42 NAVY NEWS, FEBRUARY 2010
PT course
Gunning for glory
wraps up
TS CARDIFF’S field gun crew are The competition requires
hoping that 2010 brings more high- crews of 19 cadets to race against
profile opportunities to show their each other, manhandling and
busy year
skills following a successful 2009. manoeuvring a seven-pounder
One of the Cardiff unit’s field gun and limber, weighing
highlights of last year was to be over 850lb, over a distance of 170
for branch
selected to give one of the arena yards, carrying out a number of
displays at the Meet Your Navy drills on the way, such as bodily
event in Devonport in the autumn lifting the entire equipment,
(pictured left). changing wheels over from gun to
THE North West Area Physical
The gun crew gave two limber and vice-versa.
Training Branch ran their final
15-minute displays of the drills The gun crew received many
qualifying course of the training
used in the Portsmouth Area plaudits from the crowd, and
year at Tameside Sea Cadets in
Volunteer Cadet Corps field gun various dignitaries who attended,
mid-December.
● PO Samantha Green
competition, in which TS Cardiff for their discipline, speed and
A total of 28 candidates
competes every year. skill.
applied for the course, which
was supported by area PT staff
Sam wins
and staff of the host Tameside
unit.
The course was led by Sgt
(SCC) Andy Edgar, Area
Staff Officer PT, along with
his assistant and Chief Staff
Instructor POPT (SCC) Shane
TS Illustrious sails
volunteer
award
Faulkner, the Corps Physical
Training Instructor.
A MEMBER of staff at
Sgt Edgar said: “This
last training year has seen a
staggering number of cadets
come to test themselves mentally
and physically through a varied
physical training programme over
with HMS Illustrious
the Northampton and
Wellingborough unit has
won official recognition in the
Northamptonshire Sports
Awards.
PO Samantha Green was named
two days of instruction.
as Volunteer of the Year for 2009.
“I can say with confidence
Sam has been involved with the
that it is not for the faint-
THERE was an early start for Concorde – to the bridge, where Sea Cadets since the age of 12,
hearted.
cadets from Walton-on-the-
lucky youngsters got the chance to becoming an instructor when she
“The cadets learn a great deal Naze unit when they travelled
steer the 22,000-tonne warship. turned 18.
and lengthen their paths in so across the country to join an
Along the way they stopped off She gained coaching
many ways when they come on
aircraft carrier.
on the quarterdeck, where they qualifications through the Corps
course, from gaining basic know-
took part in a firefighting exercise and has put them to extensive use
The group had been invited
how on taking younger cadets
wearing full protective equipment in promoting watersports.
on board HMS Illustrious for
and peers for RT games and
and using high-power hoses – The recognition comes in
the Parents and Children at Sea
daily exercises to learning about
messy, but loads of fun. particular for the time she gives
(PACAS) voyage from Liverpool
how the human body reacts to
The weather at this point had to promoting dinghy sailing and
to Portsmouth.
physical exercise.
not been kind, but as Illustrious windsurfing as part of the Sea
Lusty had just completed
“I believe the cadets really get
entered the Plymouth Training Cadets and Pitsford Watersports.
a programme of exercises off
Area it improved enough for guests
a sense of the kind of fitness level
The results of her efforts could
Scotland, and featured in the
to take part in small-arms training
and stamina it takes not only to
be seen at the Corps’ national
Fly Navy 100 celebrations at
on the aft part of the flight deck.
pass a physical training course
sailing regatta in Southport, when
Liverpool.
The chance to fire a general
in the Sea Cadets but also the
AC Harry Boyde (15), from
The PACAS programme allows
purpose machine gun, an SA80
kind of physical ambition it takes
Northampton, impressed in the
family members of the ship’s
rifle and the Minigun – which can
to get through the Royal Navy
finals sailing a Laser while ACs
company to go to sea for a glimpse
rattle off 50 rounds a second – was
training phase.”
Matt (15) and Luke (13) Rixon
of life in the Royal Navy, and on
eagerly grasped by the visitors
In total 27 cadets and one
from Wellingborough won the
this occasion the unit’s affiliation
from Walton.
adult member of staff qualified
windsurfing class.
officer, Lt Si Mittins, managed to
Later the same evening cadets
on the course at various levels.
The Northampton unit has also
squeeze on a group of nine cadets
were able to watch the ship’s 20mm
POPT (SCC) Faulkner said:
recognised its own members with
and one instructor.
guns firing at flares launched into
an awards ceremony.
“This last course to date has As the carrier left her berth in the
the night sky.
