Generous donation for Sea Cadets
The 2020 First Sea Lord Cadets at their investiture
Meet the new First Sea Lord Cadets The new First Sea Lord Cadets for 2020 have been sworn in for duty. Their roles will include representing the First Sea Lord Adm Tony Radakin and attending events. The latest cadets to take up their roles are: Cdt Cpl Laurelle, Waltham Forest Unit (London Area), LC Emma, Inverness Unit (Northern Area), POC John, Connah’s Quay Unit (North West Area), POC Jonathan, Worksop Unit (Eastern Area), POC Poppy, Southampton Unit (Southern Area) and POC Ellie from Malvern Unit (South West Area). BZ to all, and we hope you get a chance to carry out your duties soon.
Highest honours for our amazing volunteers The recognition of our volunteers remains one of the highlights of the Honours List, including three receiving British Empire Medals (BEM). Jan Spicer (top) received an MBE for fundraising in Hull. Jan joined when girls were first admitted in the 1960s; 21 members of her family have now joined. Emma Walton BEM (middle), from Grimsby, was honoured for supporting her local unit, including helping to raise £70,000 to secure its future. Lieutenant Commander (SCC) George Wilson (bottom), London Region HQSO, and Chief Petty Officer (SCC) Stefen Wells, from Shirley, received BEMs for sterling work in their communities. Marine Society and Sea Cadets (MSSC) Trustee John May DL has become an OBE for services to young people, while former trustee and current Vice-President Patrick Stewart MBE received a CVO for his work as Lord Lieutenant of Argyll and Bute.
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SEA-CADETS.ORG / SPRING 2020
Cadets are set to benefit from a gift of £74,451 from the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve’s (RNVR) Youth Sailing Trust. This will go toward bursaries to help cadets have life-changing experiences with Sea Cadets, like realising their dreams of making that much-anticipated voyage on TS Royalist or any of our offshore fleet. Sea Cadets Chief Executive Martin Coles expressed his thanks: “This will ensure many young people get the opportunity of a lifetime, that would otherwise have been inaccessible to them.”
Celebrating 70 years of service! Weston Sea Cadets has recently marked a huge milestone for one of its members, Grace Monk, who has spent an amazing 70 years at the unit. Volunteers and lifelong friends marked Grace’s incredible service to the charity with a party. Grace, aged 87, says she has had a “wonderful life” helping cadets over the years, and celebrated her milestone achievement at the unit’s headquarters in December with a cake and a buffet. “I joined Weston Sea Cadets in 1949 and that was also where I met my husband,” Grace says. “I’ve had such a wonderful life with the group – we have had the best time of our lives.”
Unsung heroes Two volunteers have been recognised for their amazing contribution to Sea Cadets with a British Citizen Award. Bevan Johns, 80, is a Royal Navy veteran who has supported more than 3,000 young people during his 40 years as a volunteer at Islington Sea Cadets. Another veteran, Paul Townsend, from Orpington, was awarded for his contribution as CO of City of London Sea Cadets. He has been responsible for training more than 300 sea cadets in seamanship, navigation and engineering on board their HQ, HMS Belfast, for 30 years. “I’m excited to receive this award,” said Mr Johns. “Between us, me, my wife and our two children have 100 years of service.” Mr Johns was instrumental in keeping the unit going. He helped raise £17,000 to renovate a disused electricity substation so they could have their own HQ. It was renovated in the design of a ship, and when they ran out of money, Mr Johns taught the cadets carpentry and bricklaying to get it finished. “I got an awful lot from Sea Cadets,” he says. “I went on seamanship courses with the Royal Navy. They taught me everything about engineering. Young people should still get their hands dirty and look at the mechanical or electrical sides of things. Sea Cadets offers them that chance.” The award, presented at The House of Lords, recognises the unsung heroes who have had a considerable impact on their local communities.
