40 NAVY NEWS, FEBRUARY 2011
Award for unit’s ‘role model’ PO
A MEMBER of Southwark unit has been publicly honoured with the Diana Award, a unique lifetime honour presented to young people for their compassion and outstanding selfless contribution to their communities. These exceptional young people are positive role models for a generation by challenging negative stereotypes of young people. Award holders automatically become members of the Diana Alumni programme,
them to continue their hard work and provide them with the skills to develop to their full potential. PO George Whitfield has been chosen for the award because of his commitment and work with Southwark Sea Cadets, London Nautical School and the London Irish Rifles Association Band. At the Surrey Square headquarters of TS. Cossack, Lt Cdr (SCC) Allan Phillips RNR said: “We at Southwark Sea Cadets are extremely proud of PO George Whitfield. “This award will encourage him to continue his voluntary work in the local community, and will hopefully inspire others to get involved.
such a fantastic award.” Maggie Turner, chief executive of the Diana Award, said: “This highly-prestigious award gives young people, of all abilities, circumstances and cultures, recognition at a time when their life choices are still to be made, enabling them to make a real positive difference to their communities. “As individuals Award holders change lives, but as a group of community entrepreneurs they have the power and ambition to build the cohesive society in which we would all like to live.” For further information on
the Diana Award, or to make a nomination, visit www.diana-
award.org.uk
Book yourself an adventure
BOOK your place now for an amazing offshore opportunity. The offshore season starts
soon, and Sea Cadets has places available on several of its fleet. Try your hand at sailing a 29-metre square-rigged tall ship or navigating the new power vessel TS Jack Petchey.
35ft Tradewind yacht and progress your RYA qualifications. You can book as an individual
or part of a unit team, to find out full details call: 02392 765 512. See next month’s Navy News
for further details of the offshore programme for this year.
There is also the chance to sail a “George is honoured to receive enabling
● Lt Col John Davies RM presents the Stephenson Trophy to Barrow CO Lt (SCC) Ted Creighton RNR
First-time win for Barrow
● North West Area cadets at the wide open sands of Ainsdale Beach for their orienteering exercise
CCF thrive down on the range
FOLLOWING on from the success of the first regional leadership weekend at RAF Wittering last spring, Combined
Cadet Force
members from the North- West of England got the chance to sample the delights of leadership training at an
Army facility. The Altcar range, near Formby
on Merseyside, can accommodate hundreds of soldiers or cadets, but with the training being held over Remembrance weekend the camp and training area was practically deserted. Apart from the 16 CCF cadets, of course – and the solitude added a special poignancy for those taking their drill assessment during the two minutes silence. CPO Taff Urie and WO Andy
Community stalwarts Norfolk Broads fl otilla
Brownrigg, along with CCF officers from local schools, managed to include a seven- minute lesson into the weekend’s
● A North West area CCF cadet attempts the assault course at Altcar range training camp
TWO members of the Corps in the Midlands have won community awards at an event hosted and supported by their employers, St Andrew’s Healthcare. Lt (SCC) Marc Pether RMR and Lt (SCC) Sean ‘Smudge’ Smith RMR were awarded a Community Stars Award for their work with cadets. Marc being the CO at Kettering
unit and Sean is detachment commander at Northampton. They each received £100 for their units, and Marc won the overall award, receiving another £250 for the unit and £250 in prize vouchers for himself. Marc is the Operational Lead for hospital security at Northampton and Sean has organisational responsibility for management and leadership development. They where chosen by a panel of employees from a number of nominations put forward, so they were delighted to both be recognised for the voluntary work they do.
CADETS and staff from three units get their first taste of life on the water when they spent a week on the Norfolk Broads.
A total of 36 from training ships Dauntless (Gosforth unit), Zephyr (Caterham) and Donald O Clark (Chester
le Street)
descended on the Broads for their annual camp.
