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NAVY NEWS, SEPTEMBER 2011


First for Hastings RM cadet


A ROYAL Marines Cadet from Hastings branch has become the first of his kind to become a Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports Cadet. Cpl Alex Bryant attended the


induction ceremony at Walmer Castle, at Deal, where Admiral the Lord Boyce presented him with the cutlass and badge that go with the accolade. The post of the Lord Warden


of the Cinque Ports dates from at least the 12th century but may be even older. The Lord Warden was


Cinque Ports confederation, and the title is one of the higher honours bestowed by the Sovereign. Recent Lord Wardens have


former First Sea Lord and Chief of the Defence Staff, and was appointed Lord Warden in July 2004. Any Sea Cadet living, studying


originally in charge of the Cinque (pronounced “sink”) Ports, a group of five port towns on the South Coast – Hastings, Romney, Hythe, Dover and Sandwich. Today 14 towns belong to the


included Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Sir Winston Churchill. Admiral the Lord Boyce is a


A trophy and more honours


THE cadets of Northampton and Wellingborough unit, along with the Rushden Diamond Division, welcomed Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland (FOSNNI) to their training ship for a very special ceremony. Rear Admiral Martin Alabaster dropped by to present the unit with the Canada Trophy, given annually to the best Sea Cadet unit.


to the Corps in 1948 by the Navy League of Canada, and is awarded to the unit judged by the Captain Sea Cadets – currently Capt Mark Windsor – to represent the very best of what the Corps is about. There followed a number of


Sea Cadets from Tewkesbury unit present film of the 1950s destroyer HMS Diamond’s launch and trials to Cdr Ian Clarke, Commanding Officer the new Type 45 warship in Portsmouth


or being a member of a unit within any of the 14 member towns of the Confederation (the original five plus Rye, Winchelsea, Deal, Ramsgate, Faversham, Folkestone, Margate, Lydd and Tenterden) is eligible to be nominated for appointment as a Lord Warden’s Cadet, providing support at ceremonial events in connection with the Cinque Ports.


Cake for a birthday


JUNIOR Sea Cadets from all over Eastern Area gathered over a weekend in late June for their annual regatta – and took the opportunity to celebrate 155 years of the Sea Cadet Corps. The Juniors’ Regatta is a


highlight of the Eastern Area calendar with cadets taking part in a range of activities including sailing, rowing and team-building at Girton Sailing Club. Prizes were awarded on the


with a barbecue, commemorative cards and a birthday cake.


New start and fond farewell


STONEHAVEN unit has gained British Rowing accreditation, allowing its instructors to train and assess adults and youngsters in the Explore Rowing awards. Courses will be run in the new


Corps Trinity 500 (fixed seat) and Yoles (sliding seat) boats, allowing students to achieve both Sea Cadet and British Rowing qualifications locally for the first time.


Stonehaven already has Royal


Yachting Association status, meaning the unit can offer a wide range of activities afloat. Stonehaven has also recently


bid farewell to their President, Lord Arbuthnott, who retired after 35 years’ service to the Corps. He is succeeded by unit


Vice President John Smart, the former Lord Lieutenant of Kincardineshire.


Classic event


CADETS from Caterham unit assisted in and helped to promote a summer concert in the town. The ‘Classic Summer Evening’,


held in the grounds of The Chalet on Tupwood Lane, organised by the Tandridge Community Fund, raised money for three local charities, and showcased local music students in the afternoon as well as classical performers during the evening.


 Walton-on-the-Naze cadets perform a hornpipe at St Mary’s Church, Frinton-on-Sea


Walton juniors hit the ground running


WALTON-on-the-Naze Juniors enjoyed a jam-packed weekend, from rock-climbing at Essex University to staging a hornpipe routine for Sea Sunday. The Juniors have hit the ground


running, with the Section only having started in January. The Officer in Charge of the


Junior Section, PO (SCC) Lesley Monk, and her team took 25 cadets to the University of Essex’s indoor rock-climbing wall after fundraising facilitator Rosie Hatt raised over £1,200 for the visit. Walton Senior cadets who have


relationship has proved invaluable in teaching younger children the fundamentals of a Sea Cadet parade night. The following day, 25 Walton


A ‘Big Cadet, Little Cadet’


Junior and Senior cadets attended the Sea Sunday Service, when St Mary’s Church at Frinton-on-Sea was transformed into the deck of HMS Victory with a panoramic life-size backdrop, created by unit CO Lt (SCC) Gary Dodd RNR. The cadets helped unit padre


helped with the Junior section were also invited to attend – the Senior cadets have certainly taken to the Juniors, who parade separately on a Wednesday evening.


Don Smith, a Newhaven Sea Cadet in his youth, to put on a lively service – the Juniors entertained the congregation with a full Hornpipe dance routine down the aisle, and cadets also delivered some of the readings.


