by Stephen Waite

A captain in the Kent Army Cadet Force (KACF) is standing down, 29 years after he joined as a 13-year-old.

Clive Morris, of Hill Green Road, Stockbury, was a cadet at the now defunct Eastchurch detachment in the 1980s.

Better known as Mo, he completed a Cadet Leadership Course at Frimley Park near Farnborough, Surrey, where he achieved a four-star, the highest level achievable for a cadet at the time.

He finished as a Cadet Sergeant Major in 1988 before moving up through the ranks as an adult.

Having passed his Instructors’ Training Course, he went on to lead the County Training Team and instruct at Frimley Park.

He led detachments including Eastchurch, Sheerness and Woodlands in Gillingham, and led expeditions to Canada and Gibraltar.

Mo, who is operations director for hair and beauty products manufacturer Medichem in Rushenden, was also the County Regimental Sergeant Major and led Kent’s Duke of Edinburgh and Adventurous Training Teams.

He said: “I have been fortunate to be involved in many high-profile projects, including attending Sandhurst, to take part in the ACF Banner presentation by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh – and I played a major part in the planning and preparation for the royal opening of Dibgate, the cadet weekend training centre, by HRH The Duke of Kent.

“I also organised the largest contingent of Kent ACF personnel ever on parade outside annual camp, for the parade of victories through Canterbury high street for the national Cadet 150 celebrations.

“My most recent position, commanding the Adventurous Training Team, really epitomized how activities that the ACF offers really build a young person’s confidence and give them opportunities that they might not otherwise have had.

“I was also particularly proud to receive a Lord Lieutenant’s Award for Meritious Service.

“I am the kind of man who is ‘all or nothing’, so I decided that I would finish my career and use the spare time to concentrate on playing squash, renovating my home, holidays and travel a bit.”