SARAH WADE, a trainee accountant and volunteer with 440 (1st Manx) Squadron Air Cadets, has been selected by Governor Adam Wood as the armed forces’ representative Lieutenant Governor’s Cadet.
‘My squadron leader at the air cadets’ put me forward – it was a bit of a shock,’ admits Sarah, though she was aware of the Governor’s role as the four most recent forces cadets have come from the air cadets.
An informal lunchtime chat with Mr Wood followed her nomination for the role which comes up annually, on which he based his decision on which cadet to select.
Impressions
Sarah recalls her first impressions of the governor: ‘I thought he was lively, and he’s very smiley,’ she said, ‘He asked about my parents and my work. He said he thought I was quiet.’
The days passed and Sarah hadn’t been formally informed of her appointment, but the penny dropped when she was asked to take part in the Armistice Day service on Harris Promenade in Douglas in November, in her new capacity.
Later, on November 23, a ceremony at the Lieutenant Governor’s residence Government House officially acknowledged her selection as representative for the island’s cadet forces.
She described her election as an honour and anticipates the role will require her to attend formal receptions throughout the year alongside the Governor, beginning with Christmas gatherings at Government House on the 20th and 21st of December, which will also serve as a meet and greet for Sarah and her fellow Lieutenant Governor’s Cadet, Jeriel Bacani from St John Ambulance.
As she has reached the maximum age, 20, she was due to leave the air cadets this year, but do to her selection as Lieutenant Governor’s Cadet her membership has been extended by the Royal Air Force until July 2012.
After that Sarah hopes to remain involved, by volunteering and becoming a leader or trainer.
She plans to remain on the island and work at her career with Crowe Morgan Chartered Accountants, with whom she is a Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) trainee.
Sarah joined the air cadets in June 2005 and has risen to the highest possible rank of Cadet Warrant Officer, which involves training new recruits and teaching them about the history of the Air Force as well as leading off-island expeditions.
As a cadet Sarah has achieved her Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award, undertaken first aid training and has obtained two BTEC’s, one in aviation studies and the other in public services which she passed with distinction.
‘I really enjoy being an Air Cadet as it has provided me with many opportunities to broaden my horizons,’ Sarah said.
This month she will visit RAF Syerston in Nottinghamshire to learn how to fly glider aircraft, something she says she has wanted to do for years.
Amy Slee, a Partner in Crowe Morgan said: ‘We are very pleased for Sarah and all of her achievements as a cadet and I was delighted to be asked to support her at the investiture ceremony.
Sarah has worked extremely hard and applies this mindset as a trainee accountant at our firm.’
{http://www.iom-aircadets.org|www.iom-aircadets.org}