A Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, a former Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major and three Cadets have been formally praised for their outstanding contribution to their local units by the Lord-Lieutenant for Dumfries.
The ceremony, hosted at The Usual Place café on Thursday 11 July, saw recipients receive their Certificates of Meritorious Service from the Lord-Lieutenant for Dumfries Fiona Armstrong, Lady MacGregor.
The annual Lord-Lieutenants’ Certificates of Meritorious Service Awards for Reservists, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs) and the appointment of Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets are recognised as highly coveted honours throughout the Defence community.
Fiona Armstrong, who is His Majesty The King’s personal representative for the Lieutenancy of Dumfries, signed and presented each certificate to thank the recipients for their outstanding work within their units and the wider Dumfries community.
During her welcome address Ms Armstrong said: ’Tonight’s award ceremony celebrates the significant commitment of the adult volunteers who supervise the Cadet Forces and their positive impact on young people within Dumfriesshire.
‘As instructors, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers are making a real difference to young people; a difference which brings great positivity to their lives and enables them to achieve great success in later life.’
Major Stuart Gray, an adult volunteer from West Lowland Battalion Army Cadet Force, received his Certificate of Meritorious Service in recognition of his tireless and exceptional work both as a Linked Detachment Instructor at Moffat Academy and North West Community Campus, and as Company Commander of the Battalion’s local Minden Company.
An award was also presented for former Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) Leah Flett, acknowledging her incredible efforts in maintaining Cadet engagement throughout the COVID-19 lockdown. As she is currently in the United States, Leah’s certificate was collected on her behalf by her father, Lieutenant Gary Flett, who is also the Area Commander for West Lowland’s Minden Company.
‘I’m always proud of my kids and their achievements,’ said Lieutenant Flett following the awards presentation, ‘but to be here and to accept this prestigious award for my daughter is a wonderful moment for me.
‘I know Leah worked really hard throughout her time in the Army Cadets and she couldn’t deserve this award more.’
The Dumfries award ceremony also celebrated the appointment of three Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets from the past two years, who are responsible for assisting the Lord-Lieutenant in her official duties as a representative of the King.
Sergeant Elliot Brydon-Brown and Corporal Callum Rawlings of West Lowland Battalion, and Sergeant Matthew Walters of 2329 (Castle Douglas) Squadron RAF Air Cadets, received glowing praise from Ms Armstrong for their immaculate uniforms and exceptional behaviour in the performance of their roles.
The awards ceremony concluded with the presentation of two Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Awards to local Forces-friendly organisations. The first was a Bronze Award for The Veterans Garden, a therapeutic community gardening organisation providing a safe and relaxing space for current and former Armed Forces personnel and their families.
The second ERS Award of the night was a Gold revalidation for Dumfries and Galloway Council, who have consistently served as a leading example of how a local authority can support its Armed Forces community for many years.
Both employers received their awards from Colonel Alan Middleton MBE, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Defence.
In his address to the attendees, Colonel Middleton echoed the Lord-Lieutenant’s sentiments on the incredible value that Cadet Force Adult Volunteers and the Cadet Forces as a whole bring to their local communities, and thanked the employers who have pledged their support for the wider Armed Forces community by signing the Armed Forces Covenant and getting involved with the Employer Recognition Scheme.
‘What our Reservists and adult volunteers all have in common is the understanding and the support they need from their employers,’ said Colonel Middleton. ‘We fully recognise that “our people” are also “your people”: you train them, manage them and care for them, and when we “borrow” them for mobilisation, training or annual camps, we give you back an employee with enhanced skills and abilities such as First Aid, health and safety, management and leadership.
‘Defence of the Nation and the UK’s interests abroad is a shared endeavour – service personnel readily do their bit, and we are greatly encouraged that their employers support their efforts. We continue to work hard to improve and develop our relationship with you, and we thank you for all you have done and continue to do as part of that relationship.’
