A 22-YEAR-OLD from Hexham was among hundreds of officer cadets who took part in a prestigious graduation ceremony at the Army’s world renowned Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, on Friday.

Thomas Davison passed out from Sandhurst after completing 44 weeks of intensive military and academic training, combined with adventurous training and sporting challenges.

As a young second lieutenant, he will now be in charge of a platoon of 30 soldiers, managing their skills, workloads and welfare.

With friends and family in the audience 2nd Lt Davison, who will be joining the Prince of Wales’s Royal Regiment, took part in the Sovereign’s Parade.

The parade is a key milestone for every Army officer and has been run at the end of each term for over 200 years.

He said: “Being part of an elite group of people who have graduated as British Army officers from Sandhurst makes me extremely proud. It’s one of the biggest challenges I have ever undertaken, but also one of the most rewarding.

“The training and support I have received has been excellent and I cannot wait to start putting it into practice with my regiment and to be given the chance to make my contribution on operations, adventure training, and missions overseas.”

Major Gen. Paul Nanson, commandant at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, said: “Congratulations to all our officer cadets on their commissions. The cadets have come from a wide variety of backgrounds – many have come straight from university, some from sixth form and some from within the Army’s soldier ranks – but they will now all embark on their Army careers with the same outstanding training.

“Sandhurst is not easy, but it provides opportunities to learn much more beyond military skills.”

The parade ended in traditional fashion with the academy adjutant following the officer cadets up the steps and through the grand entrance, mounted on his horse.

After a formal lunch with friends, family and regimental officers, the day concluded with a commissioning ball, where all newly commissioned second lieutenants displayed their rank insignia for the first time.