Members of 121 ( Nuneaton ) Squadron have been On Air in search of new adult recruits during a radio broadcast recorded on Friday 23 March.

Media Communications Officer for 121 Squadron, Flt Lt Paul Hincks said, “We were keen to be able to do something locally to support the current nationwide Adult Recruitment campaign. We considered issuing a press release to our local newspapers but eventually decided to try something a little more adventurous and as the campaign's title suggests ‘Expand our Horizons'. We approached Julie-Anna Needham, the BBC Correspondent for Nuneaton , Bedworth & North Warwickshire with a view to arranging an interview on BBC Coventry & Warwickshire Radio and after a flurry of e-mail and telephone messages we managed to arrange an interview”.

“By getting onto the radio we've been able to reach a much larger audience, which covers the catchment area of most if not all of the Warwickshire & Birmingham Wing. During the interview conducted by Julie-Anna Needham, for the breakfast show, we were able to promote not only the Adult Recruitment campaign but also the Air Cadet Organisation in general including some of the opportunities available to both Cadets and Staff. We also talked about the recent achievements of the squadron and Warwickshire & Birmingham Wing as a whole most notably the outstanding commitment of our young people who have achieved the staggering total of 150,000 hours of voluntary activity within the community as part of the Millennium Volunteers Award scheme.”

The interview which featured Flight Lieutenant Ian Crewe officer commanding 121 Squadron, Flight Lieutenant Paul Hincks and Cadet Flight Sergeant Graham Barber was due to be broadcast live on BBC Coventry & Warwickshire Radio's breakfast show presented by Liz Kershaw on Friday 23 March. The interview with the Nuneaton Squadron was mentioned several times during the morning but due to what's known as a ‘Busy News Day' the Air Cadet item was pushed out of slot by an interview with Tony Blair and some Coventry school children who had visited him the day before. Much to the relief of all concerned the interview with the Squadron was subsequently pre-recorded for transmitted on 28 March during the Wednesday morning show.

For further information about the nationwide Adult Recruitment campaign see:

Expand Your Horizons - PDF file 6Mb