Cadets delighted after receiving top honour
Two teenagers from Scarborough have been honoured by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for their outstanding service in the Sea and Army Cadets.
Phoebe Donbavand, 16, and Jaimee McFarlane, 17, have been appointed the Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets for North Yorkshire – the highest honour that can be achieved by a cadet in any of the cadet forces.
Leading Cadet Donbavand and Sergeant McFarlane were appointed by the Lord-Lieutenant for North Yorkshire, Barry Dodd CBE, at a special ceremony held at the Air Cadet Centre in Easingwold.
The ceremony took place in front of family, friends and local dignitaries, including the Deputy Mayor of Scarborough Councillor Martin Smith.
Described at the ceremony as an asset to her sea cadet unit, community, district and area, Phoebe’s enthusiasm, dedication and pleasant personality makes her an invaluable mentor to the younger cadets.
Phoebe said: “I am just overjoyed and incredibly grateful. I joined cadets as something to do after school, but it has turned into something so much more than that. I can never be thankful enough for the people who have helped me get to this position.”
Joining the Scarborough Army Cadets three years ago, Jaimee very quickly developed into an instrumental part of the cadet team and was soon participating in a wide range of activities.
Jaimee said: “I am delighted to have received an appointment as honourable as this. I was shocked to be in the running for the award, never mind actually being chosen from all the cadets in North Yorkshire.”
Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy Bleasdale, Deputy Chief Executive of the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association (RFCA) in Yorkshire and The Humber, which runs the awards, said: “Phoebe and Jaimee are shining examples of what can be achieved when young people involve themselves in cadets and other extra-curricular activities.
“It’s a great pleasure to see both these cadets flourish so well and achieve such a prestigious award.”
Visit www.rfca-yorkshire. org.uk for more details about the cadet movement, or to enquire about becoming an adult volunteer at the association.