SARAH'S MISSION: TO TRACK DOWN OLD COLLEAGUES

After two decades, cadets reunite to honour commander.

The daughter of Ian Philpott, former Contingent Commander of Dover Grammar School for Boys’ Combined Cadet Force, Sarah has spent the last year tracking down officers and cadets to reunite them 20 years on.

The celebration is to be held in Manston on Saturday, October 15, and she is still keen to find a few more who were at the school from 1985 to 1992 during which time the CCF was also open to students from the Girls’ Grammar School and Astor Secondary School.

Many of these cadets went on to serve in the Armed Forces and some of them have reached high ranking positions,” said Sarah.

“Ian Clarke is just one example, a former cadet who is now the Commanding Officer of HMS Diamond, the Navy’s newest Warship, and there are many more to add.”

She came up with the idea of a reunion a year ago when her father, who was a Wing Commander, revealed how running the CCF was the highlight of his career.

“That took me by surprise because he had served in the RAF Regiment for 25 years.

So to pick out the CCF as the highlight I thought was really saying something very special about all the officers and cadets who were involved. I thought that the most perfect present I could give my father was to reunite all of those people.”

Invited guests include the former headmaster Reg Colman, and former Officers Chris Dawson, Mike Thomas, Barry Johns, Dick Hoeren, John Middleton, Wendy Wilkins and Paul Barnes.

Perfect

“I only told my father what I’d been up to a couple of months ago as a surprise and he is so excited to see everyone again.”

Anyone who would like to attend the reunion should e-mail Sarah at sarahphilpottl9@hotmail.com or all 07929 273707.

Tickets cost £19.00 and any excess funds will be donated to Help For Heroes.

People that Sarah is still particularly keen to hear from are former teacher Kevin Raine, and former cadets Nick Charnock, John Ashbee, Mike O’Neil, Ian Corbishley, Paul O’Flaherty, Matthew Peall, Jeremy Carter, Robin File, Edward Kembery, S Osmond, Roger Watson, Bob Bale, Rodney Dempster, Colin Smith, Carl Waite, Stuart Disbury, Damian Watts, Keith Betts, Allan Maxted, F McBride, Richard Pascoe, Simon Pateman, Ashley Baker, Chris Beeson, Mark Crawford, Julian Crush, Sarah Leggett (nee Beadle), Clair Palmer (nee Tyrrell), Nikki Webb, Mark Osborne, James Thomson, John Bucket, Stuart Folwell, Jonathon Toddhunter, Danny Moore and Garry Moore.