A Croydon army cadet volunteer has been honoured at a ceremony to celebrate adult cadet volunteers.

Lieutenant Karen Lorimer attended a special reception hosted by the City of London to celebrate adult volunteers of the Army Cadet Forces (ACF) at the Guildhall.

Lieutenant Lorimer, 35, is a Leisure Manager for the Principal Hayley Hotel in Croydon and has been a member of the ACF for thirteen years.

Although she had no previous experience she threw herself into the role becoming the county first aid training Officer, a member of one of the shooting teams and then a detachment commander looking after all cadet activities including parading and outward bound training.

Her current posting is with 13 Group, the Morden-based ACF detachment, where the cadets are often from difficult backgrounds or even in care.

Lieutenant Lorimer said: "Today has been a thank you for all of my cadet volunteers who contribute so much of their own free time.

"The satisfaction I feel, particularly when taking young people on exciting adventure training, is seeing them constantly achieving things for themselves, gaining vital skills for adulthood and watching them grow.

"I seem to take on a big sister role with many of the Cadets helping those who, without the cadet forces, could seriously get into trouble. It’s incredibly satisfying and worthwhile."

The reception was attended by His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh, the colonel-in-chief of the Army Cadet Force, who met some of the 1,300 volunteers and their guests.

The event was the first of two national events marking the 150th anniversary of the Cadet Forces in the UK.

On July 6, close to 2,000 cadets will parade down the Mall together with a flypast by The Red Arrows, followed by a garden party at Buckingham Palace.