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New boating station is unveiled

Birthday parties for Corps

THE Sea Cadet Corps has a new boating station fit for the 21st Century and is now looking to change the lives of thousands of youngsters in the London area.

World champion sailor Megan Pascoe and other special guests joined 60 cadets and well-wishers for the formal opening ceremony of the Welsh Harp station in Wembley, North London. Sea Cadets raised £750,000 to replace the former boat station, which was built in 1960. Megan, who won gold in January this year in the 2.4m World Championships, took time out of training to officiate, cutting the ribbon to declare Welsh Harp officially open. The sailor, who has cerebral palsy affecting part of her body, said: “Sailing to me is a lifelong skill which I would not be without whether I’m racing internationally or down my local club. “Sea Cadets is an organisation that gives so much to young people because of the amazing range of activities that they offer.” Welsh Harp will enable nearly 700 cadets every year to gain nationally-accredited qualifications in sailing, kayaking, rowing and windsurfing. The station has been built as a residential centre, meaning that for the first time cadets can stay overnight, enabling them to spend more time on the water and not worry about accommodation. Welsh Harp is also opening its doors to the local community, welcoming local pupils and students to use the facilities during school hours. Tye Shuttleworth, Head of Inshore Boating at Sea Cadets, said: “We have been eagerly anticipating the arrival of our 21st-Century boat station. “We believe it will enable thousands more young people to gain qualifications and develop their life skills to grab a better future.” LC Giles, 16, from Wembley, who helped support the appeal, said: “Since learning to sail at Welsh Harp every week at Sea Cadets since I was 12, I’m now winning sailing races and am the current holder of the Sea Cadets Jutland Trophy, and recently won a 24-hour sailing competition at the boat station.” Welsh Harp Boat Station was designed by architects The Relph Ross Partnership Limited and took five years to complete.

Tewkesbury celebrates

TEWKESBURY unit’s cadets, staff and volunteers, together with parents and friends, celebrated the Queen’s 90th birthday in style, with a huge beacon that could be seen for miles around. Unit’s padre Rev Canon Roger Grey gave a short talk about the Queen’s devotion to duty to the nation, and led everyone in a service of thanksgiving. CO Sub Lt (SCC) Tristan Cooper RNR said: “It was a real privilege to be involved in such an historic event, and it was clear that Queen Elizabeth holds a special place in the hearts of all members of Tewkesbury Sea Cadets.” The evening was rounded off with ‘tea and stickies’, and with three hearty cheers. Other beacons were spotted as far away as Malvern (ten miles) and Pershore (five miles). The unit thanked Carl Redfern of Eckington Village for the use of his land to hold this event.

38 : JULY 2016

In the running A FIELD gun competition for youth organisations has been won by one of the original competitors.

HMS Collingwood hosted the Portsmouth Area Volunteer Cadet Corps (PAVCC) competition, but it was close neighbours HMS Sultan Volunteer Cadet Corps (VCC) who took the title for the second year in succession. This despite the fact that the contest was opened up to all cadet forces and units last year, providing a greater element of

rivalry. The competition recalls the fortitude of Naval Brigades during the Boer War of 18991902 in South Africa, when improvised field guns, using Naval guns from HMS Terrible and Powerful, were manhandled over rough terrain to help relieve the siege of Ladysmith. Field gun competitions representing elements of that episode, were instigated early in the 20th Century, and the Collingwood event is a variation on these themes.

Crews of 19 cadets, male and female aged between ten and 18, manoeuvre a 7lb field gun and limber, weighing over 900lbs in total, over more than 150 metres, carrying out drills on the way. The competition mirrors that of the Navy’s RNRMC competition, and is widely acknowledged as being one of the toughest team events in the world. Despite losing one member to injury on the run out, the Royal Marines (VCC) still finished second, and but for a ten-second penalty, hosts HMS Collingwood

(VCC) would have finished third, but a cleaner set of drill enabled TS Cardiff (SCC) (pictured above) – to take their place. It was the 11th year in succession that the Welsh unit took part in the event. Collingwood were also beaten by the Hants & IOW Army Cadet Force, leaving the home team in fifth place. Cardiff and Collingwood were due to lock horns again at the Wales Armed Forces Day at Caerphilly Castle as Navy News went to press.

Summer camp, Bristol-fashion ONE of the Royal Navy’s most senior officers made the short journey from Navy Command HQ to HMS Bristol to catch up with the Sea Scouts’ summer camp.

Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Jonathan Woodcock called in on a party of around 300 – 195 youngsters, the remainder instructors and staff – who spent a week undertaking watersports and visits. One of the big attractions of the annual camp – which has been running for almost two decades – is the chance to spend time on the harbour training ship. The 195 Sea and Explorer Scouts, aged between 12 and 18, were drawn from 32 units officially recognised by the RN, including visitors from South Shields and Lytham St Annes. While most were Sea Scouts aged between 12 and 14, 24 were older Explorer Scouts who were acting as young leaders – helming dinghies, crewing power boats, or supporting the divisional team. Others were seeking to gain qualifications on formal courses. Split into six divisions, the Sea Scouts sailed dinghies and yachts, went power boating,

THE Sea Cadet Corps was celebrating its 160th birthday in style as Navy News went to press. Since 1856 Sea Cadets has given thousands of young people a head start in life through nautical adventure and fun, and the birthday was marked on June 25. Across the UK hundreds of Sea Cadets celebrated the birthday by hosting picnics in local parks, unit buildings and community centres, and inviting the local community to join them. It also coincided with the 90th birthday of the Queen – the charity’s patron. Twelve Sea Cadets from across the country were selected to attend the largest street party on the Mall in St James’ Park earlier last month, organised by Buckingham Palace for the Queen to celebrate her birthday with thousands of people. Picnics hosted by Sea Cadet units therefore celebrated the birthdays of the units and the Queen. Cadets have had another busy year and were thrilled to launch a new fundraising campaign to replace the two yachts TS City Liveryman and TS Vigilant, as they have come to the end of their serviceable life. The yachts have, over the past 16 years, given 4,600 young people transformational voyages at sea, offering a unique learning experience as they work together as teams to navigate Britain’s coastline.

Tribute to sailors

enjoyed paddlesports and visited Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. One highlight was time spent with members of the local Volunteer Cadet Corps learning military skills – Scout leaders hope they can return the favour by taking VCC cadets on the water. Barbie Tomlin, deputy Scout leader in charge of the camp, said: “I think HMS Bristol is almost as important to the youngsters as the camp. “Coming on here, being part of a ship’s routine – things like

Call to Hands at 6.30am – it is all part of the experience. “You can see it on their faces when they arrive here and look up at this big grey hull.” Vice Admiral Woodcock said: “I was delighted to visit HMS Bristol and see so many young people enjoying themselves on their Sea Scout camp, learning new skills on the water and making new friends. “It was a pleasure to meet the enthusiastic adult volunteers who make this camp possible and I am

grateful to their on-going efforts. “It is important to me that the Navy continues to support organisations such as the Sea Scouts, and I am very proud of the work that they continually do to support the Naval Service.” Planning has already begun for a special camp in 2019, marking the centenary of Royal Naval recognition of Sea Scouts, partly as a result of their efforts during the Great War, when youngsters could be found carrying out coastwatching duties.

l CADETS from Taunton unit march out of the UK Hydrographic Office in Taunton. The cadets were based at the UKHO for 17 years, but have now moved to Norton Manor Camp, home of 40 Cdo RM. The cadets were inspected by Rear Admiral Tim Lowe, National Hydrographer. Members of Bridgwater unit also attended the parade Picture: PO(Phot) Si Ethell

BRIDLINGTON Sea Cadets joined veterans from the local RNA branch and members of the Submariners Association to remember four sailors from the town who died at the Battle of Jutland 100 years ago. Three men – Christopher Edmund, Edmund Grimshaw and Thomas Thresh – died when battlecruiser HMS Indefatigable blew up, and Charles Roberts was lost when a similar fate befell HMS Queen Mary. The service, led by Revd Matthew Pollard of the Priory Church, was well-attended by veterans, Sea Cadets and serving submariners from Faslane. Relatives of Stoker 1st Class Edmund Grimshaw were invited to lay a wreath in his memory.

Cadets remember

THE centenary of the biggest naval engagement of World War 1 was marked by a series of commemorative events across the UK at which Sea Cadets were on duty. Undaunted by the occasion, Navy Board Cadet POC Gareth addressed the audience at the national commemoration of the Battle of Jutland. Numerous VIPs attended the event in Orkney, including David Cameron, HRH Princess Anne and the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon. Cadets and volunteers from Northern Ireland also carried out some very moving readings aboard the sole remaining ship from the battle, HMS Caroline, which has recently been renovated and opened to the public.  Jutland – pp26-7