44 NAVY NEWS, FEBRUARY 2010
Weston
claims
Year of celebrations
Canada
Trophy
WESTON-super-Mare has been
for cadet movement
named the top Sea cadet unit for
● LC Mels Williams
2009.
A PROGRAMME of events
gold medallist Jamie Hickman,
The West Country unit is
throughout 2010 will put
comedian Paul O’Grady and
the latest winner of the Canada
cadets of the three Forces into
author Len Deighton.
Mels is
Trophy, awarded to the unit which
the spotlight.
Despite their roots as a means
has attained the highest standard
Under the banner Cadet 150,
of supporting Britain’s defences,
of all-round efficiency in the
the initiative will allow the Sea
modern cadet forces are voluntary
one to
previous year.
Cadet Corps, the Army Cadet
youth organisations, using the
The Thomas Gray Memorial marina
Force (ACF), the Air Training
ethos of the Armed Forces to
Trophy, awarded to the runner-up
for the Canada Trophy, went to Corps (ATC) and the Combined
provide young people with the
watch
Walton-on-the-Naze. Cadet Force (CCF) to show the
opportunity to develop and test
A MEMBER of Beccles unit has
The winners of the Stephenson general public what they have to
themselves through adventurous
been tipped as one to watch for
marina
Trophies, awarded to the best unit offer.
activities and challenges, learning
the future after competing in a
in each Area, are Nottingham Plans for events in this country
new skills and the chance to gain
Royal British Legion competition.
(Eastern), Walton-on-the-Naze and abroad include a major
additional qualifications along the
LC Mels Williams was invited
(London), Greenock (Northern), celebration in or near London
way.
to take part in the Legion’s Suffolk
Huyton with Roby (North West), during the summer, as well as
Not only is there the youth standard bearer contest at
Jersey (Southern) and Weston- other events around the nation
150th anniversary of the start
and volunteers who are the opportunity for self-development,
Stowmarket Drill Hall.
super-Mare (South West). showcasing adventure, sports and
of the formal cadet movement,
focus for the year – Cadet150 but cadets also get involved with
On arrival she found she was
The Cdr Brown Award, for cadet skills.
though some claim they can
will also embrace the wider volunteer and charitable work in
competing against five experienced
marina
the cadet who has been actively The four cadet forces will join
trace the ancestry of the modern
cadet community, including the the community.
Army cadets.
involved in the Duke of Edinburgh together to participate in activities
organisations further back – the
hundreds and thousands of former Many cadets do go on to join
But even though she was new
Award, has been a leader in unit during the anniversary year,
Sea Cadets, for example, sprang
cadets and volunteers who have
the Armed Forces – if they are to the competition, Mels put on
adventure or sail training activities including a tri-Service Duke of
directly from the Naval Lads’
been part of the movement over
interested in the Forces the cadet a fine display in terms of both
and is keen to make a career at Edinburgh’s Award, a first aid
Brigades which were created
the years.
forces will obviously be attractive – standard bearing and smartness.
sea, went to POC R Hughes, of competition and a tri-Service
during the Crimean War of 1854-
There are former cadets in all
but there is no pressure for cadets And as a result Mels came away
City of Liverpool. cadet expedition to Lesotho in
56 to help the orphans of Britain’s
walks of life, including those who
to go on to join the military. with third place.
The Capt Roddie Casement southern Africa.
naval ports.
have made it to the top of their
The Ministry of Defence When reporting back to the
marina
Sword, awarded to the unit CO/ The journey to Lesotho is a
Today there are around 14,000
chosen fields – people such as
recognises that the Cadet Corps Area Officer, Cdr Smith
OiC who has contributed most to joint Cadet Forces expedition,
Sea Cadets, making it the smallest
the Dean of Westminster, novelist
Force organisations offer great RN, competition administration
the aim of the Corps during the and will involve trekking the
of the four cadet forces – the
Sebastian Faulks, Chris Martin
opportunities to youngsters, which officer Brian Ives remarked that
year, went to Lt (SCC) S Gittins Drakensberg Mountains, canoeing
ACF boasts almost 46,000 and
of Coldplay, comedian David
is why the department continues Mels “will be one to watch in
RNR, of Fishguard. the lake from the Katse Dam, and
the ATC just under 31,000.
Walliams, actor Jeremy Irons,
to support them. the future...” when the position
The McCarroll Trophy, camping in local villages.
The CCF, which comprises
Olympic silver medallist Tom Lucy,
www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/ of RBL Youth Standard Bearer
marina
marina
presented for an outstanding Cadets will be working to help
Navy, Royal Marines, Army and
Olympic and Commonwealth
Showcase/Cadet150.htm Suffolk is up for grabs again.
personal achievement by a Marine the charity Sentebale, which works
Air Force contingents and is
Cadet Officer or instructor, was with orphans and vulnerable
spread across 261 schools, has
awarded to Lt (SCC) M Le Basse children affected by HIV/AIDS
just over 43,000 members.
RMR, of Jersey. in Lesotho. Helping those 131,000 cadets
And the Cleverly Award, which Other existing annual events, fulfil their ambitions are more marina
is presented annually to the unit such as Trafalgar Day and than 25,000 adult volunteers, of
with the best Junior section in the Armed Forces Day, will take on a which 4,645 are in the Sea Cadet
Corps, went to the New Romney Cadet150 theme. Corps.
unit. This year nominally marks the And it’s not just current cadets
Talk of life on the front line
SOMERSET Sea Cadets and guests were given the challenges and stresses faced by the pilots and
a graphic account of life on a front line Royal maintainers in a Navy fixed wing squadron on the
Navy Harrier squadron at Kandahar air base in front line.
