Posted on 1st January, 2026
The Trustees are delighted to welcome their new Chair, Mrs Victoria Hawley.
Victoria, who is from an Army family, has lived in Staffordshire for more than 30 years. She started her career in PR before becoming a teacher and member of the Senior Management Team at Abbots Bromley School.
She is a former High Sheriff of Staffordshire with a particular passion for cadet services across the county. She has numerous Board level positions including the John Sandy Trust which is responsible for HMP Featherstone Visitor Centre. Victoria is married to Charles and has three daughters.
Graham Morley, the previous Chair said “I’m particularly pleased to hand over the role of Chair to Victoria. She has been a great Trustee and has all the skills and experience to lead our team into the future. I’m sure she will do a fantastic job”.
Victoria will be supported by Col Toby Gaddum DL VR who takes over the role of Vice-Chair from Mrs Kate Farmer. The Trustees thank Kate for her commitment and support whilst she has been Vice-Chair.
Both Graham and Kate have agreed to remain as Trustees for a while to ensure a smooth transition to Victoria and Toby.
Posted on 1st January, 2026
The Friends Trust wish all of our supporters a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2026.
Your continued support is very much appreciated.
Don’t forget our next Annual Dinner 9th May 2026, we’d love to see you there.
Posted on 20th September, 2025
The Friends Trustees are delighted to invite you to launch your Christmas festivities at an informal festive drinks reception. This event will be held at Lunar Restaurant, Bar and Gallery, World of Wedgwood, Barlaston, Staffordshire, on Thursday, 4th December at 18:30 – 20:30.
Guests will enjoy festive drinks and canapés in excellent surroundings, mingling with the Friends Trust Trustees, Associates of the Friends Trust, representatives from our cadre of Army Cadet Force Adult Volunteers and other guests. There will be two short presentations from the Chair of the Friends Trust, Graham Morley, and the Commandant of the Staffordshire and West Midlands (North Sector) Army Cadet Force.
Tickets for this annual event are just £40, or £30 for serving Adult Volunteers with S&WM(NS)ACF, with all proceeds from the evening going to fund the work we do to support the Cadets and Adult Volunteers of S&WM(NS)ACF.
Dress code for this event is smart casual.
Posted on 1st September, 2025
Some Trustees and Friends were able to visit our Cadets at their Summer camp in Altcar, Merseyside. Our trip commenced on Wednesday, 20th August when we spent the evening with the Commandant and some of his ACF Officers, who were not on duty at that time, enjoying an evening meal.
The following morning, we were escorted to Altcar Training Facility to meet with other guests from the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association (RFCA) and Senior Army Officers. The Commandant, supported by his Senior Team, delivered a presentation to the assembled guests outlining the objectives of the summer camp and gave an overview of some of the obstacles faced by the Cadet Force. There was a particularly moving presentation by Major Jon Mannion CStJ, who described some of the personal challenges some cadets face and how these are accommodated to ensure that these cadets are not disadvantaged in any way.
After lunch, we were escorted out into the field where we enjoyed meeting and interacting with the cadets as they took breaks in their activities. We learned from them what it is like being outside 24hours a day for three or four days in all weathers whilst looking after a full complement of equipment and preparing meals from basic rations. It was enlightening to hear so many teenagers describing how much they were looking forward to their first shower in days! It was also fantastic to witness first-hand how much care and attention were being provided to each of the Cadets from the Adult Volunteers, who made sure that each Cadet were safe and learning a range of field skills that are commonplace in the British Army.
In the evening, we were hosted by the Commandant, Officers and Adult Volunteers at a Curry Supper in the Mess, where, in addition to the excellent food, we enjoyed the pastimes that those who had been on camp for the whole duration had enjoyed whenever they were not on duty.
The final event of the camp, on Friday 22nd August was the Parade, Drum-Head Service and Prize-Giving. The Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire presented each of the prizes to the winning Cadets, Adult Volunteers and Cadet Units for the Team Awards. This uplifting event finished off an excellent Summer Camp perfectly, not just for the visitors but the Cadets and Adult Volunteers alike.
Posted on 20th August, 2025
Following the success of the 2025 event, the dinner will again be held at The National Memorial Arboretum, Croxall Road, Alrewas, Staffordshire. DE13 7AR, starting at 6:30 pm, Saturday 9th May 2026
Attendees will again be able to watch an impressive demonstration by a full complement of our Corps of Drums against a backdrop of memorials at our national centre of remembrance.
This traditional black-tie, or full mess kit with medals, event will retain the strong military feel of previous years with a distinguished after-dinner speaker plus everyone’s favourite element of the evening, listening to serving cadets describe their experiences within our local Army Cadet Force.
Invitations and booking details will be sent to you early in the new year but in the meantime, please fix this event in your diary.
Posted on 20th June, 2025
It was a special pleasure to have my photograph taken with the three previous Chairs of the Friends Trust at the Annual Friends Dinner that took place at the National Memorial Arbouretum in May this year.
