attack
scenario led by the Royal Marine section. The
day was rounded off with the annual CCF
dinner given for the 62 NCOs to thank them for
their involvement and leadership over the five
years that many have spent in the CCF. The
Headmaster welcomed our OA and parent
guests, and the Brigadier gave a rousing speech
to end the proceedings.
In June the guard of honour was on duty again.
King's College CCF joined 500 cadets from the
various cadet units in Somerset for a March
Past through Taunton town centre, with Lady
Gass, the Lord Lieutenant, taking the salute.
This was a fantastic occasion for cadets and
officers alike to march proudly through the
county town with so many people clapping and
cheering us on our way.
This year the weather for both Field Day
weekends was ideal. In October the Army had
an excellent overnight exercise at Merryfield,
with the 6th form NCOs leading stances for the
4th form and 5th form cadre, learning about
bivouacking and section attacks. The Royal
Marine section completed a survival exercise,
testing their new recruits to the full, while the
Royal Naval section camped and sailed at
Wimbleball. The Chindits were either
pioneering and orienteering on the Quantocks
or testing out the high ropes course and raft
racing at Cobb's Cross Farm. In May the 6th
form Royal Marines were taken on section
Aluredian
22
Fleur Netley and Charles
Morris, our two Lord
Lieutenant Cadets