CCF Parade 2025

Canford School CCF held their Annual Parade on the final Monday of the Easter Term to celebrate the achievements and hard work of the cadets over the course of the year. The event, blessed with spring sunshine, began with drinks and lunch for the families of the cadet NCOs, before moving to the main lawns for the Parade and Inspection. Over 150 cadets took part in an impressive display of drills and marching, with the gun run challenge around the Sunken Lawn as ever providing much excitement and heated competition.

After the review by Inspecting Officers, Captain Matt Flegg and Lt Colonel Simon Doherty, the cadets moved up to the Culley Outdoor Education Centre and surrounding area to showcase some of the training the contingent engages in year-round. This included use of the Assault Course, stretcher racing and a Section Attack demonstration, defeating the ‘enemy’ in a fine display of skills. We were also able to make use of the new drone to practice camouflage and concealment in wooded areas.

The afternoon concluded with spectators and cadets enjoying tea with prizes awarded to the following:

Best Junior Navy Cadet: Fraser B

Best Junior Royal Marines Cadet: Mark D

Best Junior Army Cadet: Kangin C

Best Junior Non-Commissioned Officer Cadre Cadet: Hector H

Clive Meyer’s Trophy: Sophia S

Benner Award: Jack F

Will Moreland, Contingent Commander, Canford CCF said,

The CCF continues to be a key component in Canford’s offering to its pupils. It provides many opportunities for leadership and teamwork in stretching and challenging environments. A small sample of this was on display through the parade and served as a fitting send off for a stellar group of senior cadets. The contingent remains in a very healthy position in terms of the numbers of pupils taking part and the positive way in which they engage with the trips, training and courses on offer.

The parade also gave an opportunity to say a thank you and goodbye to Major Rob Hoey who will be leaving us at the end of the academic year. Rob joined in 2019 and has led our Royal Marines Detachment to new heights over the last six years. The cadets have been buoyed by his passion and his experience through the forces has allowed more relevant and deep training to take place.  He has also taken the lead with the Ten Tors competition teams and started the highly popular Cairngorms trip. He has made a tremendous impact on many cadets at Canford through this and we will miss him greatly.

Find out more about outdoor activities and adventures at Canford on offer through the Co-curricular programme via this link:

Outdoor Activities