Cadet escapes house fire hours before receiving top honour

Cadet Corporal Tom Farmer, of Stourbridge Platoon Army Cadet Force, was officially invested as the Lord Lieutenant’s army cadet for Worcestershire in a prestigious ceremony at Worcester’s Guildhall on April 21.

Less than 12 hours earlier, however, the 16-year-old college student and his family were rocked when a fire broke out at their home in Sandon Road at around 8am.

Three fire crews attended the scene and Tom, his mum Mandy and twin sister Emily, along with dog Poppy, managed to escape relatively unscathed.

The three were given oxygen therapy by firefighters as they waited for the ambulance service and Tom, a former Redhill pupil – now at Kidderminster College, was taken to Russells Hall Hospital as he was suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation.

Luckily, however, he was discharged after a few hours and was able to attend his investiture that evening where he was bestowed with the highest honour a cadet can receive.

Cadet Corporal Tom Farmer, right, with the Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire Lt Col Patrick Holcroft LVO OBE CStJ. Pic - Hereford & Worcester Army Cadet Force

The earlier blaze, which is believed to have started due to a fault with the wiring of an extension lead, destroyed Tom’s bedroom and the teenager has since had to sleep on the settee.

But his mum Mandy Farmer said rugby player Tom, who plays for Stourbridge Colts U18s, had taken the highs and lows of the day in his stride and is now looking forward to carrying out duties associated with the top role which includes accompanying the Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire, Lt Col Patrick Holcroft LVO OBE CStJ, at Royal and military events such as Remembrance Sunday along with Royal visits to the area.

She said: “I’m super proud of him. He’s been going to Stourbridge Army Cadet Force in Swinford Road since 2017 and he’s achieved so much since joining. This achievement is outstanding – it’s one of the most prestigious awards a cadet can earn.”