CLUBS AND SOCIETIES: Cadets impress in bid to win award named after Ilminster’s Mr British Legion

YOUNG cadets from the Ilminster area were interviewed by members of the local branch of the Royal British Legion in a bid to win the Jack Sandy Shield of Excellence.

Members of the Ilminster Squadron of the Air Training Corps and the Ilminster Platoon of the Army Cadet Force were interviewed earlier this month at the Minster Rooms by a group of panellists who were impressed by the candidates and their CVs.

The cadets were judged by members of the Ilminster branch of the Royal British Legion on their achievements and aspirations for the future and how they presented themselves.

The selection of a winner of the Jack Sandy Shield of Excellence from these cadets was as difficult as ever.

John Robson, past branch chairman and co-ordinator for the last 18 years, said: “The quality  of the candidates was remarkable, not only in their achievements within their units, but academically as well.”

After careful deliberation the panel declared the winner of the Jack Sandy Shield 2016 to be Flight Sergeant Nicholas Coombs, of the Air Training Corps.

The runner-up candidates were Sgt Daniel Craven and Cdt Jemma Kew, both of the Army Cadet Forces, and Sgt Nicholas Parkinson, of the ATC.

The presentation of the Shield and certificates as well as a cheque for £50 to the winner's unit were made on Wednesday (April 27, 2016) in the Minster Rooms, Ilminster.

Jack Sandy was born in 1919 and joined the Somerset Light Infantry at the start of the Second World War.

After being demobbed he found he missed the comradeship of his Army friends and so joined the Royal British Legion. He was branch chairman for many years and was presented with the highest award
given by the Legion, the Gold Badge, for loyal service.

Mr Sandy stood down as chairman in 1993 and took up the office of president, which he held until his death in November 1996.

He was known locally as Mr British Legion and was much admired and respected by all.

The award has been presented every year since Mr Sandy’s death and is seen as a fitting memorial to a man who gave a great deal of his time to both the Ilminster branch of the Royal British Legion and the youth of the town.

PHOTO – TOP: Winner of the Jack Sandy Shield 2016, FS Nicholas Coombs (second left) is pictured with (from left) one of the runners-up Sgt Daniel Craven, past branch Ilminster Royal British Legion chairman John Robson, Sgt Nicholas Parkinson, another runner-up, and Squadron Flt Lt Colin Parkinson.

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