As the three hundred Wiltshire air cadets and about eighty staff formed up for their pre-parade inspection in the George Street car park on Sunday afternoon (February 9) it was raining hard and very cold.
But as they marched out of the car park, over Pewsey Road bridge, round St Peter’s church and into the High Street the rain stopped and the sun shone.
It was still cold for cadets and for the saluting party. Marlborough’s Mayor Guy Loosmore and Wing Commander Vanessa Toth, Officer Commanding the Dorset Wilts Wing of the Air Training Corps, took the salute.
The Mayor was accompanied by the Mayoress and by Councillor Noel Barrett-Morton and his ceremonial officers.
It was the turn of 2293 (Marlborough) Squadron’s to host this year’s county-wide parade – and it was also the occasion of the Squadron’s diamond jubilee. The parade marked the 73rd anniversary of the formation of the ATC.
After the parade the cadets attended a special service in St Mary’s Church. By the time they were all inside the church the rain had started again.
The service was followed by a reception in the town hall.
The Air Training Corps is open to all young people between the ages of 13 and 18.
In June last year two members of the Marlborough Squadron – Cpl Matt Scott and Cadet Letty Grove – were chosen to fly abord an RAF Tristar in the Trooping the Colour flypast over London. It had been, a family member said as we watched Sunday’s parade, a good bit warmer inside the Tristar than it was in Marlborough High Street.
