MORE than 200 Army Cadets, including some from Sidmouth, Budleigh Salterton and Exeter, marched Exeter city centre on Saturday (June 12) to celebrate 150 years of the military cadet movement.

MORE than 200 Army Cadets, including some from Sidmouth, Budleigh Salterton and Exeter, marched Exeter city centre on Saturday (June 12) to celebrate 150 years of the military cadet movement.

They were accompanied by 100 Sea Cadets and 200 Air Cadets.

The parade was led by the Band of the Devon Army Cadet Force and commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Ashley Fulford, Deputy Commandant of Devon Army Cadet Force.

Cadets marched past the Guildhall saluting base where the Lord Mayor of Exeter, Councillor Marcel Choules, and Air Chief Marshall Sir Peter Squire, took the salute.

Thousands of spectators lining the streets from St Sidwells along the High Street gave the cadets a tremendous ovation in appreciation of the value of the military youth organisations.

The cadets then returned to Wyvern Barracks where a short Drum Head service was held and the presentation of celebratory scrolls to each of the Cadet Forces.

The Band of the Army Cadet Force sounded the Beating of Retreat to end the celebrations.

Lieutenant Colonel Tony Ley MBE, said: "The early days of the cadet movement developed from the raising of Volunteers due to the threat of invasion in 1859 and in 1860 the Volunteers formed cadet companies.

"A leading Victorian social worker, Octavia Hill, formed the Southward cadet company to introduce boys to the virtues of order, cleanliness, team work and self-reliance."

Now the cadet movement is open to boys and girls and number almost 100,000 in all three services.

Many cadets go on to become leaders in the Armed Forces as well as industry and commerce and, said Lt Col Ley: "This is just one reason why it is important to have the opportunity to celebrate the values and achievements of the cadets and the cadet movement.