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This page was last updated at Monday, July 12, 2010

Refinery grant helps Air Cadets spread their wings

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Three years of fundraising has finally paid off, as a squadron of air cadets has taken delivery of a brand new minibus, to transport them to activities around the county and beyond.

 

Funds raised through marshalling duties at a number of local events and bag packing at a supermarket, as well as donations from business and charitable organisations, have all contributed towards the cost of the new vehicle, which will transport the Hythe Air Cadets to training camps and RAF stations around the country.

 

Esso and ExxonMobil Chemical at Fawley has donated £2,000 towards the cost of the mini-bus in recognition of the time and effort one ExxonMobil employee has put into volunteering with the squadron.

 

The ExxonMobil scheme not only helps local organisations, but also improves the links between ExxonMobil and the local community.

 

The grant applicant was Mike Buckley, who has just retired as a manager from the engineering section at ExxonMobil at Fawley.

 

He has been involved with the squadron for 14 years and his own son, who was a cadet, is now an officer in the RAF.

 

Mike is currently the chairman of the squadron’s civilian committee, which heads up fundraising for the group, and has also recently been appointed as deputy wing chairman for the Hants & Isle of Wight Wing.

 

Mike said: “The old minibus really was on its last legs and although it has served us well, it is now at the end of its useful life.

 

The generosity of organisations like ExxonMobil has meant that we can look to the future of the squadron.

 

Without reliable transport we simply couldn’t have continued to offer such a wide range of opportunities each year.”

 

The 2495 Hythe Squadron Air Training Corp parades at Shore Road in Hythe each Tuesday and Thursday evening.

 

It is open to young people aged 13 - 20 and can be contacted on 023 8084 4522.

 

The minibus cost £25,000 in total. Other organisations which made substantial contributions to the cost of the minibus include the Dibden Allotments Fund and the local Rotary and Lions clubs.

 

The ExxonMobil Volunteer Involvement Programme at Fawley, together with its sister scheme for school governors, has so far contributed more than £500,000 to local community projects since it was started seven years ago.

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