North West Regional Operations Managers
| |
Paul Hotston |
 |
Paul lives in the southern part of the Lake District, near Coniston Water.
He started working part-time for CVQO in 2002 and full-time from 2004. He is Regional Operations Manager for Cumbria and Lancashire.
Prior to working for CVQO, he worked for an airline at Heathrow Airport for 24 years before spending 14 years as a college lecturer, as well as running an airfreight consultancy and photography business.
Paul has an MA in ICT and Learning, BA and PGCE in education and BSc in chemistry. He is also a Founding Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management, Fellow of the Institute for Learning and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
In 47 years with the Air Training Corps, Paul has held every rank from Cadet to Wing Commander and has undertaken almost every role at Squadron, Wing and Regional level. Currently as a volunteer, he is Corps Training Officer of the ATC and Educational Advisor to HQ Air Cadets. Paul was responsible for creating the first vocational qualification in the Air Cadet Organisation in 1996 and development the first teaching qualifications in 2000.
|
| |
Ian Kelly |
 |
Ian is the CVQO Regional Operations Manager covering North Wales and the North West English counties from Shropshire to the Cumbrian border. He joined CVQO in 2004 having enjoyed 4 years commanding 26 Cadet Training Team in Manchester. Ian joined the Territorial Army whilst still at school (aged 17), and has served with various TA and Regular units. He was the CTT Representative on the ACF National Training Committee and commanded King’s School (Chester) CCF. Ian holds the City & Guilds Membership Award and is a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management.
|
| |
Iain Lowther
|
 |
Born in Carlisle 1968, and was educated at Morton Secondary School. Joined the Scots Guards at 16, serving with the Regiments Pipes & Drums, and reaching the appointment of Pipe Major in 2006. I have been the Pipe Sgt at the Army School of Piping & Highland Drumming, and have played in many countries all over the world, for Royal families and Heads of State including our own Royal Family, and was the Lone Piper at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 2007. I have written many tunes, some of which have been published in books and on CD.
I retired from the Army after 26yrs service and joined CVQO in March 2010.
I am also a Piping advisor working with the National Cadet Piping & Drumming Training and Advisory Team, based in Edinburgh.
|
|
|
Gil Singleton
|
|
|
Born in Uxbridge 1953. Attended Southall Grammar Technical School, joined the RAF as a musician in 1970. Awarded the Sir Felix Cassel Bronze Medal in 1972 as the 2nd most outstanding student in order of merit. After Tours with the RAF Regiment Band and RAF Germany Band, was selected for Instructor duties at the RAF School of Music. Prior to returning to the RAF Germany Band, he tried his hand at free-fall parachuting. On returning to the UK in 1980, he once again undertook Instructor duties before joining the prestigious Central Band of the RAF. He eventually became the Principal Percussionist, and was also the founder drummer with the reformed RAF Squadronaires. Not long after completing a wing walk on top of a Tiger Moth aeroplane for charity, he was deployed, along with his colleagues from all 4 UK-based RAF Bands to the Gulf area for the 1991 conflict.
Tours as Branch Storeman and Budget Officer for RAF Music Services followed before re-joining the Central Band as Flight Sergeant in 1995. In 1999 he took up duty with the RAF Regiment Band at RAF Cranwell, and on promotion to Warrant Officer in 2002, he took up position as the Bandmaster of the RAF College Band. He then returned to RAF Uxbridge in 2004 as Bandmaster of the Central Band before retiring from the Service in 2008.
He was commissioned into the ATC in 2008, and is now the Principal Director of Music (Air Cadets) with the rank of Wing Commander. He is an author, and is a Committee Member of the UK Branch of the International Military Music Society. He is also a member of the Light Cavalry of the Honourable Artillery Company.
|