Boat shed is ready on schedule TIME and tide (or at least bad weather) were against them, but the cadets of Methil and District unit and their supporters dug in and ensured their new boat shed was ready on schedule. Years of planning and fundraising by the UMC were followed by hard graft by staff and officers at the unit, clearing and preparing the way. “It was heavy going for a while, and when the senior cadets came down to lend a hand it made all the difference,” said PO Ernie Tolley. “You don’t realize how much kit there is to sort and stow until you have to go through it all. “It was great to find some bits and pieces that brought back a lot of memories and fun for the instructors as well as the cadets.” The builders played their part as the timescale became tight and the weather intervened. “We promised to have the building ready for the cadet opening and we weren’t going to let them down – everyone pulled together and the result is outstanding,” said Rab Crocket, of Buckhaven Building Supplies. The new boat shed will allow instructors and cadets to look after the boats and provide instruction space for boat maintenance, marine engineering and safety equipment. “We received a lot of support from Fife Council, Awards for All and the Bank of Scotland Foundation to name a few, and without them it would have taken a lot longer to achieve our goal,” said unit treasurer Dick Harnden. The day was tinged with sadness as chairman and project manager John ‘Jack’ Leishman died suddenly before he could see it completed. In honour of his commitment and leadership the boat shed was dedicated to his memory, with members of Jack’s family playing prominent roles in the day’s events. The dedication plaque was unveiled by Jack’s daughters Tricia Stafford and Jeanette Cassells, who also unveiled and named a 16ft ex-Navy Viking motor launch, which now bears their father’s name. “It was a very emotional day for all the family and to have such a wonderful building dedicated to our Dad’s memory is very fitting as he held all the cadets in such high regard,” said Mrs Cassells. “The Sea Cadets played a very important part in Dad’s life and it’s an honour to have him remembered.” Cadets from Methil joined Scouts from Glenrothes to help with a bucket collection for Help for Heroes. “We have cadets from Glenrothes, Methil, Leven and even as far as Anstruther – it is wonderful to see our cadets willing to help raise funds for Help for Heroes,” said S/Lt (SCC) Fiona Sekkat RNR. “The Scouts were delighted to be able to help alongside the cadets,” said Leader Dawn Grubis. “We have worked with the Sea Cadets before, and it is great to see two such distinguished youth organisations working together for a worthwhile cause.” The cadets spent the day gathering contributions from customers, supported by George Aitken, County Coordinator for Help for Heroes and the staff from Asda Glenrothes. “The cadets and Scouts have done a marvellous job – they have worked all day and given their time and enthusiasm willingly,” said Mr Aitken.
Sweet charity
THANKS to the efforts of AC Brown and PO Clark, Barnsley unit raised £11.45 at a Tarts for Troops sale of jam tarts, fairy cakes and Swiss rolls at stand easy – part of a fundraising campaign for Blind Veterans UK, formerly St Dunstan’s. h www.tartsfortroops.org.uk 42 : AUGUST 2012
Falklands telex sale boosts Gosport funds
A TELEX bearing one of the original copies of the message that the Argentinians had surrendered in the Falklands sold for £7,250 at auction – and benefited a Sea Cadet unit by more than £6,600. The telex – transmitted by a system which combined telephone-style networks and printers – was donated to Gosport unit by Andrew Wing, of the Stoke Gallery, who offered it as a raffle prize at the official opening of the TS Hornet boating station. But Captain Sea Cadets Capt Mark Windsor and RN colleague Capt Gavin Pritchard
advised CPO (SCC) Tony Salmon, of Gosport unit, that the telex was too valuable for a raffle, and it was withdrawn. The telex, from ‘JJ Moore’ [Maj Gen Sir John Jeremy Moore, commander of British land forces in the Falklands] reports that Maj Gen Mendes had surrendered all Argentine forces to him on June 14 1982. The raffle was unaffected, raising money for vital safety equipment at the boat station. But the telex went to Bonhams, the auction house, where it was put into their Marine Sale in London.
Having generated considerable interest from around the world, the telex was eventually sold to a telephone bidder in the United States. After costs, the sale raised £6,633.75 for Gosport, and unit president Cdr Mike Shrives made it a priority to call in to pass on the news to Andrew Wing and to thank him for his generosity. Andy said he was delighted, and when asked if he would like it used for a specific purpose, he said that money was for the benefit of the cadets and that he trusted the unit management committee to use it as it saw fit.
