Olympic opening ceremony honour for David
Cpl David Adam of RAF Leuchars
RAF Leuchars Corporal David Adam MBE has been given the honour of raising the Union Jack during the opening ceremony for the 2012 Olympic Games tomorrow (Friday).
Cpl Adam (44), who lives at the north east Fife airbase with his wife and four children, is one of 176 Service personnel who will raise flags during the Games period, and have been selected by their Service because they have a sporting connection, have shone on operations or have strong links within their communities. Cpl Adam works in an administrative support role and has been deployed on five operational tours including postings to Italy (2000-01) during the conflict in the Balkans, to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iraq on Op Telic (2003) and twice in the past few years in support of Operations in Afghanistan in 2008 and 2011.
While at Kirkton High School in Dundee, which he left in 1984, David developed a passion for cross country running and represented Scotland in the Home International Cross Country Championships in Birmingham in 2009. That year he also won gold as part of the Herne Hill Harriers veterans relay team at the National Championships in Sutton Coldfield. During his deployment to Gioia del Colle in Italy in 2001 he also won the Southern Italy Cross Country Amateur Championships – a big surprise to him as he thought he had finished third (the two runners in front of him were professionals).
David has raised more than £200,000 for charity, mainly for terminally ill and disadvantaged children, his efforts leading to him being awarded the MBE in 2008. While serving in the Falkland Islands in 2006 he raised £2600 in just 16 days including running 36 miles on a treadmill in five hours and 55 seconds.
David has taken part in a number of other ceremonial events this summer including as part of the RAF Leuchars marching contingent at the Armed Forces Diamond Jubilee Parade through Edinburgh attended by the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, the Armed Forces Day Parade through his hometown of Dundee and took part in the Guard of Honour as the Olympic Torch Relay passed through Leuchars. Alongside his RAF and charity work, David – who left school with one O level – has completed a BA in Business Management and is now studying for an MA.
Of his Olympic Ceremonial Duties, Cpl Adam said: “I am very proud to have this opportunity to represent the Royal Air Force and Dundee taking part in this once in a lifetime event. I guess the opening ceremony is the most prestigious part of the Games that you can be involved in if you are not actually competing so it is a big honour for me.”
Flight Lieutenant Cyrus Pocha, who commands the Personnel Services Flight at RAF Leuchars that Cpl Adam is part of, said: “Corporal Adam represents everything that is at the heart of our military ethos and core values. He is a fantastic ambassador for the Royal Air Force and I know he feels immensely honoured to be a part of this historic event. This opportunity is also fitting, given all that Corporal Adam has contributed to both the Service and the wider community.”
Lord Coe, London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Chair, said:“The flag raising duties at Olympic and Paralympic Games are seen as an honour but we are in fact honoured to have these inspirational men and women be part of London 2012.”
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Kirkcaldy
Tuesday 21 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: North west
