C.C.F. Notes

At a preliminary meeting we were delighted to find 72 volunteers, and we limited their visits to one per week, while insisting on their regularity. As expected, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and Sundays were found to be the most suitable times. During the ten days we set by for collecting addresses, visits were arranged to the Handicraft Centre for the Blind and Handicapped, where we saw how extraordinarily industrious and skilful these people can be. Other boys collected books and records for Oxfam and helped in the bookshop.

Twenty-two boys have now been visiting old or blind people. A further 14 will start the first week of the new term, and probably some 20 more a week later. Tasks have included such things as gardening, painting, cleaning, shopping or in some cases simply chatting. Perhaps the most enterprising so far has been redecorating a room. These visits last an hour or an hour and a half, but they are regular and we hope people will come to rely on them for any awkward tasks that arise during the week.

These are the lines on which we have started, but we should like to know of any other situations where we might be of some use. On the boys' part, such occupations are completely voluntary and must not interefere with any School activity.

Two important training acquisitions during the term have been the former Torpedo Recovery Launch "Sten" from the Admiralty, and an "Enterprise" dinghy which we have bought locally. The former offers all sorts of possibilities and the latter will enable serious sailing to enter the programme. Canoe construction will start during the coming term.

A new system of pre-entry training is now starting for younger boys to have a look at the C.C.F. before committing themselves, and actual entry to the Contingent will in future be for second year boys only. 1964 is the fiftieth anniversary of this Contingent; the Officers' Training Corps, as it used to be called, started at St. Peter's in 1914. As in several schools, a Cadet Company had been formed here in 1860, but had come to an end after a few years. The O.T.C. was one of the innovations in the Army reforms of 1907.

Main Events of the Term

22nd October: Field Day.

The Royal Navy Section went up river in "Sten" and canoes for training.

The Army Section had a platoon exercise in Ripon Parks.

The Royal Air Force Section went partly to Dishforth and partly to Middleton St. George. 26th November: March Past.

The Salute was taken by Group Captain R. L. Fuller, A.F.C., R.A.F., Officer Commanding, Royal Air Force, Linton-on-Ouse.

Due partly to the new form of the C.C.F., and partly to the fact that most of the senior members of the Section left at the end of last term, the Section has taken on a completely new look. It has now been divided into two divisions, Nelson and Rodney, and into watches for instruction. R. Scaife was promoted to Instr. P.O. i/c. R.N. Section and Nelson Division. Also promoted were Instr. P.O. Higgins, i/c. Rodney Division, and Instr. P.O. G. Watson, who has taken over the stores.

The Section had two very pleasant surprises at the beginning of the term. The first was the appointment of Sub-Lieutenant Maw to assist Lt. Waive. His arrival is greatly welcomed by the Section.

The second surprise was the arrival of a 12-ton motor vessel, M.V. Sten. This is an ex-naval torpedo Chaser with a very large diesel engine, in good condition. It has not yet been ascertained whether it was procured as a result of string-pulling in high places, or whether the Navy just wanted to be rid of it, but it has already proved useful.

The Field Day was highly successful. This was mainly due to three factors: the perfect weather, M.V. Sten, and the expert knowledge and experience of C.P.O. Attree, who has joined us this term. The whole Section was transported up the Ouse to Nun Monkton by M.V. Sten with two whalers in tow. There everyone had some practice in whaler pulling, a rare occurrence for a Christmas Term, and a Jackstay was rigged across the Nidd.

The three watch system for instruction has worked very well. Most of red watch passed the Proficiency Examination at the end of term, and three A.B.s, Crombie, Eatough and Hyde, have been promoted to Leading Seamen. Most of white watch passed the A.B. Examination, a good result, considering that they have only been in the Section one term.

R.A.F. SECTION

During the Christmas Term the number of cadets stood at 36, with Flight Sergeant Dickie in command and Sergeant Smith second-incommand. An innovation was the division into two flights, Lancaster and Hurricane, each of which was subdivided into two sections for administrative purposes. Junior N.C.O.s responsible for these sections were Corporals Youle, Ruddock, Haggie and Flintoft, assisted by Junior Corporals Oliver, Eastaugh, Newhouse and Hedley.

On the occasion of the Field Day, 21st October, 14 cadets set out from R.A.F. Topcliffe on a navigational training flight, while the remainder visited R.A.F., Middleton St. George, an up-to-date fighter training station.

Air Experience Flying was once again available at R.A.F., Dishforth, on Sunday, 1st December, and nine cadets were each able to obtain two 30minute flights in Chipmunks.

The Section was fortunate in being able to call on the services of Flight Sergeant Darke, Chief Technician, of R.A.F., Topcliffe.