Ben was appointed Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadet for Lancashire, one of the highest honours a cadet can achieve. The accolade means Ben will hold the position of Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadet from September this year, assisting the Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire during formal duties including Royal visits to the County. The presentation was made by the Lord Shuttleworth KCVO, Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for Lancashire, during a ceremony held at Towneley Hall.
Ben, who is Cadet Sergeant, joined the Army Cadets in 2012. He’s attended a number of Camps, learning skills such as First Aid, discipline, drill and fitness. Last summer he travelled to France and Belgium with a group of cadets for a Battlefield Tour marking the centenary of the First World War. Because of his success as a cadet, Ben has applied to and recently been accepted by Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College to study maths, physics and engineering with a view to becoming an officer in the Royal Engineers. Later this year Ben will travel to Canada for six weeks with other cadets as part of an exchange with the Canadian Army.
Ben said: ‘I’m overwhelmed and very proud to have been given this appointment. My Grandad, who recently passed away, would have bust with pride at the achievements he encouraged me to pursue.’
Colonel Mark Underhill, Chief Executive of the North West of England and the Isle of Man Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association (NW RFCA) which runs the awards, said: ‘Sergeant Wilson embodies the ethos of the Cadet movement, excelling through the opportunities available to him while giving something back to his community.
‘The Cadet movement offers unparalleled opportunities for young people in our region to learn, grow and excel. We must ensure that these opportunities continue to be accessible to young people from all backgrounds, and this is only possible with the support of the dedicated Adult Volunteers who deliver the quality experiences, adventure and community projects our cadets enjoy. We would love to hear from people willing to offer their time and enthusiasm to join the ranks of the region’s Adult Instructors – no military experience is needed and full training is provided.’
Ben’s College Leader, Mr Penney, said: “We are hugely proud of Ben’s achievements. He is a credit to his family and an excellent role model for the students at Carr Hill. Ben has worked incredibly hard this year and, as the Juno Junior College Leader, he continues to make a positive difference at the school. It is great to see that Ben is also excelling outside of school and working towards his goal of becoming an officer. I have no doubt that Ben has a very bright future ahead.”
For more information about the Cadet movement, or to enquire about becoming a cadet or an Adult Volunteer, visit the NW RFCA website at www.nwrfca.org.uk
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