NORTHERN IRELAND CADETS MAKE THEIR MARK ON LONDON

A group of Cadets from Ballygowan and Donaghadee Detachments of the 2nd (Northern Ireland) Battalion Army Cadet Force had the experience of a lifetime when they travelled to London to take part in the Irish Guards Saint Patrick’s Day Parade:

Departing on Friday the 13th may have seemed unlucky to some but for us our luck was well and truly in as we set off on a fun-filled four days in London.  We enjoyed a wide range of visits and activities all planned and organised by our dedicated Instructors…from a speed boat tour of the river Thames to a spin on the London Eye.

On Saturday we had the rare privilege of making a visit to 10 Downing Street where we were able to pose for a group photo outside the famous door.  

Sunday involved a day out to Thorpe Park before daring ourselves to go on a nighttime ghost bus tour of London.  

On Monday we travelled to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire where we enjoyed a tour of the RAFs largest base and the Hercules aircraft based there, as well as seeing first hand some of the many jobs and roles that the RAF has to offer.

Tuesday was an early start as we made our way to Aldershot to take part in the Saint Patrick’s Day parade with our sponsor regiment the Irish Guards.  The Mini Micks (as Irish Guard cadets are affectionately known) had the honor of marching on parade with the Micks and receiving our Shamrock in front of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.  After the parade 4 cadets from the group had the privilege of a very special meeting with both the Duke and Duchess who were very interested in hearing what the ACF is all about and everything we had been getting up to on our trip.