New home for Army Cadet Force opens in Fife village

Cadets and adults of Angus and Dundee Battalion of the Army Cadet Force (ACF) Newport Detachment will use the facility, with several of them present for the opening.

The £330,000 building was commissioned by Highland Cadet Forces’ and Cadets’ Association (HRFCA). It was a first for the association, being specifically built for installation on the site of former Spooner huts, and it was designed to the specifications of the ACF and HRFCA by Jam Studios in Aberdeen and made and installed by Elite Modular Buildings Solutions.

It forms one part of HRFCA’s £1.4 million programme of cadet building replacements. This year saw a similar build and installation take place at Bo’ness.

Opening the building, the Lord-Lieutenant said: “It gives me great pleasure to open this new cadet hut for the Newport Detachment of the Angus and Dundee Battalion of the Army Cadet Force. It is a great credit to the Estates Team of Highland Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association that the project has been completed within the many restrictions, delays and frustrations produced by Covid-19, and I thank you for sticking to the task.”

The Lord-Lieutenant – who had a chance to speak to cadets following a socially-distanced tour of the building – also acknowledged the work being done by the adult volunteers without whom, he said, “there would be no Army Cadet Force”.

Colonel Ewan Marshall, Commandant Angus and Dundee Battalion ACF, thanked the Lord Lieutenant for opening the building.

He added: “The new detachment will enable a better cadet experience for all and will be a welcome asset for the community. I’d like to thank the cadets and, in particular, our amazing adult volunteers for their patience and perseverance during the rebuild.”