Major Trevor Longmuir has retired from Cambridgeshire Army Cadet Force as a uniformed volunteer 52 years after he first joined the organisation as a cadet.
A dedicated public servant, Major Longmuir has devoted his life to community service which has included working as a police officer and as an ambulance driver, as well as decades of charity work. He has held many positions within the ACF, serving as Commander of multiple different Cambridgeshire Detachments, and as the County Signals Officer.
Si Longmuir, standing back row behind CSM with pacestick, 1970s.
Trevor joined in 1968 as a cadet at Outwell Detachment as part of what was then 3rd Battalion Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire ACF. He was a successful cadet, leaving with the rank of Cdt Staff Sgt. He has fond memories of this time, particularly reminiscing about weekend camps: ‘In those days feeding was done en masse on open fires or gas burners, 10-man ration packs, great all-in stews. We trained with Bren and Sten guns, and trusty .303” rifles were used, and blanks fired, and in those days there were no risk assessments!’
Left, Trevor front right, 1980s, and right, with Colonel Martin, 2012.
In 1974 he became an Adult Volunteer, and went on to become an officer in 1978 and be appointed Detachment Commander of Tydd St Giles. He went on to lead various other detachments, serving as DC at Huntingdon, Bushfield, Thorney, March and Wisbech. He said: ‘I stayed at Thorney for a number of years and it was a happy successful Detachment. We had on our doorstep the old Thorney Wildlife Park and we had almost unrestricted access to this park, which had its own water supply and buildings for shelter.’At Annual Camp 1988 he was promoted to Captain and in 1990 became a Battalion Training Officer.
Major Longmuir has become a specialist in Signals training, which began for him when he was attended Blandford (home of The Royal Signal Corps) to complete a Signals Officer Course. He went on to become a member of The County Signals Team, then County Signals Officer. His experience and success in this role lead to additional responsibilities with his most recent appointment as Brigade Signals Co-ordinator.
Trevor’s police career with Cambridgeshire Constabulary began forty years ago as a patrol officer in Peterborough. He went on to serve in Huntingdon, Thorney and Wisbech. During this time, he became an Officer in the Police Support Unit (PSU) who was on call for riot control duties, in which capacity he was involved with the Miner’s Strike in 1984. He trained in Counter Terrorism with The Royal Engineers at Alconbury, who taught him specialist skills in searching for bombs and hidden firearms. In 2004 he joined the Major Investigation Team and helped investigate several murders.
PC Longmuir, about 2010
Soon after leaving the police, he began to feel that he was missing work. He said: ‘I felt like I needed to continue to do something useful.’ A friend suggested work with the Ambulance Service, which Trevor agreed to try, and he became a part-time non-emergency ambulance driver, taking patients to and from appointments.
Trevor is the holder of the Cadet Force Medal (with 3 Bars), and a Police Long-Service Medal. He was awarded the Lord Lieutenant’s Certificate of Good Service for his ACF work in 2016. Although he has retired from the uniformed organisation, his life-long service is far from finished. He will continue to support Wisbech Detachment as a Civilian Assistant and make his signals skills available to The County. He will also continue his work as an ambulance driver.
He says: ‘I’ve really enjoyed my time with the ACF. We give youngsters a good grounding, whatever they go on to do, as with us they learn self-respect and respect for others. We have also had a lot of fun along the way.’
Trevor, right, receiving a commendation for his work with the ACF.
Former Commandant Colonel Mark Knight MBE DL said: ‘Trevor’s whole life has been in the service of the Community, as a police officer, an ACF Officer and even in retirement working with the elderly in providing transport to and from hospital. He has been a dedicated and passionate ACF Officer who has used his many years of experience to mentor more junior officers.’
Text by PI Stuart
With thanks to Major Longmuir and Colonel Knight MBE DL.
