The West Midland RFCA Podcast

What stories lie behind the Drill Halls and Reserve Centres on our streets? Tom Kwei is joined by Derrick Harwood, Greater London RFCA’s archivist and historian and a veteran of three decades in the Territorial Army, to explore the origins of the Reserve Forces and Cadets Associations. From militias and yeomanry to the formation of the Territorial Force and mobilisation in 1914, this episode is a deep-dive into how local volunteers helped shape Britain’s military history and how that partners...

What is Annual Camp really like for the Cadets and adult volunteers who take part? In this episode of The West Midland RFCA Podcast, Tom heads to Beckingham Training Camp to find out! Speaking directly to Cadets from across the region about the training, friendships, challenges and opportunities that make Annual Camp one of the highlights of the Cadet calendar. Recorded on location during a sun-soaked day at Beckingham, we hear from Cadets at different stages of their journey, from those deve...

The Armed Forces Covenant is a national promise that those who serve, have served, and their families should be treated fairly. At its heart are two key principles: that members of the Armed Forces community should face no disadvantage when accessing public or commercial services, and that special consideration should be given where appropriate, particularly to those who have been injured or bereaved. In this special episode of The West Midland RFCA Podcast, we meet three employers from three...

Happy Armed Forces Day! To mark this special occasion, we have spoken to four veterans from across the West Midlands, each sharing their personal story of service and what Armed Forces Day means to them. Armed Forces Day is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the people who serve, have served, and the families, communities and organisations who support them. Timestamps 0:45 – What is Armed Forces Day? 2:27 – Lieutenant Colonel John Tucker 13:07 – Major Darren Knight 23:18 – Lieuten...

Our Volunteers Week special is a celebration of the incredible Cadet Force Adult Volunteers who give their time, energy and experience to support young people across the West Midlands. In this episode, we hear four inspiring conversations with CFAVs from across the region: a Head of A-Level Chemistry supporting the Combined Cadet Force in his school; a Royal Air Force Air Cadets officer who gained so much from Cadets herself that she returned as a volunteer and became Officer Commanding; a se...