HRH The Duke of Gloucester visited Octavia Hill’s Birthplace House in Wisbech on September 26 to see the newly-created National Army Cadet Force Museum.
The Cambridgeshire Army Cadets Corps of Drums played as the Duke inspected a Guard of Honour made up from the local Wisbech Army Cadet Force Detachment.
Trustees, volunteers and guests had the opportunity to meet the Duke, whose visit also marked Octavia’s legacy from 1889 when she established the first Independent Army Cadet Unit.
The Duke was given a presentation by Col (Retired) Mark Knight MBE DL on the history of the Birthplace House the before touring the museum, opened in 2023 by WO2 Johnston Beharry VC COG, along with a tour of other rooms in the house.
Pupils from nearby Cambian Wisbech School had the opportunity to watch and meet the Duke on Centenary Green.
The ACF Museum displays a range of uniforms, traces the ACF time line from 1889 to the present day, manuals, and a “touch screen” for videos, photographs and You Tube links.
A virtual tour with information points has been created for cadets unable to visit the museum in person via the Octavia Hill Birthplace House website.
Octavia Hill’s Birthplace House, built in the 1740’s Grade II Listed Building, is open to the public.
Wisbech born (1838) Octavia Hill’s pioneering work in Southwark, London with youngsters in 1889 lead the way to the modern day Army Cadet Force (ACF) as we know it today.
Octavia Hill was a well known social reformer, one of the three founders of the National Trust and a campaigner for open spaces but is largely unknown for her work with the Army Cadets.
The National Museum idea was first created by Colour Sgt Tim Scargill, Sussex ACF but Covid prevented its implementation until Wisbech-born,Col (Retired) Mark Knight MBE DL joined Tim in delivering and completing the project.
Mark spent 45 years with Cambridgeshire Army Cadet Force before retiring as it’s County Commandant.
Col (Retired) Mark Knight MBE DL, chair of trustees, said: ”We are delighted to welcome the Duke to the House as it marks the legacy of Octavia Hill particularly with her work with the Army Cadet Force.”
The Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire Julie Spence OBE CStJ QPM said: “It was brilliant to welcome the Duke of Gloucester to the National Army Cadet Force museum in Octavia Hill’s house especially as she was the pioneer of the Army Cadet Force ensuring it was open to all youngsters not just those from public schools.
”The Duke was impressed by the amount of work that gone into creating the museum and enjoyed meeting some of today’s Cambridgeshire Cadets.”
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