Our recent Jubilee Garden Party was a great opportunity to present promotions and awards. This included presentation of the prestigious Commandants Coin for Excellence to two very worthy recipients, Adult Under Officer Ros Whyall and Non-Uniformed Volunteer Vanessa Rice.
AUO Whyall was awarded the Commandant’s Coin for her outstanding work as County Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Officer. Ros joined Surry ACF in 2012 and transferred to Cambridgeshire in 2014. She became an instructor at Longstanton and Ely, before returning to Longstanton as its Detachment Commander in 2017. Two years later, she became County Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Officer, a role which she took on with dedication and enthusiasm. For the last three years, Ros has led a team of colleagues who have transformed DofE in the County, ensuring this important qualification is undertaken by as many Cadets as possible. She has tirelessly visited Detachments to promote the award, led expeditions and obtained relevant expedition qualifications to ensure she is in the best possible position to lead the County’s DofE effort. During the Covid lockdowns, Ros helped to ensure DofE could continue, supporting and encouraging Cadets as they volunteered in the community and took part in physical challenges. This dedication resulted in Cambs ACF winning the Quaich Cup for best DofE County in 2021. Ros has just had her role extended for another three years, ensuring her leadership will continue to benefit our Cadets into the foreseeable future.