Durham Northumberland Wing Air Cadets

28/10/2026

Sad Passing of Wg Cdr (Retd) Gordon Duff

It is with great sadness that I write to inform staff and committee members of the passing of Wing Commander (Retired) Gordon R Duff, a much-respected and valued member of Durham Northumberland Wing RAFAC, whose service and commitment to the Corps spanned many decades.

Gordon dedicated a significant part of his life to the Air Training Corps, beginning his journey in 1966 at 346 (Tynemouth) Squadron. A keen member of the Squadron band, he rose through the cadet ranks to become a Cadet Warrant Officer. In 1979, he continued his involvement as a Civilian Instructor at 1000 (Blyth) Squadron, before being commissioned as an officer in 1997.

Throughout his career, Gordon served as Officer Commanding 1110 (Ashington) Squadron and joined Wing Staff in 1987, where he made a considerable contribution through his work as Wing Sports Officer, Adventure Training Officer and Duke of Edinburgh's Award Officer. In 1998, he assumed command of Durham Northumberland Wing, leading the organisation with dedication and commitment.

Following his retirement from uniformed service, Gordon continued to serve the Wing as Wing Chairman, demonstrating that his commitment to the Corps and its people extended well beyond his time in uniform.

Gordon's contribution to the Wing and the generations of cadets and staff he supported will not be forgotten. He leaves behind a lasting legacy, and we extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends at this very sad time.

Memorial Service Arrangements

A memorial service celebrating Gordon's life will take place as follows:

Date: Thursday 5 November 2026
Time: 12 noon
Venue: St Augustine's Church, North Shields, NE30 2HE

Following the service, family and friends are invited to join together for refreshments and to share memories of Gordon's life at:

The Exchange 1856
Howard Street, North Shields, NE30 1SE
From 1.00 pm

The dress code for the memorial service is not all black, in keeping with the family's wishes to celebrate Gordon's life.

In lieu of flowers, Gordon requested donations to local charities, including Macmillan Cancer Support, St Augustine's Church in North Shields, and towards a memorial bench in memory of Gordon and the nurses and staff who supported him.

Donations can be made via the following page:

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/michelle-duff-2

Attendance on Behalf of the Wing

I would be grateful if staff who are able to take time away from work could attend the memorial service to represent Durham Northumberland Wing and pay their respects to Gordon.

Gordon gave so much to our Wing over many years, and I hope we can demonstrate the high regard in which he was held by coming together to honour his memory.

Our thoughts and condolences remain with Gordon's family and friends at this difficult time.

Iʼm raising money to donate monies to Macmillan Cancer Support, St Augustine's Church (North Shields) and a memorial bench in memory of Gordon Duff.. Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.

20/10/2026

🎯 Live Firing Training for Cadets 🎯

Cadets from across Durham Northumberland Wing attended a Live Firing Marksmanship Training (LFMT) day at RAF Boulmer last weekend, where they developed their skills on the L98A2 Cadet GP R***e and progress through the RAF Air Cadets Shooting Syllabus.

Guided by qualified instructors, cadets improved their marksmanship, confidence and weapon handling skills while working towards recognised shooting badges and qualifications. All 19 cadets participating achieved their blue shooting badge.

Cadets are taught weapon handling skills as part of a structured programme of supervised training that emphasises safe and responsible use.

Many thanks goes out to RAF Boulmer for their continued support and that of the staff from DNW.

17/10/2026

It is with great sadness that we share that Warrant Officer Tom Farrimond, a longstanding legend in our Wing, passed away earlier this week following a brave battle with cancer.

Originally joining Blaydon Air Cadets in 1962 as a cadet, Tom was appointed as a Warrant Officer in May 1973 following a short period as a Civilian Instructor. During his time in the Wing, he has worked with thousands of cadets both at Blaydon Squadron and across the Wing. In 1995 he was appointed as the first Wing Warrant Officer for Durham/Northumberland Wing.

A true gentleman, Tom embodied the ethos of the Corps and was the epitome of a positive role model. He showed humility, respect and an unwavering commitment to the development of young people in over half a century of service. Respected by staff and cadets alike, he set high standards and supported others to get the best out of the Corps.

His Cadet Force Medal – with an unbelievable six clasps – plus the commendations he received over the years, reflect his dedication to duty and his service to others.

