Outreach project honours its own

Jan 8 2009 Blairgowrie Advertiser

THE award-winning Perth and Kinross based Black Watch Cadet Outreach Project held its annual dinner at the Altamount Hotel, Blairgowrie, hosted by the Perth and East Perthshire Company Commander and Outreach Project leader, Major Douglas Pover.

The guests present demonstrated the level of support in Perthshire for the work of the project and included the Lord Lieutenant of Perth and Kinross, Brigadier Mel Jameson; Provost John Hulbert and Mrs Hulbert, local MP Pete Wishart, local councillors, Tayside Police Western Division Commander Chief Superintendent Matt Hamilton and the Cadet Commandant Colonel Martin Passmore.

The project partnership itself was well supported, with head teachers Brenda Kerr, Rattray; Margaret Cameron, Coupar Angus; and Neil Lindsay, Alyth; all in attendance as well as primary 7 teachers Helen McCulloch and Audrey Watson, Roddy Wood from Blairgowrie Police and a host of cadet officers and some cadets.

Among the cadet representation were Stanley Detachment cadets Mark Macdonald and Kevin McKeown. Both were senior cadets in the Battalion and the dinner marked the end of their cadet service. Both assisted with the 2008 outreach project and both are to become adult instructors with the Blairgowrie Detachment where the project is based.

Brigadier Jameson paid tribute to the Outreach Project, the work of the Army Cadet Force in the local community and to the two senior cadets as shining examples of what can be achieved by being members of the Army Cadet Force and putting these skills back into the community through Outreach. He went on to thank the strong partnership of the schools involved and Tayside Police which made the project so successful.

To mark the achievements of the project and the cadets, Pete Wishart presented the Westminster Cup which is to be awarded annually to recognise adult support to the Army Cadet Force and its projects in Blairgowrie and East Perthshire. The first winners were the parents committee members of John Gregory, Denise Boag and Joyce Duffy who have supported a host of cadet activities as well as supporting the Outreach Project.

Other presentations were made to Constable Roddy Wood, Youth Liaison Officer at Blairgowrie police station for his efforts in supporting the Outreach Project.

Flowers were presented to Mary Little who had just stood down as the detachment commander of the Stanley Detachment to take up the appointment second in Command of Alma Company. Mary has also been and will continue to support the Outreach Project.

Major Douglas Pover said the project has been supported with funding for this year and it was hoped it could have even more success and impact in 2009.