A Visit to Remember: 2286 Squadron Hosts Commandant Air Cadets in Lees Trophy National Final

Earlier this month, 2286 (Coventry Arden) Squadron had the immense honour of welcoming Commandant Air Cadets, Air Commodore Al Lewis RAFAC, as part of the national final round of the Lees Trophy 2025 — the most prestigious award in the RAF Air Cadets, recognising the best Squadron in the country.

Having already been named Wales & West Region's Lees Trophy representative earlier this year, 2286 now stood among just six Squadrons across the UK to reach the national stage. In keeping with the spirit of the competition, the visit took place on a normal working parade night — an authentic snapshot of everything the Squadron offers week to week.

The Commandant was welcomed by Officer Commanding Flt Lt Julie Seymour and the Squadron team, receiving a comprehensive overview of 2286’s work, its context, and the young people it supports. Situated in one of the most deprived and diverse areas of Coventry, the Squadron draws from a wide range of backgrounds — and has built a reputation for inclusion, innovation, and opportunity.

The tour that followed showcased exactly that.

From cadets proudly completing their Blue Cyberspace PTS award, to new recruits tackling essential first aid training (with the Air Commodore himself gamely becoming a bandaging volunteer!), every corner of the building was filled with activity. Cadets tested engineering principles through a STEM bridge-building challenge — complete with rubber duck payload — and were guided through air navigation training by one of our own QAIC graduates, combining flight planning, logbook work and simulator-based flying. The Squadron’s thriving use of eSports for leadership development was on show too, with cadets using Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes to build communication and trust — a powerful learning tool wrapped in fun.

Outside, cadets honed their drill, while indoors, NCOs discussed their RAFAC journey with the Commandant. The evening closed with a chance for the Air Commodore to sit down with key members of the Squadron’s Civilian Committee, including our Treasurer Mrs Lesley Hooper — recently awarded the Lord-Lieutenant’s Certificate for her exceptional service — and to hear directly about the unique challenges and enduring spirit of our community.

Before departure, the Commandant hosted Final Parade and addressed the cadets, thanking them for a brilliant evening and presenting last year’s STEM team with their long-awaited CREST awards.

Reflecting on the visit, Sergeant Cerys Ryan shared:

“The Air Commodore really took the time to speak to us — not just watch. I’ve never been prouder to be part of this team, showing what we do week in, week out.”

2286 Squadron is immensely proud to stand among such high-calibre peers in this year's Lees Trophy final. With outstanding Squadrons across the country also showcasing their strengths, we don’t envy the Commandant his decision — but we’re proud of every cadet who took part, and of everything this visit represented.

Because no matter the outcome, we know the most important work we do happens every week, on every parade night — helping young people grow, thrive, and achieve.

Well done, Team 2286!