MALVERN'S 1017 Air Training Corps now has the youngest commanding officer in the country.

Pilot Officer Nancy Mead, 22, is also one of only four female commanding officers in the West Mercia Wing and the only pilot officer to hold the CO position.

She joined the ATC's Abergavenny Squadron in 1996 and rose to the rank of sergeant, before transferring to Malvern in September 2000. By January of 2001, she had risen to the rank of Cadet Warrant Officer and a year later obtained her commission and the rank of Pilot Officer.

Pilot Officer Mead has represented her squadron in hockey, athletics, netball and cross-country. She takes over at 1017 from Flight Lieutenant Steve Murphy.

As CO, Pilot Officer Mead presented a Cadet of the Month award to Cadet Thomas Palfrey on Saturday. Sergeant Katie Martin was made Flight Sergeant and, along with Cadet Warrant Officer Caroline Tromans, was presented with the prestigious Corps Blues award after they represented the ATC at national level hockey.

The squadron meets every Monday and Friday evening at 7pm. For further information, call 01684 564179 or visit www.1017atc.org.uk.