End of an era for one air cadet

20-year-old Akeel Shaikh has left the 22 (Sandy) Squadron after being a member for seven years.

Now at the upper age limit, Akeel had eventful teenage years as a member. He completed a gliding scholarship to earn his blue wings, passed his staff cadet exams and reached the rank of cadet flight sergeant.

He is not short of stamina – this year attending a week long camp, running the London Marathon immediately afterwards then proceeding to complete the strenuous cadet leaders’ course.

Flight lieutenant Mark Robinson said: “Akeel has been a key member of the squadron for many years and will be sadly missed. In the two years I’ve been at the squadron Akeel has shown huge amounts of dedication and I hope he will stay in contact with us in the future”.

He will now be going to university to study mathematics.