Exeter School cadet wins Jack Sadler award

An Exeter School Senior Royal Navy cadet has been awarded the Jack Sadler Award for outstanding contribution to the combined cadet force contingent (CCF).

Cox'n and Deputy Head Girl Tilly Gilbert was presented with the brass trophy of an artillery shell case and an engraved medal during the biennial inspection by Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty, who is Commandant of all Air Cadets in UK.

The trophy is a permanent memorial to former Exeter School pupil and senior cadet Jack Sadler, who was killed in Afghanistan on 4 December 2007, halfway through a six-month tour as a trooper in the Honourable Artillery Company.

Contingent Commander, Lieutenant Commander (RN) Geoff Chapman said he was delighted to award the Jack Sadler Award Cox'n Tilly Gilbert who thoroughly deserved the prestigious award.

"Tilly was a worthy recipient this year; she has shown high levels of commitment towards the CCF, throwing herself wholeheartedly into the full range of section activities throughout her service," he said.

"As the senior Royal Navy cadet she has set a fine example to the other cadets through strong leadership and personal example; she has also been a great help to the officer in charge assisting with delivering the day-to-day training."

Tilly said she was surprised and flattered to be presented with the Jack Sadler award.

"When I first joined the Combined Cadet Force, I wasn't one of the keenest cadets - I thought I preferred sitting at home and reading books to crawling around the countryside," she said.

"But I quickly realised the CCF was way more about leadership, friends, sailing (in my case) and lots of laughter, and since then I've made the most of many of the cool opportunities it's brought me."

The Jack Sadler Award is awarded annually to the most outstanding member of the school's cadet contingent

Congratulations also to Angus Creer, Lucy Swiggs and Nat Newman, all Exeter school pupils who are recipients of Army Scholarships.