CCF: Difference between revisions
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''From a report by [[A Laver]] (6A2)'' | ''From a report by [[A Laver]] (6A2)'' | ||
This year sadly bore witness to the decline and subsequent disbanding of the Army Section; this is the first time the school has been without one section since 1941. When, two years ago, the cry went out for a new officer, Captain Hall - a parent of a boy at the school - very kindly stepped in to take charge of a very demoralised section, and despite all his efforts which should be praised, [[Paul | This year sadly bore witness to the decline and subsequent disbanding of the Army Section; this is the first time the school has been without one section since 1941. When, two years ago, the cry went out for a new officer, Captain Hall - a parent of a boy at the school - very kindly stepped in to take charge of a very demoralised section, and despite all his efforts which should be praised, [[Paul Van-Tam|Mr Van-Tam]], new to the CCF, and in charge of two sections, was beginning to feel the pressures. | ||
Since then, the section has been slowly but surely finding its feet again, building new contacts and new enthusiasm... | Since then, the section has been slowly but surely finding its feet again, building new contacts and new enthusiasm... | ||
Revision as of 17:18, 7 December 2020
The CCF (Combined Cadet Force) was an organisation for military cadets in three "sections": Navy, Army and Air Force.
Early days
Immediately after the Air Ministry announced the launching of the Air Training Corps, Boston Grammar School formed its own flight, with Herbert Matthew Dickson in command. The first parade was held on the 25th February 1941, when forty five cadets were enrolled and training began. The flight was upgraded to squadron in 1943.
Closure
The CCF ceased to exist in 1980. The following excerpts from reports in the 1980 issue of the Bostonian explain further.
Army Section
From a report by A Laver (6A2)
This year sadly bore witness to the decline and subsequent disbanding of the Army Section; this is the first time the school has been without one section since 1941. When, two years ago, the cry went out for a new officer, Captain Hall - a parent of a boy at the school - very kindly stepped in to take charge of a very demoralised section, and despite all his efforts which should be praised, Mr Van-Tam, new to the CCF, and in charge of two sections, was beginning to feel the pressures.
Since then, the section has been slowly but surely finding its feet again, building new contacts and new enthusiasm...
Returning to school, at the beginning of term, we became aware that the fight to save the CCF was on. Despite continual pleas for a resident officer from Mr Van-Tam, a negative response ensured that the CCF was doomed to failure, and very sadly did we part company.
After such a long-standing tradition an institution almost, it seems a pity that boys will no longer be given the chance to experience the benefits and enjoyment which can be had from the CCF.
However, all is not lost, as they say, and with a little less apathy and a bit more thought from the boys, the CCF could again be the pride of Boston Grammar School. It's up to you!
But for the moment, the loss of a very worthwhile activity, a sad loss to what should be of those concerned - parents, teachers as well as boys - will have to be accepted.
RAF Section
From a report by Flt Sgt Kevin Desforges
...The general day-to-day running of the Section took a turn for the better when Pilot Officer Fluck joined the ranks as CO, linking in an organisational capacity to form a formidable team with Sgt Hinson. On behalf of the Section, I would like to express my sincere thanks to both PO Fluck and Sgt Hinson for all their time and effort they have devoted to the Section, and also to Warrant Officer Neil.
I regret however that the fruits of their labour cannot be reaped by successive potential cadets. This is due to the unpopular order from high authority to disband the Section, owing to the rarity of that scarce breed - the CCF officer recruited from the ranks of the staff room.
This marks the end of an era which has played an important part in the lives of numerous BGS pupils, past and present. The days of the BGS CCF are over; the "Last Post" has sounded - is there any hope of a "Reveille"?
From a report by L/S R Boreham
Just before the Armistice parade, the CCF suffered a heavy blow by losing the Army Section - the reason being that it did not have an officer in charge on the school staff. Soon afterwards, the combination of education cuts and a new post for Mr Van-Tam as head of the Maths Department at a Lincoln Comprehensive, meant that a growing and enthusiastic Naval Section lost its officer in charge, as did the CCF as a whole, and so the Naval Section (and apparently the CCF despite the efforts of Miss Fluck of the RAF Section) closed down.
This is a great pity, as the hard work and determination of Mr Van-Tam concerning something that he genuinely believed to be a good thing for the boys, does not deserve to come to nothing. It seems a shame that of all the clubs and societies, the CCF "club" should be allowed to die, considering the benefits and useful experiences in leadership and discipline that can be gained from it, just because there is no-one on the school staff willing to take in the work-load that Messrs Hall and Van-Tam have had to relinquish.
I feel the school has lost a very great asset to its extra-curricula (sic) activities, and in view of the Defence cuts, I see no hope of it regaining the CCF.