Summer of sport and civic duties NORTHAMPTON Sea Cadets have been enjoying a busy summer of ceremonial duties, sport and supporting their local community. The unit had the honour of supporting two Armed Forces Day events in Northampton and Banbury. The Northampton parade was well attended and, despite a very hot day, the Sea Cadets led the cadet forces diligently on the parade. This came shortly after the Mayor of Northampton appointed POC Jessica to the role of the Northampton Mayor’s Cadet and Brackley Town Mayor appointing Cadet 1st Class Ben to the same role within Brackley. CO Lt (SCC) Chris Read RNR said: “These links with the local community bring our young people closer to the community and demonstrate the positive impact that our organisation has on the development of young people.” POC Jess was also lucky enough to be selected for an international exchange programme and spent a memorable ten days with the Bermudian Sea Cadets. The unit has now completed its outreach scheme partnering with local schools through the RYA OnBoard scheme. Unit cadets and volunteer instructors worked with two primary schools to introduce pupils to sailing – 16 youngsters learnt to dinghy sail as part of the programme. Participants completed a fiveweek learn to sail course, earning an RYA Stage 1 dinghy sailing certificate – and a new skill. Cadets have attended a multitude of activities and events, including an ‘I’m a Senior Cadet… Get me out of here!’ weekend with Nottingham unit, where cadets learnt leadership skills, and the Royal Marines Cadets attended a Training and Advancement Board. There were various boatwork training weekends, either at sea with Scarborough unit or locally at Thrapston boating station. In addition, cadets have developed their canoeing and kayaking skills at the TS Tuna paddlesports weekend in Bedford. But it wasn’t just the older cadets who have fun, as the unit hosted a Junior Sea Cadet weekend. They had a fun filled weekend of boating on the river, followed by orienteering in Salcey Forest, where they had great fun in locating muddy puddles, finding sticks and attempting to cross ditches. The unit was also delighted to name its newest boat after its first Mayoral president. Since the death of the previous unit president, Mr Richard Jones of Crockett and Jones, a long-term supporter, excadet and Royal Navy officer, the unit was without a president and turned to the borough council. In recognition of holding the freedom of the borough the Mayor of Northampton is also the unit president, and the first holder of this post was Cllr Penelope Flavell. The unit has decided this year to name one of its new boats Penelope in recognition of the teamwork between the young people and how they work within their local community.
34 : SEPTEMBER 2017
Old HQ demolished as unit seeks home
THE battered headquarters building of Whitehaven unit has finally succumbed to the inevitable as the search for a long-term replacement continues.
As the unit celebrates its 75th anniversary, the headquarters site for all but two years has been cleared as part of a redevelopment project that will focus on the heritage buildings – the Watchtower and the Rocket House. The Sea Cadets’ building was devastated by Storm Xavier in 2013, and further damaged in subsequent storms. Access to the building was all but impossible for three months, and although the building was not a total loss, damage to the electricity system and heating was such that insurance would not have covered the whole cost. The extent of damage was such that the building was deemed no longer usable by the Corps, and was consequently handed over to the Harbour Commissioners during the summer. It was demolished in July, and although the unit has a temporary home, they are still looking for a suitable long-term location for a new HQ. “We spent the first couple of years [after the building was damaged by Storm Xavier] in the local police station,” said unit chairman David Abbott. “When that was required for operational use a local businessman, Donald Dixon, allowed us to use a small building he owns which itself is ultimately to be demolished. “We have a home, which is fantastic, but we know it is not a long-term solution.” Relocation to the police station ensured the unit’s survival, and when that option became unavailable (the space was needed for police operational use) the offer of a temporary solution by Mr Dixon again provided Whitehaven with a lifeline. They now occupy a small building in the corner of Mr Dixon’s store’s car park – it was bought with the intention of demolishing it to improve access, but until it is actually razed the unit has been allowed to use it free of charge.
l A Royal Marines Cadet from Norwich unit contemplates Beechey’s portrait of Nelson Picture: Jordan Bacon for Norwich Museums Service
Norwich pay their respects
“I made some very good friends as a cadet, and as an adult, and those friendships have lasted a lifetime. “We all had fantastic experiences and will carry the memories with us forever. “This may be the end of an era, but it’s also the start of a new chapter in our history.” Looking forward, David said that although the new HQ will primarily be for Sea Cadet use the aim is that it should be used by the wider community. “The Scouts, St John
Ambulance and others have previously made use of our facilities. “Last year the Army Cadets led the local Poppy Appeal, as they always do, but used our building to co-ordinate efforts on Remembrance weekend. “We hope that all our local voluntary groups will be able to make use of our building. “We have been, are, and always will be part of the local community and welcome anything that continues and expands our involvement.”
