42 NAVY NEWS, MAY 2010

Beverley still in the running for prize

A MEMBER of Huyton with Roby unit has won through to the final stage of a prestigious national competition – and booked herself a place on an exciting expedition. POC Beverley Marriette is one

of five finalists still in the running for the Duke of Westminster Award 2010.

And as one of the final five she is also guaranteed a three-week trip to South Africa in July. Four Sea Cadets made it through to the penultimate stage of the competition, organised by CVQO. Alongside Beverley were LC

Jessica Bereznyckyj (Nottingham), LC Jessica Gregson (Clapton and Hackney) and POC Oliver Mollart (Preston), who faced the challenge of a 36-hour assessment and selection event in the Quantock Hills in Somerset. “The judging panel were extremely impressed by all 21 cadets who made it through to final selection,” said Edward Woods, chief executive of CVQO and head of the selection panel. “It was a tough job choosing just nine, but we are confident that the nine winners will make an excellent team on their expedition to South Africa in July.” The eventual winner,

along

with four runners up, will receive the award and other prizes at a luncheon hosted by the Duke of Westminster in London on June 23 and will also visit Downing Street. The following month they will be joined by the four remaining finalists to travel to South Africa on the expedition, where they will undertake an environmental awareness course in Kwa Zulu Natal and a project working with and teaching orphaned children. In addition they will visit Rorkes

Drift, Isandlwana and take part in a walking safari.

The nine finalists emerged from the 350 submissions from more than 20,000 eligible BTEC registered cadets nationwide.

Unarmed, unbeaten

NOT content with winning the Best Squad award in the South West Area drill competition, Avon District – represented by Bristol Adventure unit – carried off all the trophies in the Unarmed section. The team, who were crowned

District winners in January, had been training since November under the tutelage of unit drill instructor APO Samantha Silverthorne. Having done their best, the team came away with the awards for best-dressed squad member (POC A Cottrell), runner-up for best-dressed squad member (OC Z Thomas), best-dressed squad, best squad commander (POCM Silverthorne) and, finally, squad.

best A special mention must go

to Cdt W Brobin, who missed the competition with a broken arm, and to CI Lesley Wood and UA Teresa Silverthorne for their skill with the needle and cotton, ensuring that all badges were spot on.

l S/Lt Adey, of TS Venomous, gets to drive a ship

Two days is not enough...

FOUR lucky members of Loughborough unit managed to get to sea with HMS Albion, whose CO Capt John Kingwell has links with the town through his days at the local university. Cdts Becky Richardson and Lewis Riley, PO Vann and S/Lt Adey joined the assault ship at Liverpool for a two-day passage to Devonport, along with staff and cadets from Sandwell unit – TS Albion. The group joined in as much

bridge to laundry, and had a good look at the landing craft. There were even helicopter fly- pasts and a man overboard exercise to keep them on their toes. The visitors were thrilled to

as they could, standing bridge watches and even driving the ship when the seas ahead were clear. They also toured the ship from

live as part of the ship’s company, and found it hard to disembark; all hope to get the chance to ‘run away to sea’ again soon.

Ceremony staged in equatorial Bristol

ANOTHER unit has crossed the line.

on Llanelli’s land-based version of the traditional Naval equatorial ceremony. Now Bristol (Avonmouth) have held their own ceremony to bid farewell to a much-loved member of staff.

In our March edition we reported

last year after nearly 20 years in submarines, since when he has been a civilian instructor at TS Enterprise. CO Lt (SCC) Barbara Hillier

RNR, said: “His new job sees him leave us for Carrickfergus. Our loss

l Cadet Ellie Clarke (12) takes to the water

Picture: PO(SCC) Jake Lundon

Lt Cdr Ian McNamara retired

really is their gain.” All the elements of the ceremony

were there, King Neptune and his retinue, barbers, a surgeon, Davy

Jones et al.

And a good job they did, too – technically speaking, Lt Cdr McNamara is no novice, having experienced the ceremony on board ship.

“TS Enterprise is a brilliant bunch

of young people and volunteer staff. They worked really hard. “I have actually crossed the line, and this was as close as you could get without doing it for real. “I was really touched by the effort made by all for my send-off and I look forward to inviting Avonmouth unit to my new one in Carrickfergus near Belfast.”

Peterhead’s leader relinquishes control

PETERHEAD unit’s longest serving CO has retired after 17 years at the helm of TS Caledonia.

Lt Cdr (SCC) Ian Wilson RNR retired from the position in January, handing over duties to S/Lt (SCC) John Bowman RNR. Lt Cdr Wilson, who first took up the position of CO in 1992, said of his years of service: “It has been a tremendous experience which has left me with many happy memories,

and achievements

which will stay with me forever. “I wish John and his staff every

success, and I know the unit is in good hands.”

One of the highlights of his reign

was the winning of the Canada Trophy, awarded to the top unit in the country, in 2008.

However, Lt Cdr Wilson won’t be disappearing over the horizon as he will remain fully active within the unit as an instructor and the unit’s RYA Principal, as well as continuing his district, area and national roles. S/Lt Bowman joined

TS

Caledonia 17 years ago as one of the unit’s first Junior Sea Cadets. As a canoeing coach and unit

instructor he has a wide-ranging knowledge of the Corps and is looking forward to the challenge. Of his appointment,

S/Lt

Bowman said: “When we heard the news that Ian was standing down as our CO the staff team were shocked,

although deep

down we always knew this day would come.

