The newly appointed Exmouth mayor’s cadet is hoping that the role will propel him into a successful Royal Marines career.

Exmouth Journal: left to right Bruce de Saram Dep Mayor Jeff Trail, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Devon Simon HIndley, Mayors Cadet Matt Bagnall. Picture: Jeff Trailleft to right Bruce de Saram Dep Mayor Jeff Trail, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Devon Simon HIndley, Mayors Cadet Matt Bagnall. Picture: Jeff Trail (Image: Archant)

Exmouth RAF Air Cadet Sergeant Matt Bagnall, 18, wants to soak up the knowledge and experience current mayor councillor Jeff Trail has gained from his time as a Royal Marine.

Throughout Cllr Trail’s term, Matt will accompany the mayor on various engagements.

For Matt, this started with the ceremonial ‘lights on’ ceremony over Remembrance weekend to mark 100 years since the end of World War One.

Former Exmouth Community College pupil Matt told the Journal of his pride at being part of the town’s Remembrance service and hopes to be a role model for other cadets in the town, adding: “It’s quite an honour with this being the first year since I have been a cadet, this was brought back.

“I am really humbled that I was selected.”

Exmouth 299 squadron leader Rich Bagnall, who is also Matt’s father, put him forward for the role after suggesting that the mayor’s cadet should be reinstated.

Rich said: “For an air cadet to be the mayor’s cadet is quite an honour for the whole squadron.

“Its good public relations for us – it’s good to have one of our senior cadets receive this honour and he will be representing us at functions.

“The recognition that cadets get for good service will be something they will put down when they go into other areas.”

The cadet is chosen at the ‘mayor’s discretion’ from any of the cadet forces in Exmouth.

A spokesperson from Exmouth Town Council said: “Our current mayor and chairman, Councillor Jeff Trail, was keen to invest a cadet from the RAF Air Cadets as a mark of respect for the 100th anniversary of The Royal Air Force and invited the commanding officer of Exmouth’s 299 Squadron, squadron leader Richard Bagnall, to nominate a cadet to take up the role.”

Earlier this month, Cllr Trail visited the squadron and invested cadet Sgt Matt Bagnall as his mayor’s cadet for the current civic year and presented him with a badge for the mayor’s cadet brassard.