As part of celebrations for the 20th anniversary of our formation, the cadets and staff of 340 Squadron held a Dining In Night at The Kent and Surrey Golf and Country Club in Edenbridge on Saturday 25th April 2009.

The Squadron was originally formed as 340 (Weald of Kent) Squadron on 1st July 1989, having been a Detached Flight of 2158 (Sevenoaks) Squadron for a number of years. The Squadron changed its name to 340 (Edenbridge) Squadron on 1st July 1999.

We were honoured to welcome as our Principal Guest, Air Vice-Marshal Baz North OBE MA RAF, the newly-appointed Air Officer Commanding No 22 (Training) Group and Chief of Staff Training at Headquarters Air Command. This position comes with a £500m budget and includes overall responsibility for the Red Arrows and the Air Cadet Organisation.

Air Vice-Marshal North joined the RAF in 1982 and has flown many thousands of hours in a wide range of support helicopters, including the iconic Chinook. He once commanded RAF Squadrons in both the UK and the Falkland Islands and was the Senior RAF Officer in Northern Ireland. Before his last post in the Ministry of Defence, he commanded No 83 Expeditionary Air Group in Qatar, responsible for all UK air operations in the Gulf Region and Afghanistan.

Air Vice-Marshal North was accompanied by his wife Fiona and they were welcomed on arrival by a Guard of Honour formed of ten cadets and commanded by Cadet Tom Sterritt. Air Vice-Marshal North stopped to shake hands with each cadet and talk with them about their experiences in the ATC.

Also among the 54 diners were Wing Commander Greg Garrod-Bell RAFVR(T), Officer Commanding Kent Wing Air Training Corps; Councillor Jill Davison, Chairman of the Edenbridge Town Council, and Councillor Richard Davison; and Mr Don Mayby, President and Chairman of the Oxted and Limpsfield Branch of the Royal Air Forces Association.

Presiding over the evening, the Squadron’s Commanding Officer, Flight Lieutenant Matt Teague RAFVR(T), spoke of the success of the unit over the past 18 months and thanked and praised his team of nine volunteer staff members for their outstanding efforts. He also read a letter received from His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, Air Commodore-in-Chief of the Air Training Corps, congratulating the Squadron on its anniversary.

Air Vice-Marshal North then spoke about current Air Cadet and RAF operations before proposing a toast to 340 Squadron.