HUNDREDS of young Army cadets from across the north paraded through the centre of Inverness on Saturday for a service of thanksgiving to mark the movement’s 150th anniversary.
The 400 youngsters, accompanied by their own pipe band, marched from Inverness Castle to the cathedral.
They were joined by members of the Air Training Corps.
Some of the cadets had travelled from the Western Isles, Caithness, Ross-shire, Moray and as far south as Aviemore to take part.
A town house salute for city provost Jimmy Gray, Lord Lieutenant Donald Cameron of Lochiel and Brigadier David Allfrey, commander 51 (Scottish) Brigade was followed by a service in Gaelic and English, which included a rendition of the cadets’ own hymn, written by their padres for the occasion.
Colonel Malcolm MacBean said the cadets were delighted with the huge turnout of wellwishers who lined the streets.
“We received fantastic support from the city of Inverness,” he said.
“The Army Cadet Force here in the Highlands has been tremendously successful.
“We’ve travelled all over the world with international exchanges, introduced nationally-recognised qualifications that help their employment prospects and have helped foster the self-confidence and ingenuity that make the Highlander unique.”
He said 1 Highlanders ACF was the most decorated battalion in the Army Cadet Force with more of its senior cadets reaching elite status than anywhere else in the country, and that their achievements owed much to the support of the community.
Col MacBean added: “Every week, in cadet huts from Halkirk and Thurso in the very north to Nairn and Culloden in the east and Harris, Lewis and Daliburgh on the islands, members of the local community turn out to help the cadets develop qualities that will stand them in great stead for the rest of their lives.”
Highland Council marked the occasion with a civic reception for adult volunteers.