NAVY NEWS, FEBRUARY 2011


39


Busy schedule for Navy Board cadet


● Pat Goucher


East bids farewell to Pat


AN Eastern Area stalwart has retired after 31 years – and four years later than she could have done. Patricia Goucher was also the longest-serving Marine Society and Sea Cadets MSSC staff member by six years. Pat was with her husband,


based at RAF Swinderby, when the job of part-time secretary came up.


She got the job and joined the Sea Cadets in RAF Swinderby on June 4 1979. A year later she became full-time secretary, and the rest is history. When Pat joined the organisation, she worked on a manual typewriter, there was no such thing as a photocopier – all reproductions were done on a Gestetner duplicator – she used things like bottled Tipp- Ex to correct mistakes and all correspondence was conducted by phone or letter; very different to the instant communication of the world in which we now live. Pat has seen a great many changes in her years and has ‘trained’ 12 Area officers. She has also seen the Eastern Area HQ move on several occasions. She started at RAF Swinderby in 1978, but the air station closed in 1983 so the HQ moved to RAF Scampton. Scampton was earmarked for closure in 1997, and although the Corps was offered accommodation in Digby, the office went to a drill hall in Gainsborough. After 12 years in the drill hall, the office is once again on the move, and Pat oversaw the set- up of the HQ in its new office at RAF Cranwell before Christmas. Over the years Pat has


thrown herself into her job and supported Sea Cadet events up and down the country. She undertook several


courses at weekends, was a great supporter of the Area regatta and used to help out when the Regatta was held in Ipswich. Pat has been the tea lady for the past ten years, instrumental in ensuring all the staff workers tied to their posts running the event were fed and watered. In 2004 Pat was awarded the MBE for her services to the Corps – though her extra voluntary work helped clinch the honour; she works tirelessly for the church and regularly on Sundays she is at the hospital supporting patients at the bedside. Eastern Area dined Pat out to mark her retirement, with the Deputy Area Officer (East), Cdr S Watt, attending as guest speaker.


CATERHAM was one of seven Surrey District units to take part in a parade at Guildford Cathedral to mark the 150th anniversary of the Cadet movement. Eight cadets from TS Zephyr,


plus two instructors were included in the two Guard divisions for the event, which were inspected by the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, Sarah Goad. Lt (SCC) Barry Mitchell RNR,


First Lieutenant of Camberley unit was the Colour Officer.


LIFE as a Sea Cadet can be as busy and interesting as you want it to be.


to learn new skills, to compete at sports and to socialise at unit level.


And if you want to take it to another plane – literally, as well as figuratively-speaking – then let Annabel Broad be an example. Annabel, a Petty Officer Cadet


There are plenty of opportunities ● Lt Cdr (SCC) Don Davies RNR


at Crewe unit, was last year’s Navy Board Cadet for the North West – though the role was not on her radar until she was informed by the Area Officer that she could be a candidate. Navy Board Cadets act as


escorts for Navy Board members or other senior Royal Navy officers at appropriate official ceremonies or other such functions. These would include royal formal parades such as


visits,


Remembrance Day and Trafalgar Day parades, presentations and awards,


recruiting events, ship


visits, opening ceremonies and cocktail parties. Annabel’s name duly went


forward, and she got the job. With it came a host of duties and experiences, such as: Sailing around France and the Channel Islands; Flying at RNAS Yeovilton; Meeting the Prince of Wales and Earl of Wessex;





  


Northern England and Northern Ireland,


Alabaster, and sharing her views on the Corps with his;


 Attending the launch of


submarine HMS Ambush at Barrow.


Annabel, who is 18, has been a cadet for four years. She is a keen sea kayaker – a skill in which she also instructs. Annabel has passed her pre- selection course to be an officer in the Corps, and she also has an Admiralty Interview Board coming


Meeting Flag Officer Scotland, Rear Admiral Martin


● POC Annabel Broad (right) during the Sea Cadet aviation course phase two at RNAS Yeovilton. “We fl ew with 727 Squadron,” said Annabel. “The man in the photo with me is Lt Jerry Tribe, who was second- in-command of 727 however has just retired. We spent a week there on our course and I achieved my silver wings and got one out of the three places for gold wings next year, which you have to be selected for. The course consisted of a navigation exercise, along with fl ying the plane and using the controls, talking to air traffi c control and aerobatics. The photo was taken after I landed after my navigation exercise.”


up in order to pursue her ambition to become a warfare officer. And Annabel does have a life outside the Corps as well – she has just finished A-levels at college, being named student of the year, and does voluntary work teaching disabled children. “One of the events I enjoyed the most was attending the Mountbatten Festival at the Royal Albert Hall and meeting the First Sea Lord,” said Annabel. “The concert alone was outstanding, but to meet the First Sea Lord and other admirals was


a fantastic experience. “I am very grateful for the award and the opportunities it has given me, along with great friendship of my fellow Navy Board Cadets. “The only thing I would like to see improved is the awareness of the award, as many cadets didn’t know what the award was – it is a fairly new award and the opportunities that it gives are too good to miss.


