42 NAVY NEWS, NOVEMBER 2010


Brighter future for Newham


A LONDON unit is hoping to enjoy a revival after coming close to closure.


(Cornwell VC) unit, suffered a period of hardship when it found it difficult to retain volunteer staff, and also struggled with funding as cadet numbers dropped off along with staff.


TS Chester, the Newham


In a vicious circle, low numbers meant the unit could not be represented at many local events, which made recruitment even more difficult. Now a new officer in charge been


has appointed – AS/Lt


(SCC) Adam Mendrys RNR – and with the help of a new cadre of volunteers, more cadets are coming in through the unit’s doors. If anyone is interested in joining, as a cadet or adult instructor, they


vccadets@btinternet.com should email Cornwell.


Out in the (wet) fi eld


TS HAWKINS has played host for the second time to the cadets and staff of 4 Troop (Manchester District) Royal Marines Cadets for a weekend’s training. Cadets and staff from Altrincham


and Sale, Stockport and Tameside Detachments got together for a weekend of training in the field at the Stockport unit. Friday evening was spent packing bergens and revising field orders, ready to go out into the field overnight to practice their fieldcraft. Unfortunately,


the extremely


inclement weather (ie torrential rain) forced the cadets back on board late on Saturday evening, but they still survived on their ration packs for 24hrs, and put various skills into practice (including


camouflage


apparently – see left). Cadet of the weekend was RMC2 Gemma Gibson of Stockport. Trp Cdr Sgt Glenn Maclennan


said: “We had a total of 17 cadets and nine Staff turn to for this weekend, it has been a learning curve for us all and a great experience for the cadets.”


Remembering Ypres REMEMBRANCE


victims of the Great War is not an activity confined to the month of November, as far as


of the


Sea Cadets are concerned. A nine-strong group from Sunbury and Walton unit made


a pilgrimage to Ypres in Belgium during the summer, supported by four staff and two parents with an essential piece of kit – a motorhome. The party arrived at their just


campsite, a


walk from the Menin Gate, on a Friday afternoon, and gathered at the Gate, the iconic memorial to almost 55,000 Allied soldiers who died in the Ypres Salient and have no known grave. That gave the cadets a taste


of what to expect the following evening; a sombre and poignant service which takes place every evening and draws onlookers from across the globe. On the Saturday


Flanders Museum and relaxed in the afternoon before donning No 1s for the march into town, wearing half-blues as it was so warm. Uniforms and other equipment


few minutes’ cadets and staff, in their No 4s, visited the


were housed in the motorhome of the Marchant family – AC Laurens Marchant is a member of the unit. Fellow campers followed the parade in to lend support, and the sound of marching boots brought plenty of locals out from their homes to watch the cadets on their way through. With a burial ceremony for the last of 250 Allied soldiers found in a mass grave two years ago taking place at Fromelles the following week, the cadets knew it would be busy in Ypres.


But they were quite taken aback by the size of the crowd at the Gate, and the attention they attracted, with a battery of cameras aimed in their direction as they formed up in the corner ready for their role in the ceremony, which is led by Belgian Fire Brigade buglers. Guest of honour that day was Dr Brendan Nelson, the Australian Ambassador


to Belgium,


Luxembourg and the European Union, who took the time to meet cadets and staff and shake them by the hand. Ceremony over, and wreath


laid, the following day was given over to a private tour of some of the numerous cemeteries and trenches in the Ypres area before they headed home.


● MSSC President Admiral Sir Peter Abbott presents a certifi cate of appointment to Honorary Commodore (SCC) Jack Petchey (right)


Commodore Jack


THE MSSC, parent charity of the Sea Cadets, has appointed major benefactor Jack Petchey as an Honorary Commodore in the Sea Cadet Corps. Mr Petchey’s foundation


the achievements of hundreds of London Area cadets over the years through an annual awards scheme. Mr Petchey, who served in the


donated £1 million towards the cost of the Corps’ latest training vessel, named TS Jack Petchey in his honour. The Jack Petchey Foundation,


now in its tenth year, has also been a great supporter of the London


having made donations of more than £250,000, while the foundation has also recognised


Area Sea Cadets,


Royal Navy at HMS Collingwood in 1943 and deeply appreciated the opportunities this experience opened up to him, said: “My aim is to raise young people’s aspirations and encourage them to achieve their goals. “For me, today seems a world


away from my young dream of becoming an officer – I am truly honoured to receive this title of Honorary Commodore (SCC).”


