NAVY NEWS, OCTOBER 2010


43


Buxton mourns Trevor


BUXTON unit are gradually coming to terms with the sad loss of one of their most valued members of staff. PO Trevor Woolford died suddenly from a heart attack on July 31.


He had played a very active role in the unit for 30 years, carrying out his many duties with great efficiency and cheerfulness, and always with a friendly greeting for everyone.


In October 2009, the chairman of Derbyshire County Council presented Trevor with an Excellence in the Community Award for his services to the cadet unit. Thirty cadets and the entire


staff were on parade for Trevor’s funeral.


Cadets from the unit managed to retain the Pico trophy at the area sailing competition also coming joint second in the Junior Topper event and first in the double-handed PY class. A group of 15 cadets have spent a week sailing at sea off Weymouth, where they all gained RYA qualifications. The unit was also due to hold a “Bags2school” fundraising collection as Navy News went to press, in which cadets collect unwanted clothing and other items.


Hunt on for volunteers


BARNSLEY unit is on the look- out for adult volunteers. TS Diomede has been a feature of the town for almost 70 years, and has had a Marine Cadet Detachment, now Royal Marines Cadets, for the past ten. Volunteers are needed with a range of skills from those who want to help train cadets, to those who can apply their business skills to help run the management team. All volunteer instructors serve a


probationary period of six months after which they decide whether to become a uniformed or non- uniformed instructor. All volunteers,


irrespective of


their role, undergo a criminal records disclosure check (CRB) when they join the charity. Applications from former members of the Armed Forces are welcome, but previous experience is not a prerequisite – just


“OUTSTANDING staff!”


verdict as St Albans unit took third prize in the Hertfordshire Volunteer Management Awards this summer. The awards, made by the Hertfordshire


– that was the


Volunteer Centres, were made to local charity and community groups using good volunteer management practices. Commenting on the award to TS St Albans, Cllr Christine Crawley, Mayor of St Albans,


MARGATE unit have launched their new £30,000 RIB safety boat and emergency rescue vessel


– and the person carrying out the ceremony was


in for a little surprise. The unit had applied through


the People’s Millions scheme for a grant to buy the six-metre rigid inflatable boat, and won the full amount when they were deemed the best runner-up nationally in the scheme.


The cheque was presented just before last Christmas by Meridian TV presenter Sarah Saunders, and the order placed by unit chairman Ray Hesledine. Sarah was invited back to launch the vessel in the harbour – and to her surprise she found the boat had been named after her to reflect the fact she originally handed over the cash. Launch day was sunny and


calm, allowing the new boat to be put through her paces. Also in attendance on launch


day were Kent County Council chairman Bill Hayman, unit CO Lt (SCC) Bob Bryant RNR, and cadets and adult volunteers from


● TS Jamaica staff and cadets take the new boat, plus namesake Sarah Saunders of Meridian TV, for a spin TS Jamaica.


But the big day in Margate Harbour was not actually her first starring role.


Before the official launch the


Sarah Saunders had acted as guard boat and safety vessel for the Kent Schools Sailing Association meeting held at Sandwich. A sudden squall had blown up,


to the


capsizing several boats. The Sarah Saunders was quickly rescue, helping retrieve


sailors and their boats without loss or injury.


Work starts on HQ for Woking


THE Mayor of Woking broke the ground at the start of a six-month project which will see Woking unit boast a new home early next year.


Guest of honour Cllr Mohammed Iqbal,


shovel in


hand, was joined by workers from council-appointed construction company Mansell plc and architects BBF Fielding, who will be responsible for creating the building.


Cadets and staff from TS Dianthus also attended the ceremony.


a


website http://units.ms-sc.org/ barnsley, email the Commanding Officer, Caroline Devonport, at co@barnsleyseacadets.co.uk or telephone 01977 652880.


willingness to work with and pass on skills to, young people. For more information visit the


The new two-storey building, which will cost Woking Borough Council £1.7m,


will include


meeting rooms, a galley, offices and a boatyard to the rear. It will offer Sea Cadets and the unit’s detachment of Royal Marines Cadets a range of new facilities, allowing them to move from their current headquarters in


Westfield Avenue to the new spot at Goldsworth Park Lake. The new HQ will also provide meeting


useful facilities for


the wider Goldsworth Park community. Barry Pope,


chairman of


TS Dianthus, said: “This is an exciting day for the Woking unit, and we are looking forward to the day we take up residence in a new purpose-built unit at Goldsworth Park Lake. “We are extremely grateful to


Woking Borough Council for its generosity in providing this building for the youth of Woking and other community groups.” The project is part of the


larger, multi-million pound Hoe Valley scheme, which includes the removal of a number of homes situated on the flood plain, the cleaning up of Westfield tip and various enhancements at Woking Park.


Sarah names Sarah St Albans wins top community award


said: “I’m delighted that the volunteers who run the St Albans Sea Cadets have won such a prestigious award. “I was warmly welcomed by the Sea Cadets


during my year as Deputy Mayor and spent an evening listening to the volunteers’ enthusiastic and caring aims and values for the group. “They think of everything and grab every


opportunity with open arms, always giving back to the community.