Afghanistan. The evening was arranged by the Somerset
Cdr Ade Orchard, who flew Sea Harriers from and Dorset branch of the Marine Society and
Yeovilton, gave a fascinating talk about his time in Sea Cadets, and was attended by more than 120
command of 800 Naval Air Squadron while engaged supporters of the movement.
in operations in the war in Afghanistan. The cadets also gave a newsroom-style briefing
The youngsters heard about daily life around on the activities and achievements of Dorset and
the base and operations against the insurgents, and Somerset units over the past year.
Visitors
at special
evening
SOUTHWARK unit welcomed a
mayor, an MP and a master oynter
to their showcase evening. ● Members of Yeovil unit TS Mantle VC in front of a Supermarine Seafi re at Yeovilton
Taking the latter first, Ian
Bowden, the Master of the Tallow
● Aberdeen cadets pulling an ASC in the harbour
Chandler Company, attended TS
Bibby link celebrated
Cossack’s annual presentation
evening. Yeovil thanked for helping
The Tallow Chandlers is one
of the City of London Livery
Companies, formed around 1300
A PARTY of cadets from Yeovil the cadets made my day relatively “I was particularly impressed
TWO dozen members of the Sea had the opportunity of bringing a by tallow melters or oynters.
unit have been praised for their easy.” by their willingness to take on
Cadet Association in Scotland ship into harbour on a simulator. The Mayor of Southwark, Cllr
help at a fund-raising day for the The reward at the end of it all any task and the cheerful attitude
and their guests enjoyed a visit to Bibby Offshore is one of the Jeffrey Hook, also attended the
Royal Navy’s Historic Flight. was an opportunity for some of in which they went about their
the Aberdeen unit. major sponsors/partners of evening, and by coincidence he is
The 20 youngsters and the cadets to get airborne in a work.
Such visits give members a TS Scylla, not only in financial a former member of TS Cossack –
accompanying staff were asked variety of aircraft – two who had “Their smart bearing and
better appreciation and affinity terms – they provided most of but not Southwark unit. to provide safety escorts for VIPs taken the Corps flying course were courteous manner when they were
with the Scottish units the branch the funds for the two new ASCs Cllr Hook was a cadet at the and guests from the Fleet Air Arm able to take the controls of their escorting guests was remarked on
is supporting, and at the same time through their staff community Barry unit between 1965 and Museum car park, through the trainer aircraft. by our president, Admiral Sir John
let units know what the branch is involvement programme – but 1972, and Barry’s training ship is museum to the site of the static Lt Vokes was given the freedom Treacher; a credit to Simon Vokes
there for. also in the provision of expert also named Cossack. displays and viewing area for the of the Somerset skies for half an and all his staff.
Welcomed by unit chairman advice, guidance and facilities. The mayor went on to join the flying display. hour in a Chipmunk. “But I must save my most
Les Durno and president Peter TS Scylla’s good fortune in RNR, completing his service as a One group of cadets took And when all was done and fulsome thanks for PO Hannah
Hughes, the operations director having the support of Bibby lieutenant commander. visitors from car park to museum, dusted there was another reward. Robinson.
of Bibby Offshore, the visitors Offshore is indicative of a trend The third of the VIP triumvirate the second on to the event site. Fly Navy Heritage Trust events “She was my point of contact
were treated to a cooked which is vital to the success of was local MP Simon Hughes, who During the long walk, cadets manager Nick Foster wrote to throughout and could not have
breakfast and hot lunch, as well units, members believe. was keen to present a Palace of often struck up conversations with Cdr Martyn Skeer, the Corps’ been more helpful.
as a comprehensive audiovisual As individual charities, units Westminster plaque for display. the guests, telling them about the South West Area Officer, to pass “She and the other senior rates
presentation on the unit. spend a lot of time fund-raising, But the stellar line-up of visitors Corps and in turn learning from on the gratitude of trust chairman were absolutely brilliant and
They also went outside to watch and they are always on the could not detract from the main old and bold aviators what it was Admiral Terry Loughran. nothing was too difficult.
cadets handling one of their new look-out for new local sources focus of the evening – the cadets. like to be a Fleet Air Arm pilot. In his letter, Nick said: “I have “I had not anticipated using the
ASCs and a power boat. of sponsorship, expert advice, After the piping party, guard, A number of cadets were been overwhelmed by the number cadets to help de-rig the site and
TS Scylla’s current focus is on guidance and facilities. buglers and band had performed prompted to later find out more of unsolicited comments about that task in itself was completed in
increasing numbers, and they have And sponsoring or partnering to a high standard, numerous details of the various aircraft types their impeccable conduct both double-quick time.
recently managed to attract on maritime industries in particular achievements were rewarded, about which they had heard. by individuals on the day and “Is there anything that Sea
average a new recruit each week. are effectively investing in future including three accolades to Unit CO Lt (SCC) Simon subsequently. Cadets cannot do?”
In the afternoon the group staffing – some 20 per cent of Sea Callum Malone – Best Dressed Vokes RNR said: “It was quite a “Without a shadow of doubt, Mr Foster also revealed that the
visited Aberdeen’s new harbour Cadets eventually join either the Cadet, Able Cadet and RYA long day, but the cheerfulness and they were the linchpin in the charity flying day raised close to
control tower, and one member Royal or Merchant Navies. Sailing Stage 4. will to get on with it displayed by overall success of the day. £10,000 for the Flight.
042–044_NN_jan.indd 3 21/1/10 11:47:45
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48