I'm part of a national ATC Course called Junior Leaders, aiming to develop leadership in 17 - 19 year old cadets. John Thornton was the top student on one of the first few Junior Leaders courses, he went on to commission in the Royal Marines in 2004 after leaving the Air Cadets. Tragically, in 2008, he lost his life serving in Afghanistan on OP Herrick 7. 

The John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation is a charity set up in memory of him, aiming to help young people fulfil their ambitions just as John Thornton did.