“Long may St Albans Sea Cadets continue.” Receiving the award Mrs Pat Gosling, Chair


of St Albans unit said: “The award came as a great surprise but acknowledges the work undertaken to ensure all our volunteer staff, be they uniformed instructors, committee members or working behind the scenes. “We have a great committed volunteer team and I am very proud to accept the award for the unit.”


● Capt Windsor (near boat, left) helps the staff of Thornbury unit to victory over district cadets


New boat given to Thornbury


THORNBURY unit has been presented with their prize of a new Trinity 500 pulling boat, having won a competition to suggest a name for the new design. The presentation of the new


boat, which was designed and purpose-built for the Corps, was made by the Lord Lieutenant of Gloucester, Sir Henry Elwes, and the Captain Sea Cadets, Capt Mark Windsor. “The ASC (Admiralty Sailing Craft) is an excellent boat but the Trinity offers a different take on pulling, focusing a lot more on skill than strength,” said unit OIC CPO (SCC) Rob Umfreville. Following the presentation Capt Windsor, Lt Cdr Smith (Deputy Area Officer South West and unit staff took the boat out into Bristol Docks against a crew of cadets from Severn district competing at the South West Area combined regatta.


Andrew is top fin


THE course that entitles staff and cadets in the Corps to wear the Diving Proficiency badge was for the first time run at Fort Blockhouse, where the Sea Cadet Offshore Office is situated. Diving was undertaken at


● The Mayor of Woking, Cllr Mohammed Iqbal, starts the project that will see TS Dianthus gain a new HQ


A CCF RN officer from Kelly College grasped a golden opportunity for adventure when she signed up for part of the Transglobe circumnavigation three Service yachts.


by


Nikki Woodroffe RNR, a keen offshore sailor, was selected to join Legs 7 and 8 in 2008, allowing plenty of time to prepare for 9,000 miles of challenging sailing from Hobart to Auckland and on to Uruguay via Cape Horn. Nikki also decided to raise money for Help for Heroes, aiming to raise a pound for very mile raced on Leg 8 through the Southern Ocean – approximately 8,000 miles. The majority of the crew for Leg


● Captain Sea Cadets Capt Mark Windsor (white cap, centre left of picture) joins cadets and staff of TS Hastings on training night. The offi cer was shown how youngsters train in fi eldcraft, sailing, pulling theory and seamanship. He also heard of some of the cadets’ achievements and opportunities, such as fl ying with the Red Arrows and helping at an orphanage in Lesotho, Africa. Capt Windsor presented LC Harrison with his BTEC Level 2 Diploma in engineering, gained through the Corps, then handed the unit their much-prized 2010 burgee, representing a ‘very good’ grading. CO Lt (SCC) Alison Brennan-Wright RNR thanked cadets, staff and supporters for all their hard work


7, for which Nikki was First Mate, were from HMS Collingwood, and under skipper Nail Penman the Challenge 67 yacht enjoyed some fine sailing and reasonable seas, as well as some 50kt winds and a broken spinnaker pole. Landfall of New Zealand after


over a week at sea racing the RAF and Army was a special occasion, said Nikki – as was a glorious run ashore in the Bay of Islands. Leg 8 was a true test – 7,300


PE teacher and OIC Lt (CCF) Nikki races the oceans ● Lt (CCF) Nikki Woodroffe RNR up the mast during Transglobe


miles and 35 days in a confined space


whilst racing was akin


to “working in a fridge with a hose pipe upstairs and a washing machine without a full rinse downstairs,” according to Nikki. Huge seas and strong winds, coupled with wet cabins and smelly clothes, was counterbalanced by the achievement of rounding Cape Horn – and victory against the RAF (the Army had been forced to withdraw for urgent repairs). Nikki then had a lucky break – a


place was going begging on Leg 9, so with no more than four nights ashore, Nikki and the new crew set sail up the coast of Uruguay


and Brazil, avoiding pirates and oil rigs. It was essentially a hot and windless leg through the doldrums, across the Equator and into the Caribbean, with occasional squalls and storms but plenty of sunshine and a chance to test dormant sextant skills.


Nikki said she misses being aboard HMSTV Adventure, but the 15,000 miles of ocean sailing exceeded the life-changing event she was hoping for. If you wish to help Nikki meet the pound a mile target you can visit www.justgiving.com/Nikki- Woodroffe


Horsea Island, where Navy divers complete their training, although cadet diving was completed under BSAC rules and guidelines. The course, attended by five students, was organized by the staff of SCTC Neptune, the Corps’ dedicated diver training school in Liverpool.


And despite the differences in


training, one thing the Corps does take from the Navy is the award for the top student – ‘Top Fin.’ And Top Fin for this summer’s


course was AC Andrew Selby, from the Waltham Forest unit, who was presented with his award by Cdr (SCC) Barry Glanville RNR the Assistant Director National Training.


The cadets fell behind due to technical difficulties – but no rematch was offered...


SUPPORT YOUR SEA CADETS


Volunteer, donate or even leave a legacy


Visit sea-cadets.org or call 020 7654 7000


A charity registered in England and Wales 313013 and in Scotland SC037808


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