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and nothing more than a packet of biscuits or half a pint is exchanged between cadets! A small number of foreign students pass out each year, perhaps from Afghanistan or Oman, it’s less likely their families will come over for the event so their tickets are often up for grabs first. Issuing the 800 tickets is the job of Linda Login who works up in the college’s operations office: “It’s not just proud families – we also invite local civic dignitaries and representatives from the police.” Most guests will have to stand but these high- ranking types get a seat and it’s Linda’s job to reserve it for them; “It’s quite important who sits where and there is an official order!” she says. Linda is also responsible for booking the Royal Marine Band and putting together the programme. The latter is an arduous business, as she has to double check the names of every young officer who is passing out, making sure each is spelt correctly. “This is my 14th parade and I never get bored with them,” she says affectionately. “It’s a special moment
Commander Robert Dunn
Ceremonial training officer Jon Nicholls
- watching all the parents’ faces as their sons and daughters do the special slow march up the steps and as commissioned officers, are allowed to walk through the main doors of the college for the very first time.” The person in charge of that slow march and the rest of the parade ground drill is Ceremonial Training Officer Jon Nicholls. He makes sure the cadets are neat, tidy, in line and in time. “We put them in size order so the platoon looks pleasing to the eye, shoes must be shiny and men close shaven.” That’s the thing he says he has to pick them up on most: “I learnt the hard way when I was training in the 80s and was made to shave with a razor and a bucket of cold sea water in front of all the other men.” The poignant slow march up the stairs takes each cadet up to 20 hours to master as it has so many precisely co-ordinated small steps. Jon chats to the royal guest and invites them to inspect the men and women. This can take anywhere from 15 minutes to two
Jacqui Hunt
Tracy Harrison Linda Login
“The only weather that will stop a passing out parade is lightening because of the swords that are held sky-wards during the march.”
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