STAFF members at one of the North’s leading Combined Cadet Forces (CCF) are celebrating a series of significant promotions made by the Ministry of Defence.
Caroline Connor, Luke Monument and Henry Fairwood have each been promoted to lieutenant colonel, major and captain, respectively, at Barnard Castle School’s CCF.
The trio have 48 years’ collective service at the CCF as adult volunteers alongside their duties as teaching staff and housemasters at the school.
Barnard Castle School’s CCF has more than 200 cadets across its Army and Royal Air Force sections, many of whom pursue military careers when they finish school.
For Lt Col Connor, who is the contingent commander, the promotion coincides with her 20th anniversary of commissioned service to the CCF.
During this time, she has been awarded the Queen’s Diamond and Platinum Jubilee medals, a Lord-Lieutenant Certificate for Meritorious Service and a Cadet Forces Long Service Medal with first clasp.
Major Monument and Capt Fairwood both received Lord-Lieutenant Certificates for Meritorious Service earlier this year too, for their outstanding commitment and invaluable contributions to the CCF.
Tony Jackson, headmaster at Barnard Castle School, said: “Barney’s CCF has grown to become a popular co-curricular activity, which teaches young people important values and crucial life lessons.
“In the last two years alone, we have seen several cadets recognised as Master and Lord-Lieutenant cadets, as a direct result of their invaluable experiences at our school.”