42 NAVY NEWS, JUNE 2009
● The TS Caledonia boys pulling
team practise for the national
fi nals in London last year
Peterhead – prid
EXCELLENCE and modesty are dedicated to the cause of
– not the most common improving the experience of
bedfellows.
the youngsters, and the cadets
But travel to the edge of the Sea
repay that with enthusiasm and
Cadets empire and you will find
endeavour by the shedload.
just such a combination perched
Peterhead has around 35 cadets,
on a rocky coast 30 miles north of
with another dozen or more in the
Aberdeen.
junior section, and the past year or
Peterhead is not a flashy town,
so has been quite an adventure.
and TS Caledonia shares that
TS Caledonia won the regional
reserve – despite being propelled
Stephenson Trophy for 2007, a
into the limelight in a fashion few
happy coincidence as it was the
staff, cadets or supporters would
North’s turn to supply its top unit
have dared to dream of in years
for the Festival of Remembrance
gone by.
at the Albert Hall, a duty which
Caledonia – named after a local
rotates between the six regions.
seafood company rather than a
“About 24 cadets and seven
warship – is enjoying the view
support staff went to London, and
from the top of the pile, having
it was a fantastic experience,” said
won the coveted Canada Trophy
First Lieutenant S/Lt Marleen
● Peterhead cadets POC Euan Wilson (left) and POC Scott Buchan
as the best unit in the country.
Mowatt.
at the Tall Ships Race in Liverpool last year – both are now on the
And this, the fourth most
“We had a tour of HMS Belfast
unit’s staff
northerly unit in the UK, won that
and the Imperial War Museum to
honour by the simple principle of
set them up for Sunday and give
the end of March, the unit spruced joking warning of ‘Nae chips for
living up to the values of
them an idea of what remembrance
up its Seagate HQ and set up you this weekend!’
the Corps.
is all about.
displays showing the wide range Marleen keeps an eye on
Everything the Corps
“We also did a walking tour
of events in which the cadets get proceedings – the unit CO, Lt
stands for is writ large at
of London, including Downing
involved: the Scottish Traditional Cdr (SCC) Ian Wilson RNR, was
their headquarters on the
Street.
Boat Festival at Portsoy, a boating training at Faslane that evening –
fishing town’s dockside,
“Ten cadets took part in the
week at Easter, a week’s camp in often returning to the same theme:
and a visit to the unit
actual Festival of Remembrance,
the Aviemore area, the Fishermen’s “Work on your boots... your boots
makes you feel like you
and all of them took part in the
Mission carol service and switching need to be super-shiny...”
have found your way into
parade.”
on of the Christmas lights. “It’s amazing how committed
a recruiting film.
Caledonia also sent three teams
There was also a report on these young people are – they are
Staff and supporters
to the Corps national regatta in
the unit’s visit to their affiliated inspiring,” said Marleen.
London last year – the junior girls
warship, patrol vessel HMS Tyne. “To get kids interested in a
● (Above left) AC Sarah
pulling, the open boys pulling
In the various classrooms were group like this is something all
Buchan (left) and LC
and the powerboaters, the latter
a stripped-down engine, folded parents should do – it gets them
Nicole Rafferty at the
returning north as winners.
napkins, ropework and knots, off the streets and doing something
launch of HMS Dragon
This was all in addition to the
charts and a severed limb and worthwhile.
on the Clyde last
usual busy schedule of local and some vicious wounds – the former “Quite a few of our staff officers
November
regional events, and all as the unit a training aid, the latter from are area staff officers as well – our
celebrated its 70th anniversary. Asda’s Hallowe’en collection. unit is very lucky in that our staff
● (Left) The cadets
of Peterhead display
It couldn’t really get much A table in the main part of have a variety of specialisations,
their new Colours last
better – well, actually, it could, the building creaked under the which makes it easier for cadets to
October
and did. weight of silverware displayed, get a taste for different options.
“Winning the Canada Trophy everything from sailing shields to “The staff are always trying to
was just the icing on the cake,” a carved tubby wooden cetacean improve on their qualifications too
● Members of TS
said Marleen. (a swimming trophy). – it is a really committed team, and
Caledonia on board
“When Ian (the CO) called As preparations for the trophy we are quite a close-knit group.”
TS Royalist at Måløy
me to tell me we had won I presentation loomed, cadets As with many units there are
in Norway last year
was jumping up and down in the rehearsed their drills, the smell strong family links at Peterhead.
kitchen – the kids wondered what of fresh paint and varnish wafting Marleen, for example, joined the
was wrong with mum…” through the HQ as youngsters unit at the age of 11 – following the
In readiness for the presentation checked each other’s uniforms. example of her brother – and, all
of the Canada Trophy by the Earl One webbing belt, proving a told, has been connected with TS
of Dalhousie, which happened at little tight, prompted the half- Caledonia for around 20 years.
● Peterhead cadets at Trafalgar Square in October last year
040-043_NN_jun.indd 3 21/5/09 11:53:09
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