“I joined the unit in the same year that Ian was appointed CO,

and have always looked up to him as a leader, colleague and friend. “It is daunting stepping into the shoes of someone who everyone looks up to, although, I’m sure Ian would agree that although the successes over the last 17 years have come under Ian’s dedicated leadership, the successes would equally not have been achievable without a fantastic professional staff team, Unit Management Committee,

community and,

Peterhead’s youngsters. “I am going to have to call

upon everyone who has helped us throughout the years to continue

Special day for Daisy

A SERVING sailor has had his daughter christened in a ship’s bell at the York unit headquarters. Charles Gomersall is a marine

engineer in HMS Daring, but his links with the Corps go back almost 20 years, to February 1991 when he joined TS York as a ten- year-old.

He remained a cadet until he

was 18 and became a civilian instructior, but by that stage his mind was made up as to his future career.

He joined the Royal Navy

at HMS Raleigh in February 2000, and has served in Type 42

destroyers as well as a

memorable three years with HMS Endurance. During all this time he kept in touch with his old unit, and they were happy to oblige when he and his partner Michelle Hetherington asked if they could have their daughter, Daisy May Coleen Gomersall, christened in the unit’s bell, believed to be that of the wartime cruiser.

More than 50 people attended

the service which was conducted by the unit’s padre, Rev Andrew Stoker – an appropriate touch bearing in mind Charles’ job.

l Falmouth and Penryn cadets with the CO of 849 NAS, Lt Cdr Martin Barlow (far left), Air Engineering Officer Lt Cdr Patrick Fraser (second from right), and Assistant Air Engineering Officer Lt Craig Jordan ( right) in front of a Sea King at Culdrose

Group gets airborne

CADETS from Falmouth and Penryn unit enjoyed a guided tour of their affiliated squadron at RN Air Station Culdrose. The 14 cadets were hosted

by 849 Naval Air Squadron, and chatted to squadron personnel about their roles within the Navy. The highlight of the day was the chance for the cadets to experience a short flight in the squadron’s Sea King Mk 7 helicopter to give them an understanding of what the aircraft is capable of, as well as enjoying the outstanding views of

the Lizard and surrounding area. Lt Craig Jordan, the Assistant Air Engineering Officer for 849 NAS, said: “Having the opportunity to show our affiliated Sea Cadet unit how we work from day to day was brilliant.” The cadets also visited the flight deck simulator at the RN School of Flight Deck Operations, and had hands-on experience directing and marshalling an aircraft landing on the deck of a Naval ship. The day finished off with a tour around a Hawk aircraft.

Trailer cash helps Abingdon

ABINGDON unit was given a grant of almost £1,140 by the Vale of White Horse District Council at the end of last year.

Along with a further £500 given by Abingdon Town Council, this enabled the unit to buy a new twin-axle boat trailer for the transport and storage of their large Viking power boat. And further grant money from Oxfordshire County Council enabled the unit to buy a new minibus. The cadets held a publicity/recruiting/ fundraising event in the Market Place, Abingdon to mark the official

presentation of the boat trailer. It also marked the official handover to the unit of a Pico dinghy named Kris P, bought with funds raised in memory of Cdt PO Preece, who died in 2007. Steve Reader represented CareUK, whose support had enabled the purchase of a road trailer for Kris P. The cadets, the band, the Viking

boat trailer and new dinghy and trailer were met by Cllr Alison Rooke, chairwoman of Vale of White Horse District Council, Cllr Pat Hobby, the Mayor of Abingdon, and members of the Preece family (see picture left).

The rest of the day was spent publicising the activities of the Corps in Abingdon in the hope of attracting new cadets and adult volunteers. Abingdon CO Lt (SCC) Philip Pether

said: “The unit has been very lucky to have had such generous support over the past year.

“It is a pleasure to acknowledge this in a public event such as this. “Sailing and boating is an important

part of our activities, and without the funds for the purchase of such equipment we would have difficulty in delivering our training programme.”

to keep up that support to help us remain one of the best units in the Sea Cadet Corps.”

The unit held a special presentation to honour Lt Cdr Wilson during the unit’s annual prizegiving.

On a poignant evening, Lt

support from the of course,

Cdr Wilson was recognised for his achievements and thanked for the leadership, commitment and dedication he has shown. He received a presentation from the ship’s company, the staff and committee, and the cadets also arranged a presentation of a photograph of the ship’s company as a memento of the evening.

l S/Lt (SCC) Marcel Bodenham RNR

Sterling work by Marcel

A FORMER Navy man has won a Lord Lieutenant’s Certificate for his sterling work with the Corps. After his career in the Senior Marcel Bodenham

Service,

became involved with the Sea Cadets as a civilian instructor at Sheffield unit in 1999. Shortly after he went into

uniform and became a petty officer; he transferred to Doncaster unit TS Lightning in 2004, and was promoted to chief petty officer in 2005.

Keen to be further involved, he assumed command of the newly- built premises of TS Lightning and, having been recognised with potential, and after a selection board, was promoted to sub lieutenant (SCC) Royal Naval Reserve in 2007. With a background in

engineering he was appointed the Area Staff Officer Marine and Electrical Engineering and additionally the Assistant District Officer for South Yorks and Humber District, managing to combine these roles with energy and enthusiasm. 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  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48