International Air Cadet Exchange Update

The International Air Cadets were with only with us for 3 full days but we managed to pack loads of stuff into the few days they were here. Unfortunately, the Caithness Highland Gathering was cancelled due to bad weather so we didn't all get together on Sunday. Each host family did their own thing, with most going out doing some local sight seeing.


Monday saw 25 of us doing the Orkney day trip from John O'Groats. It was a beautiful day in the main, with lots of sun shine, and only one brief torrential downpour. The bus tour took us round main of the Orkney sites including the Churchill Barriers, Scapa Flow, Orphir Round Kirk, Yesnabay Cliffs (see photo), Standing Stones of Stenness, Ring O'Brodgar. The highlight of the trip though was Skara Brae and the Italian Chapel - they never fail to amaze!


Our visit to the Castle of Mey on Tuesday was equally well received with the cadets commenting on how relaxed and plain the castle interior was and on the number of 'normal' family photographs on view. The especially liked the Queen Mum's wellie boots and waterproof coat hanging at the front door. I have to say, my personal favourite bit was the fresh scones with clotted cream and jam from the cafe! Tuesday afternoon saw all the cadets enjoying ten pin bowling and some arcade games at the Viking Bowl.


We held a barbeque, at our home in Forss, for all the visitors, cadets and hosting families to round off their visit. This proved to be a successful evening with all the older exchange cadets and our younger local cadets really mixing well and enjoying each other's company. The highlight of the evening was an International Giant Jenga tournament, which the International cadets won with a tower that was over 6' tall.

Our Wing Commander, Brian Munro joined us for the evening as did local Lord Lieutenant, Anne Dunnett. I bet there are not many Squadrons who can boast that their Lord Lieutenant was cooking at their barbeque!

International Air Cadet Exchange 2007

I have spent most of today trying to sort out our programme of events for the International Air Cadet Exchange visit. I am pleased to say that Thurso Squadron are hosting all of the international cadets visiting the highlands from the 21st to the 25th July.

The party, who share a common interest in aviation, are visiting us as part of a two week, UK wide vistit. The visiting cadets are from New Zealand, the USA, Canada, Turkey, Austria, Belgium and Ghana - a fair old mix.

The aim of the programme is to foster international understanding, goodwill and friendship among young people and I certainly hope that Highland Hospitality will go a long way to meeting those aims.

On Sunday, after a relaxing morning, we plan to take them to the Caithness Highland Gathering in John O'Groats (a small games, but I am sure enjoyable none the less).

I don't believe a visit to Scotland is complete without visiting Orkney so a Maxi Day Trip to Orkney is scheduled for Monday including Skara Brae, the Standing Stones, the Churchill Barriers, Scapa Flow, the Italian Chapel and some time in both Stromness and Kirwall. Dinner will be provided in the Albert Hotel in Kirwall who, I have to say, were extremely helpful in organising a reasonably priced meal for 25 people.

On Tuesday we are visiting the Castle of Mey and then letting our guests have some free time in the afternoon to recouperate and prepare for a more hectic time ahead. The Squadron are hosting a barbeque on Tuesday evening as a farewell before the party heads south on Wednesday morning.

I hope that both our guests and my own cadets, and their families, enjoy the experience. This is an opportunity that is available to our own cadets once they hit 16 years old. Of course, they don't do visits around the UK but they travel to one of the other countries to take part in a similiar activity. Hopefully, the visit will inspire them to apply for this opportunity!