1181 Syston Squadron ATC

1181 Syston Squadron ATC is the local Air Training Corps Squadron based in the grounds of Wreake Valley Community College, Syston. The Squadron has been at this location since 1990 moving from the village hall in East Goscote, changing its name from East Goscote Squadron in the process.
Description
The Squadron currently have around 30 cadets. The current Officer in Charge is Flying Officer Andrew Kenyon RAFVR(T) who took command of the Squadron on the 4th October 2010. He replaced Plt Off Andy Houghton RAFVR(T) who had been in command since May 2010. The Squadron can be seen regularly around the Syston area at all manner of community events. The cadets regularly fly, glide, target rifle shoot and take part in other activities. Cdt Sgt Wilkinson-Burnett met Prince Harry of Wales on an expedition to Lesotho on one of the training exercises.
Cadet Flight Sergeant Daniel Garlick was appointed Lord Lieutenants Cadet for Leicestershire for the 2010/2011 period. He attended many official functions including the 100th anniversary of Long Clawson Dairy attended by HRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall.
The Squadron is unique in that it has its own flight simulator hand-built by CI Paul Reeves over a period of 3 years. It is an exact replica of a Boeing 737 cockpit. It is powered by Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 edition and is run by 5 separate PCs all running Windows XP. It was officially opened by Air Commodore Ian Stewart RAF on the 7th February 2010.
Squadron history
1181 Squadron was formed in May 1943 as the 3rd City of Leicester Squadron and was based at the Narborough Road School to cater for cadets living in the west side of the city. The 1st Commanding Officer was Flt. Lt. C.W. Thompson, an ex-Guards officer and the Squadron had 4 flights consisting of 30 cadets each plus 'E' flight which was for the new recruits undergoing basic training. The Squadron staff then consisted of 4 Flight Commanders, an Adjutant, a Warrant Officer and two secretarial staff.
Late in 1944 the Commanding Officer resigned due to ill health and Fg. Off. T.P. Morris was promoted to take command of the unit. In July 1945, No. 2070 Squadron, which paraded at the Mantle Road School, was closed and the staff and cadets transferred to 1181 Squadron. It was in early 1946 that the Squadron moved from Narborough Road School to 51 Oxford Street, Leicester. In 1947 due to cut-backs the Squadron was disbanded and the cadets transferred to 1F Squadron.
A period of 28 years passed before 1279 Squadron started a detached flight at Syston in 1974. The detached flight originally met at the Horse and Groom public house in Rearsby and after a short period, the room used for parades became insufficient to meet the demands, the flight remained there until its move to Chapel Street premises in Syston.
In 1975, the Flight was granted Squadron Status and at the request of the Adjutant, Fg. Off. B.W. Crayford, the Squadron was allocated its original number of 1181. The request for this was twofold: firstly, the other two City of Leicester Squadrons were still in being - No's 1F and 51 Squadron so it seemed reasonable to resurrect the third. Secondly, being one of the founder cadets of 1181 in 1943 and knowing of its records and achievements, it seemed an ideal opportunity to continue in the same vein as the predecessor.
The Commanding Officer of the newly formed Squadron was Flt. Lt. R.W. Miller who started the detached flight and who had served as aircrew during the last war. The Squadron moved to its present purpose built building at the rear of Wreake Valley College, Parkstone Road, Syston in 1990.
List of Commanding Officers
*Oct 2010-Present. Fg Off Andy Kenyon - RAFVR(T) (OiC)
*May 2010 - Oct 2010 Plt Off Andy Houghton - RAFVR(T) (OiC)
*May 2003 - May 2010 Flt Lt Mathew Faulkner - RAFVR(T) (OC)
*Jun 2000 - May 2003 Flt Lt Bill Dalby - RAFVR(T) (OC)
*Jul 1999 - May 2000 Flt Lt K Squance - RAFVR(T) (OC)
*Oct 1991 - Jul 1999 Flt Lt A S Bryan - RAFVR(T) (OC)
*Feb 1982 - Nov 1991 Flt Lt B Broom - RAFVR(T) (OC)
*Apr 1980 - Jan 1982 Flt Lt N Bayliss - RAFVR(T) (OC)
*Jun 1979 - Apr 1980 Flt Lt Hillyard - RAFVR(T) (OC)
*Nov 1978 - Jul 1979 Flt Lt Faulkner - RAFVR(T) (OC)
*Feb 1975 - Dec 1978 Flt Lt R W Miller - RAFVR(T) (OC)
*Aug 1974 - Mar 1975 Fg Off B W Crayfourd - RAFVR(T) (OC)
*May 1944 - Sep 1974 Flt Lt T P Morris - RAFVR(T) (OC)
*Apr 1943 - May 1944 Flt Lt C W Thompson - RAFVR(T) (OC)

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