ARMY cadet groups in Heston celebrated a double success last week.
Members of 192 Heston Cadets received the Greater London Army Cadet Force Citizenship Award for their work in the community.
And the leader of the Vicarage Farm Road-based detachment, Lieutenant Priscilla Ledlie, was named most outstanding commander in north-west London.
Their achievements were celebrated at last Tuesday’s borough council meeting.
During the past year, Heston Cadets have helped restore a dilapidated owl rescue centre and sent hundreds of food parcels to troops in Afghanistan, among other good deeds.
Congratulating them on their success, Councillor Paul Lynch – who is Hounslow’s representative on the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association (RFCA) for Greater London –told how they had adopted an eagle owl from the rescue centre as their unit mascot.
“That owl later despatched a fox which had broken in to menace the smaller birds, and that is the spirit of 192 detachment,” he said.
Youngsters from Heston Cadets gave up 10 weekends last year to build new aviaries and paint and decorate Heathrow Owl Rescue Centre, which had fallen into disrepair.
They also sent more than 200 parcels to forces in Afghanistan and, more recently, collected donations of £9,000 on just one day to pay for a further 800 parcels.
Ms Ledlie, who is year 10 manager at Cranford Community School, said she was thrilled with her award, which she dedicated to the ‘great adult team’ at Heston.
One of her colleagues at Hounslow Cadets, Captain Karlton Hill, was last month honoured for having dedicated nearly 40 years to the voluntary youth organisation.
The father-of-three, who received the Greater London RFCA certificate for meritorious service, joined
the organisation as a boy in 1977.
He enjoyed it so much, representing London at athletics, cross-country and swimming, and has notched up 36 years helping to ensure young people can benefit from the same opportunities.
His detachment, 194 Hounslow Cadets, is based in Hanworth Road, Hounslow.