“I can honestly say that I have had one of the most exciting and busiest years in 2010. “I had the opportunity to go to


Buckingham Palace to meet Prince Charles and Prince Edward, which was amazing. “It was lovely that my mum


was invited as well to share my achievement and excitement.” Annabel’s successor as Navy Board Cadet for the North West Area for 2011 is 17-year- old Cdt Sgt Chris Warren, from Fleetwood unit’s Royal Marines Cadet detachment. Chris, a motorcycle engineering student at Blackpool and the Fylde College, hopes to join the Army’s Royal Military Police.


Beccles is best


BECCLES unit can now boast the title of best training organisation for 2010 in Eastern Area, awarded at the Area Sea Cadet conference held at Bishop Grosette College in Lincoln.


The training team at the unit


comprises 13 members of adult staff, although special mention has to go to the unit’s Training Officer, PO (SCC) Tony Easter, for all his hard work in making sure the cadets receive a wide variety of training both on and off the water.


Activities sampled by the cadets over the past year have included canoeing,


sailing, the


BTEC in Public Services, Duke of Edinburgh Awards, St John Ambulance first Aid, camping, chartwork, communications and much more.


● Stonehaven members and their guests, the Rev David Stewart and Douglas Knox, at the unit’s Cadet Mess Dinner


Caterham in 7 RN customs direct mess dinner


STONEHAVEN and District unit held their annual Cadet Mess Dinner at their High Street headquarters. The cadets were joined by the President of the Stonehaven Rotary Club, Douglas Knox,


unit


chaplain Rev David Stewart and their own Mess President, POC Michael Smith, and Vice President, LC Michael Blacklaw. The dinner followed the high standards of a traditional Royal Navy officers’ mess dinner. Guests and cadets were dressed in formal attire,


were called to dinner by the buglers and were piped on board. Grace was said by the chaplain, then everyone got stuck into a three-course meal followed by teas,


Maritime past


coffees and (non-alcoholic) port, which was passed around the table as custom dictated. There was also a toast to the Queen, followed by a musical presentation by the unit bagpiper, OC Marcus Coolahan. The formal part of the evening was rounded off by speeches from the main guests. The dinner was organised by the Parents and


Supporters Association, where the unit staff serve the cadets to give them a well-earned thanks for all their commitment, efforts and achievements during yet another very successful year for TS Carron. During the course of the evening LC Heather


Lawman was presented with her Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award by Douglas Knox.


is celebrated TWO cadets from Southwark unit joined colleagues from across the London area at a celebration of Britain’s maritime history at the House of Lords.


LC Callum Malone and AC


Ben Wood attended the Maritime Foundation event, which included a series of presentations on the importance of the Royal Navy’s role in national defence, and a presentation on the history of the 16th Century Armada Tapestries, destroyed in the Great Fire of 1834 but now recreated in oil on canvas – the modern copies were also on display.


SUPPORT YOUR SEA CADETS


Volunteer, donate or even leave a legacy


Visit sea-cadets.org or call 020 7654 7000


Offi cer’s sterling service rewarded


A SEA Cadet stalwart has been awarded an MBE in the 2011 New Year’s Honours Civil List for services to the Sea Cadets over a 35-year career.


He also had a distinguished career in the London Ambulance Service,


the IRA bombings in the mid- 70s and 80s, receiving several citations from the Royal Humane Society.


of Dartford in 2002 and moved to New Romney for a restful retirement, but within months of settling in was getting involved with the local unit, and became Chairman within four months. At the time TS Veteran was


struggling to stay open and the unit was quite run down. Don, along with his wife Hazel who became secretary, recruited new volunteers and started the rebuilding process. Modest as ever Don paid


tribute to the fellow volunteers and colleagues who have helped him to achieve what he has, and in particular thanked his wife Hazel for her unstinting support and patience.


Don stood down as chairman particularly during


Lt Cdr (SCC) Don Davies RNR Rtd joined as a Civilian Instructor in 1975, and during his time with the Sea Cadets, he has held almost every unit post there is, from Petty Officer Instructor to commanding officer and chairman – the latter at Dartford (TS Anson) and New Romney (TS Veteran).


“He has achieved all he has despite having serious health problems and many other challenges, and he continues to give his all in support of the young people in his community. ”


Sea Cadets Area Chairman (South) Ivor Riddell said: “Don is the epitome of the service ethos that runs through our volunteer cadre within the Sea Cadet organisation and is fully deserving of this prestigious recognition.


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


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