CCF 150th Anniversary Celebrations at Tonbridge School and Tonbridge Town Centre

Tonbridge will be THE place to be next Wednesday, 10th March, when military cadets from all over West Kent parade in the town centre to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF).

More than a thousand people are expected to line Tonbridge High Street to see the Parachute Regiment Marching Band perform in the grand finale of the day's celebrations, which begin at Tonbridge School.

The anniversary events commence at 2pm when 250 cadets from Tonbridge School, Sevenoaks School, Judd and Skinners will put on a magnificent parade and drill display on the Tonbridge School quad.

The Inspecting Officer will be Major General Mike Tennant and the display will be accompanied by the band of the Parachute Regiment.

Tonbridge School was one of eight founder schools of the CCF movement and has a thriving CCF community, so it's fitting it will play host to the impressive extravaganza.

The CCF is a Ministry of

Defence-sponsored youth organisation aiming to provide pupils with

powers of leadership and self-confidence. Many cadets go on to become serving

officers.

The anniversary celebrations will help show visitors what the CCF does and explain its links to the services, as well as raising funds for Help for Heroes and the ABF The Soldiers' Charity.  The day is free and all are welcome.

Stands and demonstrations on offer at Tonbridge School will include casualty simulation, paintball, a climbing wall, laser range, indoor assault course, weapons and boatwork lessons and campcraft, shooting and signals skills.

There will also be Royal Marine Helicopter Crash Simulations and a Royal Navy Rigid Raider Simulator on display, as well as an RAF glider, armoured vehicles, helicopters and a Javelin Missile Laser Trainer.

Boats

will be stationed close by on the River Medway. Visitors can take short river trips and watch kayaking, powerboat and rafting demonstrations, and there will be a raft race at 1545.

The activities at the school will run all afternoon until 5pm, and the marching band will parade down the High Street at 5.15pm for the grand finale, returning to the school where visitors will be treated to the spectacle of Beating Retreat.

There will be very limited car parking for visitors at the school so it's best to use town centre car parks or Tonbridge Farm, the Angels

Football Club car park, which is a mile further north on the Shipbourne Road.

A shuttle

bus service will be provided to carry visitors from the car park to the

school and back, running from 1315 until 1825 (but not from 1645 until 1745 during the parade.)

It looks set to be a fantastic occasion for Tonbridge. Please let us hear your stories and see your photographs after the big day!