NORWICH Sea Cadets visited the Nelson & Norfolk exhibition at Norwich Castle to pay their respects to one of the county’s most famous sons. The exhibition, celebrating Admiral Lord Nelson and his relationship with the county of his birth, features objects connected to Nelson, from his boyhood to his death at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The centrepiece of the exhibition is the vast tricolour ensign of the French warship Le Généreux, which took part in the Battle of the Nile in 1798 and was captured by the Royal Navy two years later. An extremely rare survivor, the flag measures 16m by 8.3m, and has not been on public display for over a century. Other significant objects on display include the black velvet drape from Nelson’s funeral car and the monumental portrait of Nelson, painted by William Beechey for the City of Norwich and completed in 1801. The 1805-6 black silk velvet semi-circular funeral drape with water-gilded letters spelling Trafalgar hung on Nelson’s funeral car below the coffin and between the wheels. There are also items on loan from the National Maritime Museum, including the coat Nelson wore at the Battle of the Nile. Norwich unit is based on TS Lord Nelson, berthed on the River Wensum in the heart of the historic city. The exhibition runs until October 1 2017.
ROYAL Marines Cadets from North London visited Buckingham Palace for the Duke of Edinburgh’s final official engagement – a parade marking the end of the Royal Marines 1664 Global Challenge. Ten cadets from North London attended the high-profile event, which marked the end of a 100-day, 1,664-mile running challenge in aid of the Royal Marines Charity. The Duke of Edinburgh is Captain General Royal Marines, and the parade at Buckingham Palace was his final solo official
public engagement. Part of the Sea Cadets national youth charity, Royal Marines Cadets offers exciting waterborne activities to 13- to 18-year-olds, as well as branching off into serious adventurous training, which challenges young people, boosts their self-confidence and encourages teamwork. Cadets from Waltham Forest, Hornchurch and Upminster, and Haringey detachments marched from Wellington Barracks to Buckingham Palace, where a Royal Guard, Royal Marines Band, 1664 Challenge runners and dignitaries were also present. Lt (SCC) Bill Collier RNR, Sea Cadets’ Senior Events Officer, said: “This was a great opportunity for cadets to acknowledge all the Captain General has done for the Royal
Marines. “It is an honour and a privilege to have been invited to Buckingham Palace for the final public engagement, and one that I’m sure our cadets will remember for many years to come. “As a charity that has a longstanding association with His Royal Highness – from cadets attending St James’s Palace to receive their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, to him visiting our units over the years – we would like to wish him all the very best for his retirement.” Prince Philip, now 96, became Captain General Royal Marines in 1953, replacing King George VI after the death of the monarch. Buckingham Palace announced in May that the Duke would be giving up his public duties.
l Above and right: the former Whitehaven unit HQ building at Old New Quay is demolished as part of redevelopment work Pictures: The Whitehaven News/ CN Group, Cumbria
The unit has been actively seeking a new base since 1974. “We have been working with Copeland Council, Britain’s Energy Coast, Cumbria County Council and others to try to locate a piece of land on which we can build, or an existing building which we can convert” said David. “It’s proving to be a very long, difficult and frustrating search, but we are definitely not giving up.” “The demolition of the unit’s old HQ has been a sad and painful experience for cadets, but more particularly for the staff and former cadets. “Most of our present ship’s company have very few memories of Old New Quay, having spent most or all of their time as cadets in the police station or Kent House, our current home.” Whitehaven’s Commanding Officer, Lt (SCC) Peter Lucas RNR, has been associated with Whitehaven unit as a cadet and uniformed volunteer, and is one of many saddened by events. “Like many others, I have very fond memories of our old HQ, but the Sea Cadets is far more than just a building.
Invitation was ‘a privilege’
l Royal Marines Cadets are interviewed on camera over the final official public engagement of the Duke of Edinburgh, who also took the role of Captain General Royal Marines
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