Yesterday evening (19 October 2021) saw the annual SERFCA Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire awards ceremony, which was held at the St Swithun’s School in Winchester, and saw more than 20 people handed a prestigious honour, including two of our very own. Representatives from the Volunteer Cadet Corps were delighted to be in attendance, celebrating the achievements of all involved.
The ceremony saw Cadet WO2 William Weaver of Portsmouth Division RMVCC, being appointed Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet 2021/22 and Mrs Christine Spratt, having recently retired from Portsmouth Division RMVCC after over 36 years of service as a non-uniformed support staff receiving the Lord Lieutenant Meritorious Service Award.
Captain (VCC) Louis Colpitts, Executive Officer (Support) said “It was a pleasure to attend the SERFCA Hampshire Lord-Lieutenants Awards last night, the achievements of the adult volunteers, cadets, reservists and those who support them was uplifting and inspiring. To have two members of the VCC to be presented with awards this evening, makes me immensely proud of their achievements and I look forward to working closely with the Lord Lieutenant and South East RFCA to not only recognise the efforts but to also enhance both the Cadet and Adult Volunteer experience in the future”
Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant’s Awards are presented to members of the reserve forces and cadet organisations of the British armed forces each year and the honours are recognised throughout the Ministry of Defence. The Lord Lieutenant Meritorious Service Award is used to reward long service of high quality and value, periods of intense and exceptional output in support of units and to recognise service to the community. In all cases, recipients must be seen, among their peers and within the communities in which they live and serve, to show outstanding examples of leadership, commitment, innovation and enduring performance in post.
Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenants’ Certificate for Meritorious Service are only one step below national Her Majesty The Queen’s honours.
During this year’s ceremony, Hampshire’s Lord Lieutenant, Nigel Atkinson Esq, presented 14 Meritorious Service Certificates, appointed 5 Lord Lieutenant Cadets, presented a 3rd clasp to the Cadet Force Medal for 30 years service and awarded the Mabway Best Reservist Award across the Combined Cadet Forces, Community Cadet Forces and Reserve Forces.
The Volunteer Cadet Corps are delighted to share the citations of our awards winners below:
Cadet Warrant Officer Second Class William Weaver, appointed Lord Lieutenant Cadet 2021/22
Cadet WO2 Weaver joined Portsmouth Division RMVCC at age 10, fully embracing our activities and has been committed ever since. Intelligent, mature and articulate, William has thrived in adapting to the added responsibility that has come with advancement through the ranks.
Calm and controlled, his relaxed demeanour masks a determined and enthusiastic approach to activities. A team orientated cadet SNCO, he enjoys the complete support of his superiors who trust and respect his judgement as well as the respect of juniors to whom he is a role model. These excellent attributes, allied with a sound sense of core values, allow him to provide invaluable coaching and mentoring. He is always on hand to support cadets regardless of their age or knowledge.
His attendance is exemplary on Weekend Field Exercises, Summer Camps, Parades and Ceremonial events, where he sets the highest of standards.
He is ambitious, receptive to new ideas, and yearns to improve his performance and development. Indeed, William is currently working towards his Silver DofE Award. Passionate and well-motivated, he is a smart and eloquent ambassador for the Volunteer Cadet Corps.
Mrs Christine Spratt, recipient of the 2021 Lord Lieutenant Meritorious Service Award
Over the last 36 years that Mrs Spratt has been volunteering with Portsmouth Division RMVCC, she has been a prolific advocate of the organisation, dedicating her space time to mentor and support the cadets. Having first become involved as a committee member of the unit’s Parents’ Association in 1984, Mrs Spratt joined as a non-uniformed support staff member in 1987. In this role she attended numerous summer camps acting as a ‘hut mum’ (welfare support) and then a galley assistant, where one of her jobs was making 150 sandwiches every day. She then took up a role in the Clothing Store, not just fitting and issuing unform but also repairing and washing kit. Latterly, she has been responsible for running the unit’s Tuck Shop, often standing for hours in a freezing cold drill shed on cadet nights providing much needed refreshments to cadets and adult volunteers. Mrs Spratt has also provided catering during ceremonial parades and attended fund raising events.
Mrs Spratt’s contributions have made a powerful and lasting impression, making a difference to thousands of cadets’ lives across our communities. She has gone above and beyond the normal four hours a week of which we ask of our volunteers.
