Honour for air corps stalwart

7:57pm Friday 16th May 2008

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A FORMER RAF Wing Commander whose links with the Air Training Corps (ATC) date back to the 1940s has been commended for his dedication.

Ray Kidd was presented with a long service award in honour of his commitment at Royal Air Force College Cranwell, Lincolnshire, by Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Graydon, former Chief of Air Staff.

His connections with the ATC go back to his days as a young cadet and, as the organisation's historian, he is now drawing on his experience to pen a national record of its history.

"Hopefully the book, Horizons - History Of Air Cadets, will be complete in time for the ATC's 70th anniversary in 2011 but I have mountains to climb," he said. "It is a very big challenge. I don't want this just to be a string of facts and tables, but illustrated with as many personal experiences and anecdotes as I can find."

Recalling the time when he joined the ATC in 1947, Ray, now 75, of York, said: "I had the time of my life. I learned to fly a glider and took part in a three-week international exchange to Canada."

He went on to do his national service in the RAF as a ground wireless mechanic. "I had hoped to fly but my hearing let me down," he said.

Ray returned to the ATC in 1964 and has remained supportive ever since, receiving an OBE for his services in 1987.

He is still actively involved as president of the Central and East Yorks Wing, the organisation's historian, president of the Easingwold squadron and a member of the 110 City of York Squadron.

Ray said: "There really is a great sense of honour within this organisation, which stretches from the ideologies of the volunteers right through to the cadets themselves."

Sir Michael Graydon described the commitment shown as "beyond price".

Following the award presentations, he said of the recipients: "All of the service you have put in is beyond price. I thank you, not just on behalf of the RAF but also the country.

"The Air Cadet Organisation is one of, if not the top national youth organisation in the United Kingdom. It is a national treasure with a bright future and its needs to be looked after."

Ray wrote Wings Of Youth, which tells the history of air cadets in North and East Yorkshire, 11 years ago.

"The thought came to me that no one had written the national history of the air cadets for many a long year and I feel it is such an interesting and very proud story to be recorded," he said.