JUST as the Royal Navy’s newest Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond was declared operational – as reported in last month’s Navy News – film footage of her earlier namesake has surfaced showing her


Gem of a discovery


into his possession years ago. In 2004 a friend of the unit


who worked in a local nursing home had come across a handful of naval-related possessions from a resident who had died. That resident was thought to


launch and sea trials in 1950. On reading about the commissioning of the new HMS Diamond, the Commanding Officer of Tewkesbury unit, Lt Cdr (SCC) Jason Konhorn RNR, wrote to Diamond’s CO, Cdr Ian Clarke, about artefacts concerning the previous Diamond that came


had looked after 16mm film footage of the launch and trials as well as a ship’s badge and other memorabilia from Admiral Denny’s distinguished career. Having joined the Royal Navy


have been Lady Denny, wife of the late Admiral Sir Michael Denny, who had died in 1972. Lady Denny had been the Lady


Sponsor of HMS Diamond in 1950, launching the destroyer at the John Brown yard on Clydebank – not far from where the current ship was built. The Tewkesbury cadets


in 1913 he became Fleet Gunnery Officer, and during World War 2 he was Chief Staff Officer for the evacuation from Dunkirk before becoming CO of aircraft carrier HMS Victorious in the Pacific. Admiral Denny later went on


to become Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy from 1949- 53, then CINC Home Fleet. He finished his career as the


Diverse attractions at Horsea Lake


CADETS and school pupils have been taking a closer look at the Defence Diving School at Horsea Island in Portsmouth Harbour. A group of 40 members of the Combined Cadet Force (RN)


from around the country dropped in as part of their annual summer camp at HMS Excellent. They were introduced to diving


training and learnt about the different courses, equipment used


and even had the chance to try on some of the gear, under the supervision of AB(D) Rimmer. They rounded off the visit with a


Sunday by the Deputy Area Officer, Cdr Stuart Watt. Then the party got under way,


tour of the Fleet Diving Squadron, hosted by LS(D) Lacy, where they were shown bomb disposal equipment as well as meeting serving personnel and learning about the role of RN diver. The following week it was the


turn of pupils at Purbrook Park School in Waterlooville, just north of Portsmouth, to visit the Defence Diving School for a team-building and leadership training day. Almost 50 students from


Year 10 – aged 14 and 15 – formed four teams to compete in military-themed activities such as orienteering, first aid and sports, and all had the opportunity to enjoy a swim in Horsea Lake. The winning team took the Top


Fin trophy. Picture: Jenny Francis A launch and a link


THE launch of Chippenham unit’s new Trinity 500 boat also marked the formal affiliation between the unit and a military establishment. Capt Jamie Hay, senior RN


captain at MOD Corsham, used a bottle of bubbly to launch the Royal Arthur (above) – the name of the former petty officer training establishment at Corsham. During his visit Capt Hay


enjoyed a ripple rifle display (put together in a matter of weeks by PO(SCC) Wayne Doman) and a concert by the unit’s band. The launch ceremony was the


highlight of the evening, and as the boat slipped into the River Avon, a wave of applause from parents and VIPs accompanied the rolling drums as the band struck up Heart of Oak. Later, helped by LC Lisa


Evans, and with ceremonial sword in hand, the unit’s RN liaison officer Lt Rose cut a cake baked in honour of the occasion. Unit 1st Lt Robby Allen


said: “Capt Hay thanked the ship’s company for the splendid turnout, praising their fortitude and professionalism in the face of heavy rain.”


Aylesbury welcome the Duck


AYLESBURY unit officially launched and named its new Trinity pulling boat on Watermead Lake at an event attended by around 100 supporters. From a low point in 2004, when


the unit had barely a handful of cadets, Aylesbury has grown to a thriving outfit numbering 55 cadets, and now includes a new 15-strong junior section. The launch event was a


family BBQ run by the newly- formed Parents and Supporters Association – hopefully the first of many such occasions which help promote the unit and raise funds to cover running costs. The boat’s name, Aylesbury


Duck, was chosen by staff from suggestions submitted by cadets, who had to choose a maritime theme or a local connection. The joint winners were JC1


Medhurst and Cdt Read, who each won £10 for their suggestion. The boat was duly christened


on a somewhat showery day with a bottle of fizz in traditional style. JC Medhurst, the unit’s


Aylesbury cadets with their new pulling boat Aylesbury Duck on Armed Forces Day


youngest cadet, said: “I’m pleased we have a name that tells people where we’re from,” while LC Heidi Smith added: “We no longer have to travel to Oxford and use another unit’s boats – at last we have our own identity and rowing on our doorstep.”


The unit extended thanks to Mr


Pardis of the Riviera Restaurant for permission to hold the BBQ on his land, and to Dage Ltd and the William Harding Trust for the generous donations which made it possible to buy the boat, launch trailer and road trailer.


The trophy was first presented


UK representative on the NATO Military Committee. Visiting the new destroyer in


Portsmouth Naval Base, Lt Cdr Kinghorn said: “These items are of great historical value and should be retained by the current serving HMS Diamond.”


other presentations, which came as surprises to the cadets. The Royal British Legion presented a certificate of affiliation in recognition of the partnership between the Legion and cadets over many years. Each cadet also received an individual medal from the Admiral in recognition of the Canada Trophy success. And the final surprise was an announcement by the Mayor of Northampton, Cllr Jamie Lane, that the unit will be given the Freedom of the Borough of Northampton, an honour reserved for few organisations – and believed to be a first for a Sea Cadet unit.


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