King’s School student William is first school cadet to win flying scholarship

A King’s School cadet’s career looks set to take off after being awarded a flying scholarship.

Cadet Flt Sgt William Proctor, of The King’s School Grantham Combined Cadet Force (CCF), is one of only nine cadets in the United Kingdom to be accepted for the first ever Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Knight Flying Scholarship and the only one selected from a school-based unit.

William was selected by the head of the Air Cadet Organisation, Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty, as being among those showing the most promise for a successful career in aviation.

The 18-year-old will take part in a six-week residential course at Tayside Aviation as part of the scholarship which, upon completion, will lead to him being awarded a private pilot’s license.

William joined the King’s School CCF as he had always wanted to be a pilot and it’s already provided him with more opportunities than flying aircraft.

Through the CCF he’s also completed an Air Cadet leadership course, been part of an award-winning shooting team and earned the silver Duke of Edinburgh Award.

He said: “I was elated and excited when I heard I had been selected for the scholarship after staff at the CCF had nominated me for it. It’s a fantastic opportunity.

“I’ve always wanted to be a pilot, be it with the Air Force, the Navy or as a civilian pilot.

“Joining the CCF has been absolutely brilliant. I wanted to do as much flying as possible and it’s been great piloting the training aircraft. Being a part of the CCF has been really enjoyable and I particularly like the leadership side to it and emphasis on teamwork.”

William is currently taking his A-Levels and in September will go to Birmingham University to study Russian, French and German.

He was nominated for the award by Kings School CCF’s Contingent Commander Lt Col Ray Ogg and the Officer Commanding for the RAF Section of the unit, Flt Lt Catherine Barton.

Lt Col Ogg said: “William is mad about becoming a pilot and is one of our top performing senior cadets and is a credit to our CCF contingent.

“He has all the qualities and qualifications to achieve whatever he wants to in his career, as proven by the successful selection for this prestigious scholarship.”