NAVY NEWS, APRIL 2009 47
Eleventh
Come join
hour plea
the band –
answered
even if you
A LAST-minute plea for help was
answered by the cadets of TS
Broadsword – and the youngsters
can’t play…
ended up being seen by some half
a million people.
CADETS travelled from across
The Sea Training Corps unit
the north of England to attend
had closed for Christmas when
a band course at Altcar Training
the CO had a call from the local
Camp.
mayor asking if they could step
More than 90 youngsters took
into the breach.
up the opportunity to train as
The borough of Barnet had
part of a massed band – and 30
been let down at the eleventh
of which had never played an
hour, and someone was needed to
instrument in their lives.
represent the borough in the New
During the week the training
Year’s Day parade in London.
team, consisting of bandmasters
With most cadets on holiday
and band staff from a number
the CO had his doubts but put
of units along with Drum Major
out an alert, and on the day 27
Brown, RM Band Scotland, had
youngsters turned up at HQ.
the chance to work with the cadets
A band, colours and escort party
in their sections and individually
were quickly organised and they
on their instruments.
joined the parade, not realising
Some of the cadets also tried
they were also being judged.
other instruments during the
So it came as something of a
week, but all gave 100 per cent
surprise when the unit was judged
to the course which was evident
tenth out of 23 boroughs, gaining
in the performance they gave on
£1,000 for their Mayor’s Appeal
the final day.
(Cancer and Carers), while four
The grand finale took the form
junior cadets collected a further
of a 20-minute Beat Retreat display
£130 in buckets along the route.
in front of the High Sheriff of
Two familiar faces who were
Merseyside, Capt Robin Woodall
on leave from the Navy were AB
former captain of the QE2, and
Stefano Laorenza and AB Lily ● A special delivery by Taurus 09 fl agship HMS Bulwark in Valletta’s Grand Harbour will give youngsters in Malta a chance to try their hand at
a number of other VIPs – and
O’Gorman, two of the three sailing. Amongst the Land Rovers, amphibious vehicles and raiding craft on the assault ship’s vehicle deck were two Bosun sailing dinghies
the whole event was created from
Broadsword cadets to have joined addressed to the Malta GC unit. Previously used by the RN sailing centre in Portland, and then loaned to Weymouth unit, the boats will
scratch with just three days of
the Services in the past year. now be used to nurture an interest in all things nautical. “Bulwark is pleased to be able to make this contribution,” said Lt Dave Gooding,
training.
Lily made a point of contacting Bulwark’s Sea Cadet Affi liations Offi cer. “Investments like yachts and dinghies can be a very tall order for Sea Cadet units who have so many
It wasn’t all work, work, work
unit CO Cdr Gerald Beck RNR other things to worry about, so it’s been great that the Royal Navy has been able to step in and lend a hand”. The dinghies were received by
– the cadets had some down time
(Retd) to say how much her cadet Lt Jonathon Zahara-Davis RNR, CO of TS St Paul, accompanied by the local RM Cadets and their OC Lt Donald Montebello RMR. During
through the week, and enjoyed a
training had helped – she gained their four-day visit to the island task group ships welcomed cadets and instructors on board Picture: LA(Phot) Shaun Barlow
disco on the last night.
a 100 per cent pass in her RN
The group also had the pleasure
Seamanship exam and took four
of the presence of the Royal Navy
of the five awards presented at the
recruiting team, who attended
passing-out parade.
for the whole week and gave the
cadets an insight into a career in
Effi cient –
They know the drill
the Senior Service.
Presentations given during the
course included the following:
27 times
marina Most Improved Musician:
Beverley Mearns (Bebington),
UNITS from across West Best Musician: Colin Greaves
marina
in a row
Kent District held their annual (Stockport),
Drill and Piping competition
marina Most Improved Percussionist:
at the Royal School of Military
Alan Campbell (Huyton),
Engineering in Brompton.
Best Percussionist: Kristain Wall marina
THREE presentations formed the
More than 200 cadets and
(Ellesmere Port),
centrepiece of the Stonehaven
adult volunteers came together on
Best New Bandie: Charlie Tobin marina
unit Royal Navy parade.
one of the UK’s oldest and most
(Runcorn)
First into the spotlight was LC
prestigious parade grounds to test
marina Best New Bandie: Rebekah
Nicola MacDonald, who was given
their ability in ceremonial skills,
Hughes (Liverpool City).
her Bronze Duke of Edinburgh
Award.
which included marching, weapons
Second was a special award
drill, discipline, teamwork and the
made to Russell Adams for all
traditional skill of piping signals
Rye smiles
his help over the past decade in
with a bosun’s call.
preparing cadets for the special
Eight units – Sheppey, Medway
evolutions they have to present on
Towns, Maidstone, Tunbridge
after day in
inspection evening.