● Walton-on-the-Naze cadets with their affi liation offi cer, Lt Si
The top prize, for cadet of the
brought together a total of six shadow of the Liver Building and
With an early breakfast under
Mittins (centre)
year, went to Thomas Lorenz.
units and the biggest number made her way down the Mersey
their belts, the cadets made their
of candidates to date that I can to the Irish Sea the cadets of TS
way on to the flight deck to watch
remember in the past five years Illustrious watched preparations
the final approach to Portsmouth.
Clean sweep
since we first moved our courses for the aircraft to fly off.
And under the tutelage of deputy
here at Tameside Sea Cadets.” When Flying Stations was
affiliation officer PO Dan Castle –
for St Albans
Records show that a total of piped, the embarked Harrier, Sea
‘Bouncy’ to his mates – LC Harry
84 cadets have passed Physical
ST ALBANS unit managed another
King and Lynx helicopters made Slade and OC Domonic Jacobs
clean sweep in the Hertfordshire
Trainer 3rd Class and two adults their exit. raised the Union Jack as the first
District shooting competition at
passed Adult Basic Instructor The following morning the lines were passed over to waiting
Hertford.
over the past training year. cadets were given in-depth hands on the jetty.
TS St Albans took on teams
The organisers said that thanks guided tours of the ship, from TS Illustrious’ CO, S/Lt (SCC)
from across the county, and
are due to the Commanding the engine room with its four Gary Dodd RNR, thanked the ship’s
managed to bag first, second and
Officer of Tameside for the use of Rolls-Royce Olympus gas turbines company of Illustrious for making
third places.
his unit’s facilities. – the machines which powered them so welcome on board.
That opened the door to the
And all of the North West
First aiders strike gold
Eastern Area competition against
Area PT staff should also be
the best of the other districts.
commended for their continuous
The unit already held the District
effort and determination to carry STOCKPORT’S first aid team once again struck gold at the prestigious
title, while OC Demi Jueno-
forth the branch in the North International Young Grand Prior competition in Rugby.
Chapman, aged 16, again won the
● MEMBERS of the Campbeltown unit took part in a sponsored
West Area. To take the honours, Stockport had to beat off stiff competition from
individual ‘Best Shot’ title.
pull in the summer in which teams of cadets rowed twice across the
But perhaps the biggest thanks teams representing the St John Ambulance Association, St Andrews
If anyone is interested in
Campbeltown Loch in the unit’s ASC (as pictured above). Cadets
are due to all of the cadets and Ambulance, the Army Cadet Force and CCF as well as other Sea Cadet
joining the unit as a cadet or adult
and staff travelled the 140 miles to the Erskine Hospital, the unit’s
adult volunteers who applied teams and teams from Ireland and Malta.
volunteer they should email ted.
adopted charity, at the end of 2009 to hand over a cheque for £1,000.
to put themselves through the The team was Cpl MacMillan, L/Cpl Fone, L/Cpl Duggan and MC2
hill7@ntlworld.com
It is hoped to make the sponsored pull an annual event
course. Maskrey, coached by Sgt (SCC) Bill Felstead.
Stretford pulls out all the stops
THE call went out early last year
for revalidation of pulling charges
that had lapsed.
The Manchester District was
also in need of volunteers to train
as pulling instructors.
Into the breach stepped CPO
‘Jacko’ Jackson of Stretford
unit, who liaised with the ASO
(Pulling) and sorted out a
programme and courses for both
staff and cadets.
The unit ran boat work
weekends for juniors, and has
stepped up to the plate whenever
people have needed help.
CPO Jackson took district
cadets to HMS Bristol, the training
ship in Portsmouth Harbour, and
whenever a unit was needed for
ship’s visits, Stretford can always
be relied on to provide willing
members.
Despite the fact that Stretford
is one of the smallest units in the
● BOLTON unit has won an Oscar – but it is nothing to do with a foray onto the silver screen. TS
district, it has won a reputation
Dido was presented with a Bolton Volunteer Oscar Award on behalf of the town’s Community and
for never turning down a request
Voluntary Services (CVS) by the Mayor and Mayoress of Bolton at a special ceremony in the Victoria
for help.
Hall. The unit thinks they may be the first to win an Oscar for service to the community – unless you
For that reason, and the
know different... Pictured with their award (above), from left, are PPO June Edmonson, OiC Lt (SCC)
contributions the unit has made,
Stephen Rushton RNR, CI Stewart Potter, Lt (SCC) Denis Edmonson RNR (no relation) and Sgt Simon
it was awarded the District Cup
Foster, NCO in charge of the unit’s Marine Cadet detachment
for 2009.
● Members of the Stretford unit – always there if you need a hand
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