● Royal Marines Commandos put on a twilight display for the cadets of Sefton unit and Liverpool district


Ex-cadet drops in with his team


A former member of the Sefton unit called on his old ship – and brought his commando display team with him. The former cadet just happened to be Brig Ged Salzano, Commandant of the Commando Training Centre RM at Lympstone, and when he was in the North West he took the opportunity to stage a series of demonstrations by the Royal Marines Commando Display Team for the cadets of Sefton and the Royal Marine Cadets of Liverpool district. Led by Maj Jules Rawles RM,


● Warsash unit with the Mayor and Mayoress of Fareham – and their own elected representatives (in red)


Meeting the mayor


MEMBERS of Warsash unit were invited to meet the Mayor of Fareham in the town’s council chambers.


Before being treated to light refreshments, the cadets chatted to the mayor, Cllr Brian Bayford, who told them how Fareham was transformed from an urban district to a borough in 1974. He also explained the procedures for council meetings, and the function of the borough’s mace and crest.


The cadets participated in the democratic process by holding a mock election and voting in their own mayoress and deputy mayor, watched by the real mayor and his mayoress, Cllr Susan Bayford. The cadets of TS Tormentor


have entertained the mayor on previous occasions at the unit’s headquarters in the Warsash Maritime Academy, and were very pleased to be able to visit Cllr Bayford in his own HQ at the Civic Offices.


the team showed a range of skills and techniques used by the premier commando force in the world. “The cadets really enjoyed themselves during the evening with all the various subjects and displays the team put on,” said S/Lt (SCC) Ken Griffiths RNR, the CO of TS Starling, the Sefton unit. “I


themselves as much as the cadets did, and it was really good to see the cadets getting fully involved, with even the junior section taking part.”


Neath training link


FOR the past year C/Sgt John Andrews PW1 (40 Cdo RM) has been attending Neath and Port Talbot College as part of his retraining programme after a distinguished career in the Royal Marines. Currently seeing out the final


two years of his military career at the Infantry Battle School at Brecon, John decided to seek a career in welding and fabrication after visiting an open day at Neath College. And there he met up with


welding lecturer Bob Evans, who in his spare time is chairman of TS Minerva, the Rhondda Sea Cadet unit.


Bob said: “I have trained a


number of Navy personnel over my 24 years in teaching, and all have proven to be very successful. “Neath and Port Talbot College seeking


is to become a centre


of excellence in welding and fabrication, and will strive to train people to the best of their ability, especially personnel from the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. “I am privileged to be a part of


John’s retraining.” The colour sergeant will now


progress to his Level 3 certificate, and then to his advanced diploma, where on completion he can apply for engineering technician status.


think the team enjoyed AHOY ALL FORMER SEA CADETS!


Where are you now, we’d love to hear from you! We need your support. Please get in touch at info@ms-sc.org visit sea-cadets.org / 020 7654 7000


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


Helping heroes in a song


Group, composed the song – Every Hero – for his GCSE Music exam after speaking to Major Edd Morehouse of 40 Cdo RM at Taunton, near James’s home. The response was such that


A SEA Scout has produced a song about military heroes, and he hopes it will help raise money for injured Service personnel. It even features George Harrison on guitar... James Smyth, 14, of 1st Watchet


he was invited to perform it in front of his school as part of their Celebration of Achievements evening; this he did with his friends George Harrison on guitar (you didn’t think we meant that George Harrison, did you?), Matt Porlock on piano and Sam Gibbs on backing vocals.


The song is based on the fact


that you are not born a hero but that, in his eyes, all the Armed Forces are – especially the Royals of 40 Cdo and 1 Assault Group, whom he sees near his home and while sailing in Poole Harbour. To help raise money for Help for Heroes, James wants to share the song with as many people as possible (through YouTube, searching on ‘Help for Heroes’, and through a link on the Heart 102.6FM radio website), and if you like what James has done he would like you to donate to Help for Heroes.


THE Sea Cadet Corps is asking Britain ‘Were you a Sea Cadet?’ The charity’s records show that


Get in touch if you were a member


over the past 70 years almost one million people have been a Sea Cadet at some point – the equivalent of one person in 60 of the current UK population. And


the Corps wants to


reconnect with them to build up a picture of cadets now and then. Over the years the charity has seen some famous names amongst the Corps,


including, Sean


Connery, Paul O’Grady, Dan Snow, former deputy prime minister John Prescott, jazz musician Kenny Ball and actor Paul Bethany. The


charity, established in


1854, recently updated its image making it more appealing to young


people, but it also wants to hear from former cadets who can help the charity, either with a one-off donation, a spot of volunteering or who might just be interested to hear what Sea Cadets have been up to. Today, across the UK, 14,000


young people aged between ten and 18 get involved in Sea Cadet activities, learning vital life skills like leadership and team working via challenging adventure activities on a naval theme. Former Sea Cadets can get in touch through the website www. sea-cadets.org, emailing info@ ms-sc.org, call 020 7654 7000 or write to ‘I was a former Sea Cadet’, MSSC, 202 Lambeth Road, London SE1 7JW.


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