Frome have just been named ‘Top Platoon’ within the Somerset Cadet Battalion (The Rifles), Army Cadet Force and secured the much coveted Lucas Tooth Shield for this year.
Their victory was announced at a presentation afternoon on Thursday 18th August at Lydd, Kent where the Somerset Cadet Battalion held their annual two-week summer camp.
The Lucas Tooth competition is the major contest for the county and all 32 Somerset Army Cadet Force Platoons take part over a 12 month period. Despite a busy Silver Bugle Band programme, Frome were still assessed as the most successful platoon participating in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme, and they achieved the best overall number of star passes in the cadet training curriculum. Just to put the icing on the cake the cadets’ home company, Normandy, also took top honours!
Colonel Paul Richardson, commandant of the Somerset Cadet Battalion (The Rifles), Army Cadet Force handed Frome Platoon the huge Lucas Tooth Shield at an awards ceremony marking the end of this year’s annual camp.
The platoon received rapturous applause from their 372 fellow cadets, 37 officers and 91 adult instructors who were present at Lydd. Cadet bugle major Paige Starr was also rewarded with a Commandant’s Red Lanyard.
Frome platoon commander, captain Martyn Day, was clearly delighted with his cadets’ performance. He said, “This is fantastic recognition for the Frome cadets. They have worked extremely hard over the past year in every aspect of the army cadet syllabus, as well as meeting a demanding schedule of Band engagements. I am incredibly proud of them.”
The Silver Bugles, Band of Somerset Cadet Battalion (The Rifles), Army Cadet Force will be playing in the Military Tattoo at Montacute House on Tuesday 6th September.
