Top award for air cadet volunteer
ONE of the highest honours in the cadet forces has been awarded to a Scarborough volunteer.
Sue Balmford, of Trafalgar Road, who volunteers with the Air Training Corps, has been awarded the Lord-lieutenant’s Certificate – an achievement ranked alongside the MBE.
The certificate was presented to Flight Lieutenant Balmford, 51, by Lord Lieutenant for North Yorkshire, at a private ceremony at Yeomanry Barracks in York, in recognition of her outstanding contribution and dedication to the Air Training Corps. I would never have had outside the organisation, and for the most part it is simply great fun.”
Flight Lt Balmford has served for more 18 years as an adult volunteer in the Air Cadets, 16 years of which she has been Commanding Officer mainly for 739 (Scarborough) Squadron, but also for four years at 740 (Whitby) Squadron, which at the time had been struggling and was in danger of closure.
At Scarborough she also achieved excellent results, demonstrating her knowledge of adventure training, attending many annual camps and being at the forefront of the Wing’s most successful efforts at the Nijmegen Marches in the Netherlands, where cadets complete a 99 mile walk over four days.
Over the last 18 years, Ms Balmford has worked with hundreds of young people, while also managing a full time job as a Senior Sister at the Coronary Care Unit in Scarborough Hospital.
Colonel Snagge, chief executive of the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association in Yorkshire said: “We have so many committed men and women in Yorkshire who give up their time outside work to provide support for the cadet organisations. I am delighted Sue’s service has been commemorated -and I have no doubt she will continue to make a great difference to the cadet organisation.”