A Cadet's view of the ACFA Annual Dinner

Cadet RSM Liz McCaffrey visits the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

On Saturday 15^th November I travelled from Wrexham to Uxbridge for a very special dinner. I was really nervous about the evening as I didn't know what to expect - I'd never been to anything like it before. When I arrived at my RAF Uxbridge billet, I got changed in to my Number 2's - I felt so proud to be wearing my Royal Welsh cap badge and felt so proud to be in The Army Cadet Force.

We arrived at The Royal Hospital Chelsea and I was just amazed at the size of the place. It was enormous and quite breathtaking ! I was with two other cadets and we were shown the Great Hall where the dinner was to be held. It was incredible, walls filled with paintings and a real sense of history. Before the meal everyone gathered in the State Apartments for a pre dinner drink and chat. At first I was a bit nervous as everyone there seemed very important, but everyone was welcoming and interested in us. When we sat down for the meal, and I started talking to the people around me, I soon realised that the ACF meant a lot to them as well as me. The evening was fantastic, and meeting the people I did was a real honour. It also made me realise what an impact the ACF has on others as well as myself. Attending the dinner was a great honour and I enjoyed every single second of it. On the train home on the Sunday I realised how proud I am, and always will be, of being in the ACF.

The photographs show Cadet RSM Liz McCaffrey taking the recent parade at the Cadet Training Centre, Frimley Park, where the Reviewing Officer was His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh KG KT.