Combined Cadet Force Opening Ceremony At Wakefield-Based Academy
A secondary academy in Wakefield has held the opening ceremony for its Combined Cadet Force (CCF), sponsored by the Ministry of Defence.
The parade held to mark the opening of the CCF at Outwood Grange Academy, based on Potovens Lane, was well-attended by local figures, including Andrea Jenkyns MP.
Also in attendance were members of the Royal Navy, including Commander Jonathan Hodgkins MA Royal Navy - Commanding Officer CCF RN-RM. Commander Hodgkins has served his country across the globe including in the Falklands, the Persian Gulf, and Iraq.
As part of the event, the cadets were addressed by Commander Hodgkins prior to the presentation of the Outwood Grange Academy CCF plaque.
Lee Woods, Assistant Principal at Outwood Grange Academy and Contingent Commander, said:
“The opening ceremony marks a major milestone for us at Outwood. Setting up the CCF has been a personal ambition of mine for many years and to see it running with the cadets in uniform learning, leading and honing key values and standards makes me so proud of the work they, the SSI and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers do, every week.”
As part of the opening ceremony, the cadets took part in a parade prior to speeches by Brian Kelly, Principal at Outwood Grange Academy, Lee Woods, and Commander Hodgkins.
There was further cause for celebration as well as Key Cadets were promoted before the close of the ceremony.
Mr Kelly added:
“All of us at the Outwood Family are thrilled that the opening ceremony was a success and we are excited for the future of our academy’s CCF. At Outwood we believe in putting students first and for us this goes beyond the classroom. We want to do all we can to help our students become good citizens, not just good students.”
There is plenty for the Outwood Grange Academy CCF to look forward to as over the coming months they will undertake powerboat and dinghy training at Southport and also attend HMS Bristol Summer Camp in June. The weekly CCF Parade Night will take place on Wednesdays, between 2:30pm and 4:30pm.