WO Tom Farrimond will be greatly missed by all whose paths he crossed, but his legacy will continue, both in the hearts and minds of those who knew him, as well as in his sons and daughter, who continue to serve in a variety of roles across the Wing.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this very sad time.

16/10/2026

Great to see that 346 Tynemouth Sqn ATC's photos from last weekend's Wing Bronze The Duke of Edinburgh's Award expedition made it onto the Friday Round-up!

Royal Air Force Air Cadets North Region - Royal Air Force Air Cadets

14/10/2026

🌟 Northern Lights on Bronze DofE! 🌟

What an INCREDIBLE time our Bronze DofE teams had on their expedition last weekend! As well as enjoying the beautiful Northumberland coastline, with its amazing views and heritage, they were treated to an unbelievable show of the aurora borealis, or northern lights!

Both teams had chosen to focus on the local heritage for their expedition goal, so they planned their route to take in some of the region’s castles - Bamburgh and Dunstanburgh - as well as wartime heritage including pill boxes, coastal defences, and disused radar stations.

A blustery day led to a clear night, which was perfect for a bit of stargazing - followed by an immense display of the aurora borealis!

A huge well done to the cadets for completing their expedition, and a massive thank you to the staff who supported the weekend!

11/10/2026

🏊‍♀️ Inter Squadron Swimming Competition 🏊‍♂️

Today we saw staff from across the Wing head to Morpeth Sports and Leisure Centre for our Inter Squadron Swimming competition!

After an absence of a number of years from our sporting calendar, it was great to see the event back in full swing.

Over the course of the day, we saw our cadets compete across numerous events, with a very competitive event and a number of long standing Wing records broken over the course of the day!

A well done to the following Squadrons who walked away as winners of the respective categories:

Junior Boys: 1409 Consett Squadron - RAF Air Cadets
Senior Boys: 1407 Newton Aycliffe Squadron RAFAC
Junior Girls: 1409 (Consett) Squadron
Senior Girls: 1114 (Gosforth) Squadron

And a congratulations to the following units who made up our top three on the day:

🥉 404 Morpeth Squadron ATC
🥈 1114 (Gosforth) Squadron
🥇 1409 (Consett) Squadron

A well done to all of the cadets for the efforts today and a massive thank you to our adult volunteers for supporting the event and making it happen!

Our next and final sporting event of 2026 is our Inter Squadron Basketball competition, speak to your Squadron staff for more info on how you can get involved!

North Region - Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Regional Commandant North - Air Cadets
Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets
North of England RFCA

10/10/2026

🏕️ Wing Bronze DofE Expedition 🏕️

Good luck to our Bronze DofE teams who are heading out on their Assessed Expedition this morning!

Along the way, they’re learning about the history of the many amazing castle along the Northumberland coast!

06/10/2026

🌟 NATIONAL CADETS WEEK 2026 🌟

Being an RAF Air Cadet is about so much more than what happens on squadron nights.

Across the country, our cadets are getting stuck in, supporting local communities, volunteering at events, raising money for good causes, taking part in Remembrance parades and lending a helping hand wherever they can.

It’s a chance to give something back, meet new people and make a real difference, while developing confidence, teamwork, leadership and skills for life along the way.

And we know there are countless stories of cadets making a difference in their own communities!

So, this National Cadets Week, we want to hear yours!

Share what your squadron has been getting up to, tag us and use so we can celebrate the incredible contribution of our cadets together.

06/10/2026

🌟 NATIONAL CADETS WEEK 2026 🌟

Adult volunteers are the backbone of this organisation. Week in, week out, you give your time, energy and expertise to inspire young people, build their confidence, and help them develop skills that will stay with them for life.

To mark this year’s National Cadets Week, we are honoured to share a special message from His Majesty The King, recognizing and thanking you for your incredible commitment and service.

Thank you for everything you do to make Durham Northumberland Wing the outstanding organisation it is.

05/10/2026

🌟 NATIONAL CADETS WEEK 2026 🌟

This week, we’re celebrating the young people, adult volunteers, and experiences that make the Royal Air Force Air Cadets the incredible organisation it is.

From leadership and adventure to aviation, STEM, sport, music and community, the Air Cadets gives young people the opportunity to learn new skills, challenge themselves, build confidence and create memories that last a lifetime.

Look out for more coverage of National Cadets Week from Squadrons across our Wing!