Air cadets were overjoyed with the donation of new equipment from the outgoing mayor.

The 1372 Elstree and Borehamwood Royal Air Force Cadets were provided with sports kit and camping equipment by Cllr Peter Rutledge on Thursday, June 29.

There was money left in the Mayor’s charity budget, so the cadets made a case to apply for the cash and were presented with the supplies in a presentation at The Cadet Centre, Rossington Avenue.

The Air Cadets rely on charitable donations for any civilian equipment, with the Armed Forces providing the military uniforms and specific aparatus.

The new tents have already been used on weekend manouvres, and the donation of tennis balls, footballs, badminton bats, shuttlecocks and nets as well as sports bibs were gratefully received.

Flight Lietenant Stacy Murphy said: “We have used the tents on a weekend camping expedition and our cadets loved them as they are bigger than the ones we had before.

“We try and get away every few months, but we often do things with cadets, like last weekend we went to the Royal International Air Tattoo which was incredible.

“There is something for everyone who joins, even if you don’t like everything there will be something for you.”

The squadron of 25 are looking for new recruits aged 12 to 17 to parade with them on Monday and Thursday nights between 7pm and 9.30pm.

Flight Lietenant Murphy joined when she was 15 and has pursued a career in aerospace technology from the skills she learned joining the cadets.

She said: “It opened my eyes to this whole world of things that I had never thought of before.

“The skills you learn as a cadet, like team work and leadership are things that you can take with you for the rest of your life.

“It is amazing to watch the younger cadets who can’t look you in the eye develop into these confident young adults who can hold their own in conversation with officers.”

Later this year cadets from the squadron will be attending camps at official sites, including one cadet who will be going to RAF Gibraltar.

For more information visit http://1372elstreeandborehamwoodsqn.co.uk/.