Ramsbottom Detachment
Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force
Sent in by Craig Grice GMACF & Rochdale Branch Fusiliers
Association
On Saturday the 12th May 2012 Ramsbottom Detachment GMACF
held their first presentation dinner at the Fusiliers Museum
Bury. To mark the beginning of this annual event a special
trophy was commissioned and inscribed 'The Francis Arthur
Jefferson VC' Memorial cup, which will be presented to the
best cadet of the year.
Mike & Bill Jefferson, relatives of Francis were contacted
and asked if they would attend this first dinner as guests
of honour, which they gladly accepted. All the planning
was now in place for the cadet presentation dinner.
Mike & Bill were picked up from there hotel and driven
to the museum for a champagne or orange juice reception.
A tour of the museum was then taken with particular interest
in the Jefferson section.
All the guests and cadets arrived to a meet and greet in
the Normandy room. As dinner was announced, they went up
to the Gallipoli room to be greeted by the Cadet piper,
who then piped in the top table and guests.
After grace given by Cadet Sgt Kelly a home made soup was
served, then Mr Van-Hecke read the citation for Francis
Jefferson and then the piper played again. We were then
served a fabulous chicken dinner after which Mr Cheetham
read out the order of the day from the 2nd btn Lancashire
Fusiliers dated 1944, and again the piper played. The dessert
was then served and the loyal toast and a toast to the colonel
in chief was given by Cadet L/Cpl Duckworth.
After a five minute comfort break it was time for the speeches
and presentations. Lieutenant Kennerley, detachment commander
for Ramsbottom got things underway, Mike & Bill Jefferson
were invited to present the awards, and the first presentation
went to the outstanding cadet of 2011/12 - this was awarded
to Cadet Lancashire.
The next award was for runner up cadet of the year, went
to Cadet L/Cpl Duckworth who was presented with a certificate
of merit.
The winner of the first Ramsbottom Detachment 'Francis Arthur
Jefferson VC' memorial trophy was announced as Cadet A-L/Cpl
Ballantyne, who collected his certificate and trophy from
Mike & Bill to rapturous applause.
The trophy has been engraved with his name and will be kept
in the Detachment on show until next year's presentation.
The top table were then invited back to the Normandy room
for coffee followed by the rest of the guests & cadets
to be met there by the piper who entertained us.
This was a successful night and thanks go out to Mike &
Bill Jefferson for attending, Ramsbottom Detachment staff
for all their hard work in organising the event and to The
Fusilier Museum staff who made this night so special for
us. Last but by no means least thanks to all the Cadets
for their all year round hard work and commitment.
|
|
|