Rejoicing in Ripon: A record day as Ripon blows its horn for Air Cadets’ 85th anniversary celebrations
More than 600 air cadets from across central and east Yorkshire gathered in Ripon this afternoon to mark a very special celebration.
In a place proud of its rich military history 🎖️— and where the Royal Engineers have enjoyed Freedom of the City since 1949 — it was time to honour another milestone. Young people aged 12 to 18, many with ambitions to serve in the RAF 🇬🇧, paraded through our ancient streets after attending a service at a packed Ripon Cathedral ⛪.
The parade, led by an Air Training Corps band 🥁 and including high-ranking RAF officers, cathedral clergy, and civic dignitaries, is believed by organisers to be the largest military‑associated march ever held in peacetime Ripon 🚶♂️🚶♀️🚶♂️.
Many attendees will have seen the medieval gem just a week earlier, when BBC One 📺 broadcast the Easter Day Festal Eucharist live from the building whose roots stretch back to AD 672.
A proud day for Wayne Cobbett 🎖️🎺
Among the organisers was Wayne Cobbett, commanding officer of the 886 (City of Ripon) Squadron — and it was a particularly proud moment for him.
In 2004, as a Cadet Corporal, Wayne designed the squadron’s crest featuring Ripon’s iconic horn 📯, and in 2014 he became one of the city’s four hornblowers.
He told Tim Flanagan of the Rejoicing in Ripon blog:
“We are currently at full capacity and we hope that the fine group of 50 male and female cadets who attend our twice-weekly parade nights will be able to see their dreams come to fruition.”
History of the Air Training Corps ✈️📘
On 5 February 1941 — less than a year after the Battle of Britain raged in the skies over southern England and the East Coast — the Air Defence Cadet Corps became the Air Training Corps (ATC).
The new organisation, whose vital wartime role was to train young men to become pilots and air crew 🛩️, was granted a Royal Warrant by King George VI, the first Air-Commodore-in-Chief 👑.
Wayne Cobbett, the commanding officer of 886 (City of RIpon Squadron) of the ATC pictured this afternoon at a packed Ripon Cathedral
More than 600 Air Cadets attended today’s record-breaking event.
Hornblower Adrian (Gunner) Mardon leads the civic party.
Cadets stand in line as they get ready to take their place in the parade.
