THE ROYAL SCHOOL ARMAGH CELEBRATES 100 YEARS OF ITS COMBINED CADET FORCE.

HRH Duke of York pays a special visit to the Royal School, Armagh as they mark the school’s Combined Cadet Force (CCF) unit’s centenary celebrations.

Established in 1916, The Royal School is one of five schools across Northern Ireland which currently operate  cadet units. 100 years later the CCF is still going strong with appropriately 100 pupils volunteering to part of the Navy, Army and Air Force sections. To mark the centenary, Prince Andrew unveiled a special commemorative stone in the school grounds to celebrate the milestone. 

The Prince arrived on helicopter with the whole contingent on parade, awaiting his arrival (pictured above left). The Royal Irish Regiment’s wolfhound Brian Boru was also there in his finery to welcome Prince Andrew.

The pupils were keen to show the prince what they got up to and how the CCF had helped them achieve and grow. 

Pictured above chatting to Prince Andrew is Cadet Corporal Faith Hay (15) and Contingent Commander and school teacher Major Ruth McDowell. Faith has been piping with the cadets for 4 years.

Pictured above left, Cadet Corporal Matthew Currie and Cadet Alexandra Lee had the honour of presenting HRH with a gift on behalf of the CCF. 

Pictured above right, The Prince meets the Headmaster, Mr Paul Crute and the school Bursar.

Pictured above right, definitely enjoying the day, CCF Commander Major Ruth McDowell with a very friendly Brian Boru and his handler along with Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant (HMLL) Cadet Laura Hampton.

Pictured above left, with the commemorative stone as a lasting reminder of the visit, Air Cadet Sergeant Mark Wilson, Cadet Sergeant Rachel Martin, Major Ruth McDowell and HMLL Cadet Laura Hampton, representing the three services in the contingent.