Canada Trophy heads to Essex
WALTON-on-the-Naze unit has been presented with the Canada Trophy for being the best Sea Cadet unit in the country in 2011. Rear Admiral Chris Hockley, Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England, Northern Ireland and Flag Officer Reserves travelled east to present the trophy. Rear Admiral Hockley and Mrs Hockley arrived at Titchmarsh Marina to join Captain Sea Cadets Capt Mark Windsor and Capt Harsch, Canadian Naval Advisor to London and Defence Attaché to Denmark, along with Cdr Michael Casement, London Area Officer
Cr John Greene and unit CO Lt (SCC) Gary Dodd RNR. Offshore group TS Rebel provided two powerboats as viewing platforms for the VIPs to watch cadets take part in dinghy racing in Laser 2000s with Navy Board Cadet Casey Brown adding a few capsizes for good measure. The Royal Marines Cadets played their part by demonstrating powerboat handling and, as a finale to the displays, the cadets re-enacted their part in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Thames River Pageant with a sail-past of their Trinity 500 flying the flag of
Sri Lanka and giving three cheers. The guests then toured TS Rebel with Principal Lt Cdr (SCC) Nick Moulton RNR. To ensure parents and guests could be accommodated – over 300 attended – the presentation was moved from the unit’s HQ to the Columbine Centre. Rear Admiral Hockley was greeted on his arrival with a red carpet and an armed guard, and after a buffet for the guests – including the Lord Lieutenant of Essex Lord Petre and Essex County Council Chairman Mrs Kay Twichen – the VIPs were
l The narrowboat Diamond is placed back in the water at Watford during her journey from Northamptonshire to London for the Thames Jubilee Pageant
Water shortage hampers journey HARD to believe, but a shortage of water almost scuppered the efforts of Rushden Diamond Division to play their part in the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations. Despite April and June being the wettest on record, a plan to take the narrowboat Diamond down England’s river and canal system to the capital fell foul of drought conditions which closed the Northampton arm of the Grand Union Canal between the
River Nene and Gayton Marina. Nor thampton and Wellingborough unit had been chosen to represent the Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire at the Thames Jubilee Pageant, which featured 1,000 boats. So the unit put out an appeal for help with transporting the boat, formerly known as Pied Piper but refurbished and renamed in honour of the newly-formed Rushden group.
l Mrs Hockley and JC Jasmine von Kaenel cut the celebration cake Picture: Photovogue Studio Ltd escorted onto the stage under the watchful eye of First Lieutenant CPO Ian Richards. Parade Marshall S/Lt (SCC) Jack Parson RNR asked permission to march on the cadets, who proceeded down the tiered seating to Heart of Oak. Capt Windsor read out the citation, after which Rear Admiral Hockley officially presented the trophy to Lt Dodd and Capt Harsch presented a framed citation from Vice Admiral Paul Maddison, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, along with a signed book of the history of the Royal Canadian Navy and a personalised framed citation for Lt Dodd. The cadets received engraved medallions, commemorative cap tallies, pin badges and maple-leaf badges for their uniform. Presentations over, a celebration cake made by Margaret Andrews was cut by Mrs Hockley and Junior Cadet Jasmine Von Kaenel. With the music system playing up, Capt Windsor led the guests in singing the National Anthem. Following the formalities, guests and staff attended a buffet at Walton Frinton Yacht Club.
I say! What fun!
And Wellingborough-based haulage firm Rob Masters Ltd answered the call, picking up the Diamond at Oundle Marina and delivering it to a boatyard near Watford, where it was craned back into the water to complete its journey south. Other members of the unit took part in the diamond formation of Trinity 500 boats which displayed the flags of the Commonwealth in the pageant.
