HONOURS FOR LONDONDERRY CADETS

Three local teenagers have been honoured with appointments to serve as Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenants’ Cadets.   

Katie Hargan and Joshua Durnin, both committed and enthusiastic members of highly successful Cadet Detachment of Lisneal College, will step into largely ceremonial year-long roles, with Katie attending Dr Angela Garvey, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for the City of Londonderry, and Joshua supporting Mrs Alison Millar, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for the County of Londonderry on major civic occasions.  Their appointments were confirmed at a suitably socially distanced ceremony at which each received a commemorative certificate and the special insignia which Lord Lieutenants’ Cadets are entitled to wear on their uniform throughout the year in office.

The same ceremony marked the completion of a highly unusual year in office as Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet for the City of Londonderry by Cadet Sergeant Ryan Dunn, a leading member of the Newbuildings Cadet Detachment.  When he was honoured last year with the appointment he envisaged twelve months of civic occasions and a packed diary, but changing world circumstances meant that  Ryan found himself stepping up to the unique challenge of a year defined by pandemic.

Civic occasions may have been dramatically curtailed in 2020/21 but, brim-full of enthusiasm and commitment, Ryan nevertheless made the most of his year in office and his contribution to the Cadet movement during difficult times earned particular praise from Dr Angela Garvey at the conclusion of what proved to be a highly unusual year in office.
A highly motivated and hard-working cadet, who is involved in every part of the cadet syllabus, including military skills, Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s award, regional and national sports, Ryan was recently recognized as one of the top students on his 3 Star Senior Cadet Course and has just completed a Cadet Leadership Course in Frimley Park, alongside cadets from across the United Kingdom. Completing his Junior Cadet Instructor’s Cadre has given him the ability to impart his knowledge and experience onto his junior cadets and can only serve to cement his position as a respected and popular roile model for younger Cadets to emulate.

Outwith Cadets, Ryan enjoys football and working on his fitness and personal development. He is involved in charity work which has already seen him completing a project in America and plans, when Covid restrictions are lifted, to travel to Africa to help build houses. 

In the Citation which accompanies her honour, teenager Katie Horgan is praised for the many qualities which combine to make her an exceptional Cadet and a capable Cadet Lance Sergeant.

Since joining the ACF, she has shown strong determination, excelling not only in the core Cadet core syllabus, but also in a wide array of sports, representing her Battalion at Football, Hockey, Cross-Country and Orienteering.  Katie’s outstanding all-round skills led to her selection for a national Cadet Exercise in Kenya in 2019. Ever ready to support her Detachment Commander who relies on her maturity, studiousness turn-out and all-round example to inspire and lead her juniors, Cadet Lance Sergeant Hargan shows great commitment to the Cadet movement and all those around her.

Cadet Lance Sergeant Joshua Durnin’s award Citation pays tribute to him as ‘a  highly diligent, capable, and pleasant young man …. smart and eloquent … in terms of his commitment, dedication and performance he is head and shoulders above his peers, not least in bearing and turn out.’

Joshua relishes and excels in the leadership roles he has earned and his passion, zeal and willingness to learn are all reflected in his many qualifications and in the achievements of the teams he has led. His strong interpersonal skills are praised alongside his good-humoured enthusiasm, all of which are felt throughout his detachment. 

More widely, Joshua has a great passion for volunteering and charity fundraising.  He volunteers for CRS Emergency Blood Bikes, and helps in moving essential blood and medical supplies between hospitals and other healthcare sites as well as delivering baby milk for premature babies to hospitals. 

Displaying the certificate which accompanies his appointment, Joshua is pictured with his proud father,  Denis, alongside Mrs Alison Millar, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for the County of Londonderry.

Katie is pictured with her proud parents, David and Lorna and Dr Angela Garvey, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for the City of Londonderry.  

Outgoing Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet Ryan Dunn, backed by his dad, David, is pictured with Dr Angela Garvey, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for the City of Londonderry,   

Katie and Joshua are already looking forward to a busy year ahead as Covid restrictions ease, while Ryan is delighted to be supporing the return to normality at  Newbuildings Detachment.