RAF Section
Cadets from our RAF Section recently took part in a Joint Training Exercise at Boddam Training Camp with Albyn Cadets. The aim of the weekend was to enable participating cadets with the opportunity to complete their First Class training, allowing us to award the classification badges before being joined by new recruits in December. 

The course covered core elements, including:

• Ranks and Structure
• Drill
• Airmanship
• Basic Radio

During the October holidays Amy S and Sunjae K attended the week long Silver Space Camp held at the West Scotland Wing Activity Center. Learning direct impact of cyber security threat, applying first-line cyber defences and constructing, configuring and securing networks. Amy S also celebrated her 15th birthday at this camp and a break from tradition was allowed to parade in a tiara, happy birthday Amy!

Flt Lt Rhodes will stand down as OC RAF following the CCF Remembrance Service and Parade, concluding seven years of leadership during which she oversaw the RAF Section’s most successful period of growth, expanding it from 12 cadets to over 80 while developing a varied and vibrants syllabus.

Proud of the growth the section has seen, Flt Lt Rhodes shared: “It has been an immense honour and privilege to lead the RAF Section over the past eight years. During this time, I have been proud to witness the growth and development of hundreds of individual cadets. Respect, Integrity, Service, and Excellence are at the heart of what we do, and these - along with the discipline and moral courage expected of all CCF cadets - are values I hope you will carry with you throughout your lives.

“We have shared so many positive experiences together, both at Schoolhill and at Wing, Region, and National events. For many, these have offered opportunities to achieve things that would simply not have been possible outside of cadets. I will cherish those memories and will miss you all dearly.

“There is a saying commonly used across all branches of the military: we don’t say goodbye - we say see you soon.”

Army Section
A team of eleven S3–S5 cadets, Gaby, Caitlin, Ellis, Yazmyn, Cameron, Andrew, Abi, Alistair, Joshua, Manuel and Archie showed incredible grit and determination at the Barry Buddon Training Area during the Military Skills weekend. After setting up camp in the dark on Friday, they faced an intense Saturday covering over 20km of competitive stands, tackling tasks in communication, first aid, signals, navigation, teamwork under pressure, and weapon drills.

Led superbly by Gaby as Section Commander, with Alistair and Yasmyn sharing Second in Command duties, the group demonstrated outstanding leadership and resilience throughout. Sunday’s 10km navigation exercise saw both RGC groups complete all checkpoints well within time, rounding off a demanding and rewarding competition. We are thrilled to share that our team finished third and earned a Gold Award. Congratulations to the cadets, what an outstanding achievement for RGC CCF!

Pipe Band
At the beginning of September, some of our Senior School pipers joined forces with the Grampian Police Pipe Band to kick off Offshore Europe. Throughout the performance the sun was shining, beginning an exciting few days celebrating innovation and collaboration across the energy sector.

In October, the RGC Pipe Band was proud to support Grado, a professional wrestler, actor and Heart Radio DJ as he set off from Union Terrace Gardens on his Granite to Glasgow Handcycle Challenge for Global’s Make Some Noise! 

Some of our Senior School pipers and drummers had the honour of performing for HRH The Princess Royal during her visit to Fiddesbeg Farm recently. The occasion celebrated the Sinclairs’ 25-year journey in farming, transforming their operation from a small dairy farm into one of the UK’s few fully renewable farms. It now generates green electricity through their Anaerobic Digester Plant, supplying power back to the National Grid. This special moment highlighted three generations of Gordonians: Euan (Class of 2026) and Ellie Sinclair Class of 2012, their father, Magnus (Class of 1992); and grandfather, Alistair (Class of 1963), who have pioneered sustainable farming at Fiddesbeg Farm.

Following a rigorous audition process, Larry (S1), has been successfully awarded a place in the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland. This opportunity will provide Larry unique development opportunities within piping, including performing in their national bands, within their outreach programme and ongoing projects. Larry is following in the footsteps of some of his older peers, ensuring that members of the RGC Pipe Band have an ever present footprint within the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland.