Pudsey Air Cadets from 2387 (Pudsey Squadron) have raised a staggering £5173.70 for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal 2009.  The cadets worked hard organising sponsored events, a bag packing session at Pudsey M&S as well as working at the Penny Bazaar alongside some of our Veterans who gave hours collecting for the Appeal.

Andy McNab ventures into children’s fiction with Drop Zone, a story about 17 year old Ethan Blake, who’s dead-end existence is changed forever when he sees someone base jump from the top of the block of flats he lives in with his mother, sister and hard drinking father.

Heckmondwike RAFA club played host to a very special occasion on Friday 29th January, when the Air Cadets of 2490 (Spen Valley) Squadron celebrated a presentation evening. This event, which had been resurrected after an absence of many years, involved the cadets of the squadron being presented with various awards and certificates they had achieved in recent months.

Attendance at the annual presentation parade of Yeadon Air Cadets twin squadron in New Zealand was only one of many highlights in a six week tour of New Zealand and Japan by Dr. Peter Isherwood, Media Communications Officer with the Yeadon Squadron.

The Commanding officer of a local Air Cadet squadron is on cloud nine after reaching the dizzy heights of Flight Lieutenant. Kellyann Martin, of 2490 (Spen Valley) Squadron was ecstatic to be promoted to the senior rank after attending the Officer’s Senior Course at RAF Cranwell, home of Headquarters Air Cadets.

A local air cadet leader is stepping down after ten years of community work. Flight Lieutenant Will Close-Ash from Wallsend is handing over command of 346 (Tynemouth) Squadron after ten years as the commanding officer. Will is the second longest serving commanding officer at Tynemouth, since the formation of the Squadron in 1941.

Goole Air Cadets received a funds boost recently when prospective town MP Andrew Percy handed over £340 to the Air Cadet Squadron. The money had been raised by the local politician at a recent dinner attended by the Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague MP. He then attended a parade evening at squadron where he presented a cheque to the squadron.

362 (Elm Tree) Squadron on their annual Christmas walk; this year the walk took them on a route around Castleton area. Starting in Castleton they ventured up to Loose Hill, across the ridge to Hollins Cross, and up to Mam Tor trig point

2490 (Spen Valley) Squadron of the Air Training Corps hosted a Festive Celebration recently, bringing a little Christmas cheer to all the people who have assisted them this year, as a thank you for their support. Cadets served up mince pies and cream, tea, coffee, sherry and mulled wine to their guests, who included their parents, several members of the Air Cadet Organisation from South and West Yorkshire Wing.

North Region is finishing 2009 on a high by collecting their third top national award in three weeks. Following success in the National Band Competition and the Netball Championships, North Regions Media Team have been recognised in the 2009 National Media and Communications Awards taking four of the twelve trophies including the Mike Cross trophy for the Best Region and another three finalist nominations in the other categories.