The award, for 'valuable service in the community' recognises the hard work the cadets have put in over the past twelve months in their local area. Picking up the award were cadets Beth Anderson and Robert Erskine, both from Tynemouth. Beth (15), a student at Marden High School was delighted to receive the award on behalf of the Squadron "We're going to use the funds to develop first aid training on the Squadron." She told us.

                                         'Remarkable'

The High Sheriff for Tyne and Wear, J Squires OBE DL, who presented Beth with a cheque for £350, praised the cadets for their community work.

He praised the work of cadets from the Squadron in the rescue in the Pyrenees in May last year as 'remarkable'. The commanding officer of the Tynemouth cadets, Flight Lieutenant Will Close-Ash spoke about how important first aid training was on the Squadron. "The rescue in the Pyrenees shows just how important it is that our young people are able look after themselves and help others in these sorts of situations. This grant from the Community Foundation and the High Sheriff will enable us to maintain the highest possible standard of first aid training for our cadets." Each air cadet at Tynemouth Squadron undergoes the St John's Ambulance Lifesaver training.

Stephen Miller, himself a local lad and the youngest winner of a gold medal in the Atlanta games in 1996, also congratulated the cadets and other youth groups who received awards. "It was great meeting Stephen," Robert told us, "We chatted about the Beijing games and he let me have a look at his gold medal, it was really cool."