121 (Nuneaton) Squadron Air Training Corps has been selected to represent the Warwickshire and Birmingham Wing in the 'Lees Trophy' competition, which is held annually to find the best squadron in the country.

Their selection to take part in the next stage of this prestigious competition, which will take place early in 2004, is especially significant to the Squadron as it coincides with their 65th anniversary year.

The unit commander Flt Lt Ian Crewe RAFVR(T) said " This is a great honour for 121 and a marvellous boost for the cadets and staff who have put in so much time and effort in making the squadron one of the best. Over the past year we have supported our local community charities such as the Mary Ann Evans Hospice, Arbury Rotary, Nuneaton Lions and many different branches of various ex-service organisations. The squadron is proud of the fact that we are one of only 51 cadet units in the country to be affiliated to their local branch of the Royal British Legion. We were recently in the town supporting the launch of the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. Our band has taken part in three local carnivals, lead many different parades throughout the county and will be leading the Nuneaton Remembrance Parade again this year in the town on the 9th November. Our cadets have taken a full and active part in a wide range of Air Cadet activities and have achieved success in the air with several cadets completing their gliding scholarships to solo standard. We have also notched up some notable successes in competition this year with our band winning the Wing band competition and our Public Relations team winning the Regional Corporate Communications competition. We have got a lot of work to do before we face the formal inspections for the next stage of the Lees Trophy competition. Having said that when we look back at what we have achieved so far this year, we should be well placed to pursue our bid to become the best squadron in the Corps".

Support for 121 Squadrons entry in the 'Lees Trophy' also came from the Officer Commanding the Warwickshire and Birmingham Wing, Wing Commander Pravin Ladwa RAFVR(T). He said "121 Squadron has established a very strong band within the unit and their hard work was reflected in 121 Squadron winning the wing band competition this year. The Squadrons effort in the Wing and Regional PR competition has been very good. The squadron has gone from strength to strength under the leadership of Flt Lt Ian Crewe. The Wings Ellan Valley adventure training centre project is successful due to the efforts and hard work of 121 Squadron cadets and staff. Finally it is a great pleasure to have a unit like 121 Squadron within the Warwickshire & Birmingham Wing."

The Lees Trophy is a nation-wide competition, the first stage of which is held at local wing level. 121 Squadron which has its base on the Ribbonfields in Attleborough, Nuneaton has been selected from 26 other Squadrons within the Warwickshire and Birmingham area to represent their Wing thus joining small group of only 36 other squadrons nation-wide to reach this stage of the competition. Having won through 121 now go on to compete at a regional level, in this case Central and East Region which covers the area from South Yorkshire to Herefordshire and from Stratford to the north sea.

The next stage of the competition will take place at the end of April 2004 when the squadron is inspected by their Regional Commandant, Group Captain Ford and his staff. All aspects of squadron activities, training and administration will be taken into account during the inspection. If they are successful they will then go on to compete against the winning squadrons from the 5 other regions in the final stage of the competition to find the best squadron in the country.