THE commanding officer of the Irvine Sea Cadets has been honoured with a top award – nominated and presented by the young people he works with.

Sub Lieuteuant Robert Duncan won the Cadet Adult Recognition Award (CARA) for the west of Scotland region at the Cadet Force Adult Volunteers award ceremony.

He was one of three Ayrshire award recipients, alongside Company Sergeant Michelle Cook and Euan Sockell, both from the West Lowland Battalion of the Army Cadet Force.

Robert said: “It means so much more that they’ve [Cadets] taken the time out of their day to nominate me and they recognise exactly what I’m doing for them.

“The reason I’m in the Cadets is for the Cadets so the fact that it’s coming from them, that really makes a difference.”

Kate Johnston from the Lowland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association, which organised the awards, said: the adult volunteers’ efforts were “utterly inspiring” and said they all “deserve a big public thank you”.