IF you chaps (and girls) would like to know what life was like in the Sea Cadets more than 70 years ago, here’s a wizard wheeze! There’s a spiffing film, made by those clever fellows at the Ministry of Information and featuring topnotch thespian Bernard Miles, about Sea Cadets in 1941. And now you can all see what being a wartime Sea Cadet was all about by going to Youtube – ht tp : //w w w.youtube.com / watch?v=50SNSfIRisc&feature =youtube_gdata_player Try it – it’s jolly good!
was serving in Gibraltar in 1982, and who watched the Task Group sail for the South Atlantic – gave an address (above) before the Lord Lieutenant laid a wreath.
h Cadets of Cardiff unit also paid tribute to the dead of HMS Glamorgan, 30 years to the day after the missile strike in the South Atlantic. The youngsters mustered on the parade ground of the Ty Llewellyn TA Centre, alongside soldiers from the Royal Artillery and CMEM(M) John Callaghan, who laid a wreath for his former colleagues in the destroyer, assisted by unit CO, CWEM(O) (SCC) Mike Dixon and senior cadet AB Olivia Stickland. Immediately after Colours the names of the fallen were read out. After the ceremony CMEM Callaghan spoke to the ship’s company about Glamorgan’s deployment to the South Atlantic. The unit also marked the surrender of the Argentinian forces.
Welsh units pay tribute to Glamorgan victims
WHEN Carole Simms took over as chairman of the unit management committee of Penarth unit she found a board behind a cupboard headed ‘HMS Glamorgan’ with 13 faded names on it. No one at the unit could remember it, but an enquiry to the HMS Glamorgan Association revealed that the 13 names were of the men who died on June 12 1982 when the ship was hit by a land-launched Argentinian Exocet missile in the final stages of the Falklands Conflict. On the 30th anniversary of their deaths Penarth cadets paid tribute to the 13 victims of the attack. The commemoration ceremony was attended by Dr Peter Beck the Lord Lieutenant of South Glamorgan, Vaughn Gething AM and other local dignitaries. The refurbished honour board
was placed on the wall of the main deck alongside a picture of the destroyer, donated to the unit by the ship in the 1960s. Mrs Simms – whose husband
Portrush pick up award THE Queen has conferred on Portrush unit the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award – the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for volunteer groups, which recognises and rewards excellence in voluntary activities carried out by groups in the community. The Award is given in recognition of outstanding achievement by groups of two or more people in the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man who volunteer their own time to enhance and improve the quality of life and opportunity for individuals and groups. The citation stated that Portrush has been providing quality nautical engagement and adventurous training to young people with fun and community inclusion. In the unit’s 70th anniversary year Portrush continues at the forefront of work in the community, serving five council areas – Coleraine, Londonderry, Limavady, Ballymoney and Moyle, as well as assisting many others further afield. Portrush formed up in 1942 with a unit HQ at Portrush Harbour, on the quayside where Portrush Yacht Club now stands. The unit had the top floor of the building, with the ground floor used by a coal merchant – horsedrawn carts were loaded ‘below deck’, resulting in considerable black coal dust percolating through the gaps in the floorboards. There was a horse-trough outside, not only to quench the thirst of the horses, but also to ‘christen’ newly-enrolled cadets...
MSSC in Teesside
THE Marine Society and Sea Cadets Tyne-Tees branch has held a major profile launch in the Teesside area to publicise the organisation and what it does. Cadets from Middlesbrough, Redcar, Stockton, Guisborough and Hartlepool unit attended the event on board HMS Trincomalee in Hartlepool, escorting dignitaries and explaining the role of the MSSC and Corps. Among the 90 guests attending were chief executives, mayors and chairs of councils, and representatives from the Teesside business community, as well as RN and Merchant Navy personnel. Victor Spong, Chairman of the Tyne-Tees branch, gave a presentation on the work of the MSSC, which helped generate a good deal of interest in the work of Sea Cadet units in the North East. The Hartlepool unit band played throughout the evening, while other cadets manned displays on the historic warship and the quayside. The highlight for many was the Evening Colours ceremony.
Band member
LC Andrew Rich of Gosport unit was selected as a member of the Sea Cadets Massed Bands thanks to a Corps band course at HMS Raleigh. Andrew, who is studying for his Grade 8 certificate on the cornet, was noticed on the course in February while gaining his SCC Musicians qualification. The massed band played at the handing over of the Jubilee Diamond for safe-keeping in the Tower of London.
Diamond day
MEMBERS of Tunbridge Wells unit met in the town centre to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. They paraded for a review by Cdre Barry Bryant then carried out displays in band, drill and field gun alongside a static display marking the 30th anniversary of the Falklands Conflict. The event ended with a celebratory lunch at the unit’s Albion Road headquarters. www.navynews.co.uk