The CO of Dauntless, CPO (SCC) Chris Healy, said: “The units spent the week living and working aboard four cruisers hired from Stalham, travelling each day to a new location. “It was an excellent opportunity for them to put into practice the theory they’ve learnt on land, and for some this was their first experience of being in a powerboat, where they could put to the test their seamanship, marine engineering and cook steward skills, with the added incentive of knowing that if they got it wrong the boats will be in trouble or the cadets will go hungry!” There was much interest from
activities.
Those activities ranged from completing the local obstacle course to Command tasks in the Army gymnasium adjacent to the ranges. Orienteering was carried out on the undulating dunes and wide- open sands of Ainsdale Beach, just down the coast from the Royal Birkdale golf course.
The cadets also had the
opportunity to meet two Royal Marines from the RM Visibility Team. Having completed the weekend successfully the cadets are all now ready to undertake the week-long leadership course at HMS Raleigh, at Torpoint in Cornwall. They can take an alternative
path by attempting a BTEC cadet qualification through their own schools.
Pictures: Nigel Huxtable
BARROW cadets hosted a visit by the Captain of Sea Cadets and the North West Area Officer, who had a very special duty to perform. Capt Mark Windsor and Lt
Col John Davies RM called in at the Barrow-in-Furness unit for an informal visit while cadets were undertaking their normal training.
At the end of the evening the unit Commanding Officer, Lt Ted Creighton, received the Stephenson Trophy for the best unit in the North West
watched by all the cadets and staff – the first time the unit has won it in the 54 years the trophy has been presented.
unsurprisingly had completely stunned the unit staff – and made everyone feel proud of TS Sovereign’s achievement. The North West Area covers 58 units from Carlisle in the north to Stafford in the south, Buxton in the east to Holyhead in the west. Winning this award is a
culmination of a great deal of effort from all who are currently associated with the Barrow unit and many who have helped put the unit on such a good footing over the past 20 years with the development of key facilities and equipment.
This includes committee members,
Supporters Association, the uniformed and civilian staff and, crucially, the cadets who have applied themselves professionally and with such passion.
The assessment process is conducted throughout the year and covers all aspects of the unit, including performance of the committee, effectiveness of the parents association, the building fabric and training equipment, the training planning as well as achievements in cadet advancements,
achievements and proficiencies, uniform dress and bearing and involvement in the community. The visitors also viewed the
unit’s impressive facilities and sailing centre.
NW Area celebrates award scheme success
CADETS and volunteers celebrated their Duke of Edinburgh (DoE) Award achievements at the inaugural presentation evening for the North West Area, held at Naval Regional HQ Merseyside. More than 40 awards – gold,
silver and bronze – were handed out, as well as certificates marking their years of service to the awards scheme, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2006. Of particular note was a
● Cadets from three units – Gosforth (nearest camera), Caterham and Chester le Street – with their vessels on the Norfolk Broads
members of the public and fellow boaties as the cadets wore uniform with white caps for the week. POC Jacob Cole, of Dauntless,
said: “We were given a round of applause as we left Oulton Broad by the people on the shore –
this made all the cadets feel very happy and proud.”
CPO Healy and his opposite number from Caterham,
S/Lt
(SCC) Aaron Clarke, have already finalised plans for the next trip and the deposits are flooding in.
certificate for 44 years of service, presented to Lt (SCC) John Hithersay of Bolton unit. John reckons he has helped more than 200 cadets attain a DoE award over more than four decades.
After being presented with his
own award, the officer said: “I was very honoured to receive my certificate – it was unexpected and I am very proud.” Guests at the ceremony were
also treated to performances by the Corps of Drums from Ellesmere Port and a hornpipe demonstration by the cadets of Kendal unit.
Senior Staff Officer for the
North West, Cdr (SCC) Janet Evans RNR, who handed out silver awards to 12 cadets, said of their achievements: “It is great to see youngsters having their individual achievements recognised in this way as it is truly youth at its best, achieving DoE awards for their efforts in community,
service,
skills and expedition elements. “I sincerely hope this type of
evening will be an annual event.” Some 275,000 young people are on the scheme at any time in the UK, with more than 4.5 million participating since 1956. The volunteering part of the
programme is estimated to be worth more than £19 million to society each year.
specialisations the Parents and This came as a great shock and
Area,
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