Cardiff school takes part in national RAF centenary celebrations

Aircraftsman Terence Cadogan, of No. 614 Squadron Royal Air Force, and Willows High School, Cardiff, took part in the UK-wide RAF100 celebrations.

Aircraftman Cadogan, a reservist and former pupil at the school, bought the RAF100 Baton to Willows High School to present it to Year 7 students – the next generation of The Royal Air Force (RAF).

The RAF is marking 100 years of Service with the RAF100 celebrations – 100 days of events, activities and other initiatives running nationwide from April to the end of September 2018. The RAF100 Baton Relay is taking the campaign to communities in every region of the UK, carried by 20 RAF sports associations, serving RAF personnel, reservists such as Aircraftsman Cadogan, RAF Air Cadets and veterans.

The event also commemorated the significant history the RAF has with Cardiff and Willows school. The school is built on the former site of RAF Pengam Moors which is where No. 614 Squadron (County of Glamorgan) was founded in 1937. The school is also named after Cardiff aviation pioneer Ernest Willows, who built and flew an airship from the site of the school in 1905 and was the first man to fly an airship from England to France.

The day acted as a prelude to the RAF100 Aircraft Tour, launching in Cardiff on 18-20 May. The tour will include a range of aircraft covering the RAF’s history, from WW1, to WW2, to the Cold War, to the modern age.

Aircraftsman Terence Cadogan, said:

“It is an absolute honour to be a part of the RAF100 Baton Relay. I hope coming back to my old school gives the current students a sense of the world-class training and opportunities that I personally have benefitted from. The RAF is a fantastic place for young people to kick start their career.”

Andy Cole, Teacher at Willows High School who taught Aircraftsman Cadogan when he attended, said:

“Our school is intrinsically linked to the history of the RAF in Cardiff, and to 614 Squadron. As a serving reservist in 614, Terence is a wonderful example to our pupils of someone who is fulfilling their potential, gaining fantastic experiences and building a first-class career. As a school we are immensely proud of him.”

Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, Chief of the Air Staff, RAF, said:

“In our 100th year we want to showcase the vital role the RAF continues to play in defending the British people and protecting our nation’s interests. Launched on April 1, the celebrations are a fitting recognition and thank you to the exceptional dedication, spirit and achievements of our men and women. They also encourage us to look to the future: the greatest legacy of RAF100 will be its ability to inspire a whole new generation so that together we can help shape our next century.”