ACCT UK Excellence Awards 2021
The ACCT UK Excellence Awards were presented on the 1st of June at the Honourable Artillery Company’s (HAC) Armoury House.
9 June 2022
Awards for the ACF
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The ACCT UK Excellence Awards were presented on the 1st of June at the Honourable Artillery Company’s (HAC) Armoury House.
9 June 2022
The ACCT UK Excellence Awards, supported by BAE Systems and Ammo & Co, were presented by Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Greater London Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE on the 1st of June at the Honourable Artillery Company’s (HAC) Armoury House.
ACCT UK has been honouring great achievements by ACF cadets and adult volunteers with our Excellence Awards since 2015. However, due to the pandemic we were denied a true celebration of achievements within the Army Cadet Force for the last two years. This year’s celebration was truly significant, as ACCT UK’s first event back since the challenges presented by Covid-19, and also on a more positive note it is the very first event and awards to use ACCT UK’s updated brand identity.
It’s clear that the Army Cadet Force community go above and beyond without any thought of being recognised for their achievements. As the ACF’s charity, it’s our duty to ensure that their stories are heard and that the ACF is recognised as the driving force for so much good in society. The recognition of each and every award winner is a testament to individual character and the communities that help build that character.
“You don’t do things in life to necessarily get recognition. But it’s really nice when you do get that recognition at the same time.”
Second Lieutenant James Cox – Excellence trophy winner for First Aid
“I feel honoured, obviously that I’ve been nominated and I’ve received the award but I said when I started I didn’t do it for the award, I didn’t do it to be recognised, I did it because obviously it’s the right thing to do. You’ve got to help the community and anyone you can.”
Lance Corporal Steven Rushmer – Excellence trophy winner for Community Service
“I’m thrilled to bits. Just getting that recognition, not that you do it for the recognition, but it is just lovely to get that pat on the back.”
Second Lieutenant Amanda Roxborough – Excellence trophy winner for First Aid
The awards afternoon kicked off with a stroll through the HAC museum. The chance to view such a historically significant collection was a unique experience for cadets, adult volunteers and ACCT UK staff alike.
“I have absolutely loved it. Just from how we’ve been looked after from when we’ve come in, to the actual ceremony itself, it was really interesting to even just go around the museum and the medal room at the start. And just to have a look at some of the history behind this building, it was incredible.”
Staff Cadet Simeon Raines – Excellence trophy winner for Bands & Corps of Drums
After the entrance of Sir Kenneth Oilsa at 2pm, the award ceremony welcoming speech was delivered by ACCT UK’s President Lieutenant General Sir Andrew Graham Bt CB CBE, who spoke proudly of the charity and the Army Cadet Force community we support.
“What a pleasure and privilege it was to kick off the Jubilee weekend by gathering supporters, families and members of the Army Cadet Force community to salute the achievements of Army Cadets and Adult Volunteers with the ACCT UK Excellence Awards being presented by Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Greater London, Sir Kenneth Olisa. The motto of the Army Cadet Force is ‘inspire to achieve’ and he reminded us of the importance of having pride in our nation and of the values of citizenship and good neighbourliness that the ACF inspires and encourages. This was a wonderful event for ACCT UK to announce itself in its fresh guise, to confirm its unstinting commitment to supporting the Army Cadet Force, and to recognise the commitment, example, service, achievement and good citizenship of members of the Army Cadet Force in Sport, Music, First Aid, Duke of Edinburgh and Community Service.”
Lieutenant General Sir Andrew Graham Bt CB CBE, President ACCT UK
ACCT UK’s Chief Executive, Murdo Urquhart, took the stage to speak about the importance of the non-military activities which go beyond the core ACF syllabus, providing both depth to the programme and an opportunity for skills development. He highlighted the inspiring drive and commitment from ACF adult volunteers who work tirelessly to keep the non-military programme going and also the programme’s importance to the development of UK’s youth.
“The Army Cadet Force has moulded me into who I am today. When I first joined cadets, I was 14-15. I didn’t really speak to anyone for the first few months, I was extremely quiet and just not confident at all. But over the last four or five years, it’s just developed me into the person I am today. And now I can happily sit and talk to talk to anyone that I come across. So it’s really helped to build that confidence.”
Staff Cadet Simeon Raines – Excellence trophy winner Bands & Corps of Drums
The awards were presented by Lord Lieutenant of Greater London Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE, who chatted with each winner as they received their trophy and official photograph.
“I feel humbly proud that Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE, Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London, accepted our invitation to present our awards. I have since learned that in the build up to the Platinum Jubilee weekend he was attending two events a day and our awards ceremony was one of them. When I saw him on television three days later in the front row of seats at the Platinum Jubilee concert sitting next to the Duchess of Cambridge, it increased my gratitude that he felt our event was worthy, which I think says something about his regard for the ACF and ACCT UK. He was delightful, his relaxed and charming manner making our awards an extra special occasion.”
Murdo Urquhart Chief Executive ACCT UK
“It’s been a really good event. I think as well having the Lord Lieutenant of Greater London there. As the direct representative of Her Majesty on the Jubilee Weekend, it’s definitely icing on the cake for a really really good, well-choreographed event.”
Cadet Corporal Ewan Baillie, Excellence trophy winner DofE
We’d like to extend our greatest appreciation to the ACCT UK Excellence award supporters BAE Systems and Ammo & Co, this event was made possible thanks to your generous donations.
In the audience on the day were the winners of the Queen’s Birthday Parade Tickets. ACCT UK held a national competition throughout March giving individuals an opportunity to nominate Cadets and CFAVs for recognition of their achievements and a chance to win tickets to the Queen’s Birthday Parade on the 2nd of June.
We were delighted to have two Army Cadet Force Ambassadors, Jordan Wylie and Sally Orange, in attendance at the ACCT UK Excellence Awards. We’re appreciative of their continued support of the Army Cadet Force and ACCT UK.
The achievements we recognised on the day are a testament to the young people and adult volunteers who make the Army Cadet Force such a strong and impactful community.
🙏Thanks again to everyone who attended this year’s event. Nominations are now open for the 2022 ACCT UK Excellence Awards. Nominations should be sent through County Commandants to awards@acctuk.org, the closing date for nominations is the 31st of December.