It was interesting to be able to share our experiences of being the Chairperson of such a great charity and the real sense of reward we get when we see for ourselves the impact the charity has on the lives of our Cadets and Adult Volunteers. Nothing would be achieved, of course, without the financial support we get from our those who make generous contributions to our cause and we share a deep gratitude to each and every one of these individuals that together make up the Friends of Staffordshire and West Midlands (North Sector) Army Cadet Force Trust.
Pictured, from left to right, are Mr Jonathan Dale, Mrs Jane Gerrard-Pierce, the very first Chairperson and Founder Mr Graham Stow and myself, Graham Morley.
It’s interesting but not surprising that we all share a deep passion for the work of the Friends Trust and it’s clear that even though we may step down from our role as Chairperson, our commitment continues unwaveringly. Standing with these great individuals I was reminded of a question asked of me some years ago – ‘why do you do it?” My answer, the sentiments of which I’m sure my predecessors would share was – “If you get such an amazing opportunity, why wouldn’t you?”
Posted on 4th June, 2025
The Friends Trust are delighted to announce the appointment of Gary White as a Trustee and Treasurer with immediate effect. Gary will take over the role of Treasurer of the Friends Trust following a managed handover from the interim Treasurer, Mohammed Khurum.
Gary is currently employed as Head of Operations at Muller Yoghurts and Deserts, overseeing their most modern site in Telford, Shropshire, which manufactures 10 million pots of private label yoghurts per week. Gary oversees all of the manufacturing operations, and his responsibilities include financial management, health and safety, quality, engineering, supply chain oversight, and day-to-day operations.
He is currently the Chair of Governors at the Academy for Theatre Arts based in Bradwell. He has been an elected Borough Council member on Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council where he was Chair of the Economy and Place Scrutiny Committee, and prior to that, Vice Chair of Public Protection and a Member of the Planning Committee.
During his successful career, he has managed budgets in excess of £650million annually as well as managing up to 2000 employees at any single time. He is an an engineer by trade and has been in general management for the last 30 years.
Gary lives with his husband Simon in their newly renovated listed house in Market Drayton.
Posted on 8th April, 2025
Ruby Nagi has decided to step down from being a trustee after 8 years loyal service to the Trust due to developing commitments elsewhere. Her husband, Pritpal Nagi, will be High Sheriff of Staffordshire in 2026 and they are currently concentrating their efforts on the preparation for this new high-profile commitment.
Whilst it has been Ruby that has been the Trustee, her husband, Pritpal, is also a long-term supporter of the ‘Friends’ and both remain committed to the work of the Friends Trust. Ruby has made it known that both she and Pritpal will continue to support the Trust into the future.
The trustees are grateful for all the support the Trust has received from Ruby and wish her and her husband every success in the future.
Posted on 10th January, 2025
Colonel Toby Gaddum was born in Wythenshawe, Manchester and grew up in neighbouring Macclesfield. From school, he went directly into full-time work in the textile industry, for which he has spent over 30 years.
In 2002, Colonel Gaddum commissioned into the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry. He served in D Squadron (RMLY) in Wigan for 10 years before holding appointments at Birmingham University Officer Training Corps as 2ic, Directing Staff on JOTAC and SO1 Engagement Reserves HQ London District (Horse Guards, London).
In 2017, he was appointed as Commanding Officer of the Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry based in Edinburgh. From there, he moved back to the West Midlands in 2019, where he served as SO1 Engagement Reserves at 11 Sigs and West Midlands Brigade, which subsequently became HQ West Midlands in Telford, Shropshire. He has recently served on the staff at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as SO1 Reserves.
Colonel Gaddum assumed the rank of Colonel in the Royal Armoured Corps Reserves in August 2023.
He is married to Jane, and they live in the Staffordshire Moorlands where they enjoy life on a small farm surrounded by horses and dogs.
Colonel Gaddum sold his textile factory in 2020 during Covid and now runs a small textile business together with Jane, specialising in silk and high technical textiles.
He is involved in charitable activities mainly in the offender and ex-offender space through his Livery Company, the Worshipful Company of Weavers.
Colonel Gaddum was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Staffordshire in May 2023.
His interests are varied, he is keen on horses, carriage driving, rugby union (watching now), cricket, transplant sport, promotion of organ transplantation, church life, playing the piano, guitar and penny whistle, hobby farming and spending time with family. He has recently represented GB&NI and World and European Transplant Games in a variety of sports.
Posted on 30th November, 2024
Ian Fitzjohn has decided to step down from being a trustee due to changing personal circumstances. Ian brought a wealth of experience to the Board of Trustees, particularly related to his banking expertise that enabked the Trust to rearrange its management of funds far more effectively.
Ian is at pains to emphasise that his interest in and commitment to the work of the Friends Trust will continue undiminished into the future.
The trustees are grateful for all the support the Trust has received from Ian and wish him every success in the future.
Mohammed Khurum, an existing Trustee of the Trust, will assume the role of Treasurer on an interim basis until a replacement Treasurer/Trustee is appointed in 2025