Duke of Edinburgh with the CCF

Two groups of O-block CCF cadets squeezed in a splendidly entertaining 2 day DofE Silver expedition practice trip, on the weekend just gone. The national DofE scheme is meat and drink to CCF cadets, as all 4 strands of the Silver DofE programme are easily incorporated into the voluntary CCF cadet service that a third of the School's O block year-group actively opt into each year.

After last weekend's CCF Field Exercise (the 44 O block volunteer RAF / Army cadets were engaged in live weapon and field living skills), and before this Wednesday's non-tactical blank-firing exercise, there was just enough window of opportunity for some to self-plan, self-shop for food, and self-navigate for a two-day trip in the White Peak area. The cadets began in Fenny Bentley, walked a winding 24km North via footpaths to Lathkill Dale, camped, and then travelled about 23km (allowing for the odd navigational "moment") over to the pick-up-point at Carsington.

Cadets E Rylands (5G),  Z Furness (5G), M Otsuka (5G), M Whitten (5M) (group 1) and P Roberts (5M), S Matthews (5A), J Lawrence (5A) and A Cartlidge (5S) (group 2) enjoyed/endured the hottest October days on record as they navigated their way (under remote supervision) around the gorgeous limestone scenery. Capt. McCallum led the staff team, assisted by Lt. Randle, and Mrs C Goodhead. Water- lots and lots of water- and "banter" - lots and lots of banter-, apparently sustained the cadets, who finished a quite gruelling practice in tip-top spirits.

The volunteer cadets are to be warmly credited for their get-up-and-go: Repton is a kaleidosope of opportunities for all pupils, and the CCF is one of many things pupils can get stuck into.... long may it flourish, by the strength of character of the pupils themselves.