Mark Biggadike can still remember the day when, as a young teenager, he headed down the hill from home in Tavistock to attend his first air cadets meeting at its then-HQ at Tavistock College.

Now looking back from the vantage point of just retiring from a distinguished 30-year career in the RAF, Mark is encouraging the next generation of cadet across the South West, as the RAF’s Regional Air Officer (RAO).

Mark, who now lives in north Cornwall, visits Tavistock regularly as his parents still live in the town.

He says he wants to “give something back” to the town’s cadets and others across the area.

He said: “I joined the 2312 Squadron, the Tavistock squadron, when I was 12 or 13 I think I didn’t have any idea that it would lead to flying helicopters and the career I ended up with.

“It’s true that my dad did influence things somewhat, because he was officer commanding of the gliding unit at RAF Chivenor [in north Devon] and so he sent me up in a glider at 16 and that was it for me, and the bug never left me.

“It wasn’t just flying that I got from the air cadets, it was confidence. Standing up in front of people, leading small teams, being trusted with that sort of responsibility at a young age.

“I then decided to apply for a flying scholarship, I did that at Bodmin Airfield, then after that I decided to pursue a career in the air force. The only thing was that, at that time in the 1990s, the air force wasn’t recruiting so I went to work for the South West Electricity Board – SWEB as it was then – for a year and a half. Eventually I joined the air force.

“The message is, there is not just one route in, there are lots of routes in.”

Moving forward to the present day, his new role as Regional Air Officer allows him to continue to play a part within the wider ‘RAF family’.

“My job is to provide a link between the RAF and the South West, Devon, Cornwall, Somerset up to Gloucestershire and Wiltshire,” he said.

“I liaise with councils, schools, businesses, charities and veterans. It is a part-time reserve role, I’ve retired from full-time service. After 30 years, it was a chance to give something back, and to give back to Tavistock, which really gave me that start. It was a no brainer, this was exactly what I wanted to do.”

Mark only flies now “as a passenger”but for years he flew helicopters, receiving an MBE in 2012 for his service flying Merlin helicopters in Afghanistan. He has flown in operations around the world, later taking on senior staff roles away from the cockpit.

For young people looking to join the air cadets these days - boys and girls, aged 12 to 20 - there is the chance to learn to fly drones, to study STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects and first aid.

“It is just a whole lot of adventure,” said Mark. “Probably most cadets won’t go on to join the RAF but they will leave with qualifications that universities and colleges will value.”

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) and UK Government originally launched the ‘30 by 30’ campaign in August 2025 to grow cadet numbers by 30 per cent by 2035.

“They are really on a drive to get more young people involved,” said Mark. “So there is lots and lots of opportunities for youngsters. Cost shouldn’t stop any young person joining the cadets and there is plenty of help and assistance to afford to join.”

He added that there was “definitely lots of flying” .

It was his time in the air cadets that led to his career – and he says he’s never regretted his choice.

“It is as if 30 years has just passed me by in a flash,” he said. “I still remember walking down the road to Tavistock College for my first cadet meeting. It doesn’t seem that long ago.”