38 NAVY NEWS, OCTOBER 2007
Paddle power is rewarded
Medway
OVER the summer, ten cadets from the Oban
unit have been learning to kayak at the Killbowie
unit builds
Outward Bound Centre.
All ten cadets achieved their level 1 kayak
certificate after performing a wide range of
memorial
manoeuvres and strokes.
A key part of the assessment was to demonstrate UP TO now there has been no
their proficiency in capsizing the kayak and in the specific memorial in Medway in the
subsequent recovery and emptying of the craft public domain to commemorate
– quite an achievement, given that many of the Service personnel who died in the
cadets had never set foot in a kayak at the start of Falklands War.
the four-week course! But that has changed, thanks to
The cadets will now begin working towards the Medway Towns unit.
their level 2 certificates, and will take their kayaks After consulting with the RN
into a pool environment to train over the winter Benevolent Trust at Pembroke
months. House, and the South Atlantic
Association, the unit decided
● Oban cadets training in gloomy conditions at
Killbowie in the west of Scotland
to build and dedicate such a
memorial on a concrete plinth at
the front of Pembroke House, in
Oxford Road, Gillingham.
The aim of the memorial is to
● Going up – Marine Cadets climbing at their provide a lasting reminder for the
summer camp public of the sacrifices made in
1982 – not just those who died,
So much to do,
but also survivors – which is both
fitting and poignant.
The Mayor of Medway, Cllr Val
so little time…
Goulden, was due to be Inspecting
Officer at the parade, and to
perform the dedication ceremony
as Navy News went to press.
MARINE Cadets from all over the UK attended
The memorial was designed
this year’s summer camp to take part in activities
and built by CPO Stephen Baxter,
both familiar and new.
and is in the form of an anchor
This year the 250 cadets were based at the 45-
laid across a mound of rocks.
acre EBO Adventure Centre at Fremington, Devon,
The accompanying brass
which provided them with exciting opportunities to
plaque bears the inscription In
try surfing, kitesurfing and rock climbing.
commemoration of the personnel who
One of the new activities for the cadets was
served in the Falklands War 1982,
coasteering, a mixture of swimming, traversing
those who paid the ultimate price and
and cliff jumping, coupled with the chance to visit
those who came home to live with the
blowholes and caves – and it proved very popular.
memory. With the grateful thanks
Cadets also undertook the gruelling assault
of those who remained at home.
course and climbing wall at the Royal Marines
Dedicated Sunday 23rd September
training base at Chivenor and visited the quad bike
2007.
centre nearby.
The RNA has invited all
Clay pigeon shooting, map-reading, weapons
affiliated ship associations to take
training and navigation were all on offer as well as
part in the parade, and the Medway
the chance to be one of the lucky 15 cadets who
Towns unit have invited many
won the raffle for a helicopter ride.
other organisations, including the
Senior Marine Cadets for the first time had their
Royal British Legion and local
own Command Cadre and a programme tailored
cadets organisations.
to suit their greater skills and experience.
Staff training for adult volunteers also formed
part of the week’s programme, and it was felt by
all those participating that new standards had been
Rivals vie on
set and that maximum benefit and enjoyment had ● From left: PPO Ian Offord, LC James Wickenden, POC Hayden Clarke, POC Jimmy Johnson, PPO Laura Holby, and
been achieved at all levels. CI James Monk
River Thames
Essex team strikes
CADETS from the Maidenhead
and Windsor went head-to-head
on the River Thames as Navy
News went to press.
The two units locked horns
for the Prince Philip Challenge
Trophy, with Windsor hoping to
take the trophy from Maidenhead
gold on sailing trip
as the event took place in ‘home
waters’, next to the Windsor
Leisure Centre.
The event featured canoeing
and pulling races on the river, with
an additional event on dry land.
See next month for details.
SIX Essex sea cadets and junior Westerly Oceanquest yacht, sailing
matters of safety was particularly Busy summer
staff have become the first to get
independently around the Suffolk
commendable and they are a credit to
A SUMMER camp at HMS
their Duke of Edinburgh Gold
and Essex coasts in strong winds that
themselves and the Sea Cadets.”
Resources and safety cover were
Bristol in Portsmouth was just
Award as part of a new Sea Cadet
gusted to gale force.
one of the various activities
They also spent time investigating the
provided by Sea Cadet London Area’s
DoE sail training operation.
undertaken by Northampton and
historic coastal defences of the region
specialist coastal training centre TS
The cadets spent four days
Wellingborough cadets over the
and conducted a survey on the types of
Rebel.
school holiday period.
● Getting wet – on the Chivenor assault course aboard TS Leopold Muller, a 35ft shipping using the area.
TS Rebel, a coastal training station
A party of 14 cadets and six
“It was an intense
based on the East Coast, provides a wide
instructors joined a total of more
learning experience but we
range of sailing and powerboat training
than 200 staff and cadets from
had a really good time,” said
for Sea Cadets.
30 units at the camp, trying their
PPO Laura Holby from the It is a Recognised Training Centre for
hand at skills including navigation,
Walton-on-the-Naze unit, the RYA and an Independent Operating
expedition training and many
who was part of the team. Authority for the Duke of Edinburgh
types of boating activities.
Anthony Mayhew, DoE Award Scheme.
Shortly after, 23 cadets and
assessor from the Maritime TS Rebel, in Walton-on-the-Naze,
nine instructors headed north to
and Coastguard Agency, moors its fleet at Titchmarsh Marina.
Inskip, near Preston, for a different
Thames Coastguard, added: Over the course of a sailing season sort of camp, including flights
“This team of young people TS Rebel provides over 350 course with the RAF, offshore survival
did a terrific job in very places for cadets, and the unit would techniques with the Merchant
trying weather conditions. expect to award more than 200 sailing Navy, climbing, mountain biking
“Their attention to qualifications. and archery.
Residents delighted by House bands
TWO units from Kent combined residents and staff alike, who presented to the home by the
to entertain the residents of clapped along to encourage Sea Cadet Instructor in charge,
Pembroke House. the youngsters. PPO Caroline Mannington.
Sea Cadets from the Medway The Chatham contingent, The Corps has had a long
Towns unit and Marine Cadets resplendent in their traditional association with the Royal Naval
from Chatham Marine unit pith helmets, played a rousing Benevolent Trust, who own
mustered in their best uniform medley of drum sets, and were Pembroke House, supporting
for the retired RN Servicemen, joined by LC Jade Johnson, them and raising funds.
women and spouses who live who has also been learning In return the youngsters
at the residential care home. with them. get to meet veteran seafarers
Displays including the For many of the residents and hear stories from their
hornpipe and a performance by and staff, it was the perfect end heydays.
the Corps of Drums delighted to a memorable day, after they Last year Medway Towns
had spent the afternoon on a unit was presented with the
● Chatham Marine’s Corps of
boat trip up the River Medway. home’s old minibus when the
Drums entertain the residents
There was also a tot to RNA bought a new model for
at Pembroke House
be had from a bottle of rum the residents.
038-039_NN_OCT.indd 1 18/9/07 17:08:20
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