His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Professor Adeeba Malik CBE, officially appointed the 2026 Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets of West Yorkshire and presented the Lord-Lieutenant’s Awards to individuals for their exceptional commitment to services in the cadet and reserve forces. The event marks the Lord-Lieutenant’s first awards ceremony since her appointment in December 2025.The ceremony was held last night at Huddersfield Army Reserve Centre and was hosted by the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association for Yorkshire and the Humber. The event was attended by military officers and personnel including the High Sheriff of West Yorkshire, Dr. Ruby Khalid Bhatti OBE DL, The Rt. Worshipful the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Stephen Holroyd, the Deputy Mayor of Kirklees, Councillor Lee Cliff, The Mayor of Calderdale, Councillor Liz Smaje and The Rt. Worshipful the Mayor of Wakefield, Councillor Brian Moorhouse.
About the Lord-Lieutenant’s Awards
The Lord-Lieutenant’s Award recognises cadets, cadet adult volunteers, reservists and military civilian support staff for their extraordinary efforts and supplements honours bestowed by His Majesty The King in the New Year and Birthday Honours Lists.
Cadets awarded become one of the Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets of their county supporting the Lord-Lieutenant at many ceremonial duties throughout the year. Duties can range from Royal Visits to services such as Remembrance Day. To receive this, cadets must be of the highest standard with excellent bearing, good interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with others. Recipients should hold the rank of at least Able Cadet or Cadet Sergeant and should have been a cadet for at least two years. This award is the highest honour a cadet can achieve and offers opportunities unique only to the cadets recognised as Lord-Lieutenant Cadets.
This award is the highest honour a cadet can achieve and offers opportunities unique only to the cadets recognised as Lord-Lieutenant Cadets. The Lord-Lieutenant’s Award is also given to adult volunteers of any rank serving in the reserves and cadet forces as well as military-civilian support staff for their work in the forces, specifically recognising exceptional service.
Deepest Gratitude
HM Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire said:
‘Congratulations to all those recognised at this year’s Lord-Lieutenant’s Awards. It is a privilege to celebrate the exceptional dedication and commitment of outstanding members of the Reserve and Cadet Forces, whose contribution makes such a profound and lasting difference to the Armed Forces community in West Yorkshire.
I am equally proud of the young people appointed as the 2026 Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets. They are an inspiration to their peers and a credit to their families, units and communities. I look forward to their support at events and ceremonies throughout the year ahead.’
West Yorkshire award recipients full list
The following individuals were recognised for their outstanding service:
RESERVES
- Lieutenant Commander James Hackman, HMS CERES
- Corporal (RM) James Whittaker, Royal Marines Reserve Merseyside, Leeds Det
- Acting Leading Hand David Sinclair, HMS CERES
- Major Dawn Groves-Williams, 214 Multi-role Medical Regiment, 212 Hospital Squadron, Leeds
- Warrant Officer Class 2 Peter Wedgwood, 214 Multi-role Medical Regiment, 212 Hospital Squadron, Leeds
- Corporal Donna-Marie Flitcroft, 214 Multi-role Medical Regiment, 212 Hospital Squadron, Leeds
CADET FORCE ADULT VOLUNTEERS (CFAVs)
- Staff Sergeant Rachel Stones, Yorkshire ACF, D Company, Odsal Detachment
- Squadron Leader Jamie Williamson, South and West Yorkshire Wing
- Civilian Instructor Christopher Kitching, 208 (North Leeds) Squadron, South and West Yorkshire Wing
LORD-LIEUTENANT’S CADETS
- Able Cadet Jamie Ford, TS Ark Royal (City of Leeds) Sea Cadet unit
- Cadet Company Sergeant Major Finnley Beckwith, Halifax Detachment, Yorkshire (North and West) ACF
- Cadet Warrant Officer Shreya Patel, 44F (Bradford) Squadron, South and West Yorkshire Wing RAFAC
- Cadet Sergeant Ethan Bowles, Bradford Grammar School CCF
Statement from the 2026 Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets of West Yorkshire
Cadet Warrant Officer Shreya Patel said:
“For me becoming Lord-Lieutenant Cadet is an honour as it is a very highly respected achievement within the cadet forces. It has been an achievement I have wanted to achieve since I started and now that I have I’m overwhelmed with joy that I’ve managed to achieve my dream after only three years in the cadet forces.”
Cadet Sergeant Ethan Bowles Ethan Bowles:
“Becoming a Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadet is a great honour, and I’m incredibly grateful to have been selected to represent my squadron and the Air Cadets. It’s something I’ve wanted to achieve since I first discovered the position at the start of my cadet career, so I’m really looking forward to taking on the role.”
Able Cadet Jamie Ford:
“Becoming a Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadet means a lot to me and I am incredibly proud of how far I have come in cadets. The cadet experience has given me memories, skills, friendships and opportunities that I will take with me for the rest of my life, and I would love to encourage others to do something similar.”
Meet the 2026 Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets of West Yorkshire: