COLSTON’S PROVIDES UK’S LEADING AIR CADET

Eighteen-year-old Nicky Clark, Head Girl of Colston’s School, has been named as the UK’s leading air cadet from 9,500 cadets nationwide.

Nicky Clark, Head Girl of Colston’s School in Bristol, has been selected by the Royal Air Force as the UK’s leading air cadet.

Eighteen-year-old Nicky was among 9500 cadets from all over the UK who were reviewed, and she will receive the coveted Sir John Thomson Memorial Sword at the Air Squadron Award Day at the RAF College Cranwell on July 2nd.

“Naturally I’m very proud of this, but it came as a huge surprise to know that I was even in the running,” she said. “I am one of 10 air cadets selected for overseas exchange visits this summer, and six of us were short-listed for the top award.”

According to the RAF all six finalists “were of very high calibre”.

The citation sent to Colston’s Headmaster Peter Fraser read: “In the final analysis Nicola was chosen for her personal achievements and for the outstanding contribution that she has made while a member of your CCF contingent.”

Peter Fraser said: “I cannot tell you how proud we all are of Nicky. Her success reflects great credit on all she has done in her time at this school and the manner in which she responds to opportunities and challenges.

“It is wonderful to see her loyalty, commitment and wide-ranging achievements recognised nationally, and I am sure she will be an inspiration to other pupils coming up through the CCF.”

Nicky, now a Cadet Warrant Officer, has played a leading part in the unprecedented expansion of Colston’s Combined Cadet Force since she joined four years ago in Year 9.

During that time membership was tripled to a record 250. All three Services are involved, providing equipment, camps, training courses and adventure activities.

This growth has enabled Colston’s to build a brand new CCF headquarters on the school site.

“My philosophy has been to grab every opportunity with both hands,” said Nicky. “I did a gliding scholarship two years ago, a flying scholarship last year and I was delighted to serve for a year as Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet in Bristol.”

At present her feet are firmly on the ground, with A Levels in Mathematics, Biology and Chemistry fast approaching. But as soon as exams are over she will be back on the adventure trail, doing at Army sailing course in July before her exchange to Canada over the summer.

Then she will be off to Birmingham University on a five-year Army Scholarship to train in medicine with an ambition to practise reconstructive surgery in a Service environment.

Colston’s School Head Girl Nicky Clark (18), the UK’s leading air cadet, now helps train Year 9 Combined Cadet Force recruits. Pictured with Nicky (left to right) are back row Becky Hughes (14) and Aaron Thomas (13). In the front are Ding Yang (14), Ricky Hurkett (13) and Shaun Malone (14).		Eager new recruits to Colston’s Combined Cadet Force receive training from Head Girl Nicky Clark, named as the UK’s leading air cadet.		Practical training for Year 9 recruits to Colston’s School Combined Cadet Force by Head Girl Nicky Clark, the UK’s leading air cadet. She is showing them how to strip, clean and reassemble weapons in field conditions.

Nicky’s father John is an accountant with the Ministry of Defence at Abbeywood, and her mother Jane teaches English at Brislington School in Bristol. Her 16-year-old brother Peter is in the Lower Sixth at Colston’s.

The family live at Thornbury where Nicky plays hockey and tennis for the town, and she also represents the school at hockey, tennis and rugby.

“I can’t begin to say how much adventure and fun I have got out of the CCF at Colston’s,” she added. “Now I’m well into my last year I can concentrate on helping and mentoring the younger pupils coming into the unit.

“To see them making the same discoveries as I and my friends did when we first enrolled is tremendously exciting in itself, and my advice to them remains absolutely clear.

“Grab every opportunity while you can. The new generation of cadets are incredibly fortunate to be able to do all these things through the CCF, and to pass up those opportunities would be such a waste. They may never come their way again.”