Wells, Westerham, Dartford and
Russell has also been
Gravesend, and including for the
instrumental in writing the
first time in many years Chatham
Trumpeter
sketches and scripts which have
Marine Cadets – took part in the
gone down a storm over the
day, with honours evenly shared.
RYE unit went to action stations
years.
The winners were:
when ten cadets went onboard the
Finally, the Stonehaven Lions
Armed Drill: Tunbridge Wells,
Royal Naval patrol vessel HMS
marina
Club presented £1,500 to the
Unarmed Drill: Dartford,
Trumpeter for the day.
marina
Area Officer (North), Cdr Colin
Colour Party: Chatham Marine
The P2000 or Archer-class
marina
Redstone, who accepted the
Cadets,
training ship is 20 metres long,
donation on behalf of the unit
Team Piping: Sheppey,
capable of 18 knots and has
marina
– the money will go into the
Endeavour Trophy: Medway
accommodation for 12 crew and
marina
replacement safety boat fund.
Towns,
trainees on board.
Following the completion of the
Individual Piping: POC Firth
The cadets left Rye at 0630 in
marina
evening’s formal programme, Cdr
(Sheppey),
the morning for their journey to
Redstone told those gathered that
Best Guard Commander: AC A
Portsmouth Naval Base.
marina
the unit was to be awarded the
Heald (Tunbridge Wells),
On arrival at the ship, the cadets
prestigious Burgee – the highest
Best Squad Commander: POC
were given a safety briefing and tour
marina
award for efficiency in the Corps
C Bennett (Dartford).
of the vessel before commencing
– for 2009.
District Ceremonial Training
their training in Portsmouth
That makes it 27 years in a row
Officer and event organiser
Harbour and the Solent.
for TS Carron, a fact of which the
CPO (SCC) James Groves said:
Training included the
unit is extremely proud.
“The event was made possible
opportunity for cadets to put to
through the kindness of the Royal
good use what they have already
Evesham
Engineers, allowing the Sea Cadets learnt within the Corps including
to use their historic parade ground chartwork and navigation.
and facilities for the day. They were also given hands-
donation
“It provides the young people on training on bearings and
with an opportunity not many
● Sheppey Cadets prepare to take to the parade ground; a Petty Officer Cadet adds the finishing
touches to a Cadet’s boots
anchoring.
youngsters will experience. After a full day of training, the
EVESHAM unit’s Royal Navy “The venue and the day have
much of what we are trying to Dave Brown RNR (Rtd) and Brian Moore of a clasp to his
cadets returned to Rye having
parade also allowed the youngsters been a resounding success, enabling
achieve – good citizenship.” Regimental Sergeant Major Cadet Forces Medal, recognising
thoroughly enjoyed themselves
to hand over some hard-earned us to display some of our core
The trophies, medals and (RSME1) Steve Lomas. his long service and commitment
– and the party expressed their
cash to a military charity. values of teamwork, self discipline
certificates were presented by A special presentation was also to the Sea Cadets and the young thanks to the CO of Trumpeter, Lt
The business end of the event and self confidence which underpin
District President Lt Cdr (SCC) made by RSM Lomas to Lt (SCC) people of Kent. Will King, and his crew.
saw Cdr Josh Binns, of the South
West Area Office, cast a critical eye
over the unit, watched by officer-
in-charge PO Ian Bostock and a New recruit can’t stand the heat
large turn-out of supporters.
During the proceedings a
WHEN snow brought much of the Wellingborough satellite TS Diamond, successive year.
cheque for £527 was handed to
country to a standstill, Northampton based in Rushden, have been busy Meanwhile, 14-year-old AC Harry
Maj Ian Baldry, a serving member
and Wellingborough cadets proved maintaining their high standards, as Boyde won the piping competition.
of the Territorial Army who
they are made of sterner stuff. demonstrated by their victory in the The competition took place during
co-ordinates fundraising for Help Not only did they get in for drill regional ceremonial drill and piping the same week as the unit’s annual
for Heroes. night, but they also had a hand in the competition – their sixth in a row. Royal Naval review, when Cdr James
Maj Baldry thanked the cadets appearance of a new recruit (left), As well as winning the Armed Guard Hayward, CO of RNR unit HMS
for their efforts, and gave a short though once things warmed up the event the unit also won Best Guard Forward, inspected the cadets, and
briefing to all in attendance on the new boy made himself scarce. Commander category, with POC Jack presented awards, including the 2008
work of the charity. The parent unit (TS Laforey) and its Mitchell taking the award for the third Stephenson Trophy.
045-047_NN_apr.indd 3 19/3/09 10:53:51
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