42 NAVY NEWS, MAY 2007
Rock-hard Plymouth
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AN ADMIRAL did the honours
when Portsmouth unit were
presented with a burgee for 2006.
Admiral Sir Ian Forbes handed
take Gibraltar Cup
over the prized burgee, saying that
the standard of efficiency of the
unit had been compared with that
of all the other units in the area,
and in the country as a whole.
Admiral Forbes went on to
congratulate all on board on their
achievement – cadets, staff, the
MARINE Cadet
committee, parents and supporters,
detachments were formed
who had all contributed – then
● Christopher Preece
presented further individual
in the Sea Cadet Corps
awards and badges.
Abingdon pay
in 1955 at the request of
marina
the Commandant General
AFTER years of fundraising by
tribute to
Royal Marines. the PSA, parents and friends of
Today there are more than the Weston-super-Mare unit,
100 such groups across the
a new boat house and teaching
UK, involving around 1,200
facility has been opened by the
Christopher
boys and girls aged 13-18
town Mayor, Cllr Paula Howell.
and dozens of dedicated adult
The £57,000 Boat House has
been completed and fitted out
ABINGDON celebrated the life of
volunteers.
to allow staff and cadets at
their talented bugler Christopher
Each year these detachments
TS Weston to repair boats and
Preece, who died recently and is
compete for the Gibraltar Cup,
equipment, as well as rigging
much missed by the unit.
named from the Battle Honour of
boats and organising sailing
Cadets, staff and committee
that Corps.
instruction in all weathers.
members attended Chris’ funeral,
Each of the six Areas of the
The evening included
and at the family’s request staff
Sea Cadet Corps invites its best
divisions, a parade by the unit
and cadets formed a guard of
detachment to send an eight-
band and a presentation by the
honour for the coffin, which was
strong team to Commando
Juniors Division.
draped in the Sea Cadet ensign.
Training Centre RM Lympstone
marina
Chris joined Abingdon from
for a weekend of challenging tests
SEVEN members of Arbroath
Ross-on-Wye in 2002, became
and trials – and this year brought
unit were joined by colleagues
a leading cadet in 2003 and an
the toughest competition yet.
from two other Fife and Tayside
acting PO cadet in 2004.
With the exceptional support of
District cadets on their engineering
In 2005 he was selected to be
serving Royal Marines personnel
course at TS Fisgard, based at
the Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet, a
and unfailing assistance of Corps
HMS Gannet in Prestwick.
role he filled with aplomb with
adult volunteers, C/Sgt Ash Bourne
The seven met up with cadets
his smart appearance, exemplary
RM (Staff Royal Marines Officer)
from the Perth and Rosyth units.
conduct, high level of motivation
put together a series of tasks and
All 11 visited the Glasgow
and helpful attitude.
exercises designed to stretch the
University RN Unit (URNU),
His special talent with the bugle
nation’s top Marine cadets to their
which uses the patrol boat HMS
was demonstrated at many events,
limits and give them a weekend
Smiter for training, and the
the last being the Remembrance
they would never forget.
Arbroath contingent met former
Day Service at the Church of Saturday started with a
● All smiles from Gibraltar Cup
competitors, despite the rigours
Arbroath cadet Amy Bolland –
St Mary the Virgin, Ewelme,
four-mile yomp out to the
of the weekend (above)
Amy is now studying engineering
Oxfordshire, for which he won
Four Firs.
at Glasgow University.
praise from the congregation.
● The team from Plymouth
Christopher’s second passion
From there the six teams set
(Drake) show true grit on the as-
marina
was communications; he achieved
off to navigate their way around a
sault course (right)
FORMER cadets of the Hastings
his Class I Tactical in 2005 and
series of stances dispersed across
unit have formed an association
would always offer to help at
the surrounding countryside over
undertake a series of physical tests
to reunite old friends and help
district training weekends.
a period of several hours.
and teamwork challenges in the
their old unit financially.
Sue Hargreaves, of Abingdon
As well as a practical leadership
gym designed to warm them up.
The response so far has been
unit, said: “Christopher will be
task, the cadets were tested on
Then it was the assault course,
encouraging, but if anyone would
much missed by all who knew him;
observation, judging distance,
ending with a shooting exercise.
like to know more they should
his passing is a loss to all of us.
map reading, target indication,
The fact that every team scored
contact Keith Harris at Fairfield,
“Our sympathies and thoughts
fire control orders and military
more than 70 out of 80 in the
Winterbourne, Salisbury SP4
go out to Christopher’s family in
knowledge.
final element of a taxing two-day
6HJ (tel 01980 611217, email
their grief.”
On completion of the stances late
keith.arris@btinternet.com)
that afternoon, a coach arrived to
competition, shows the extremely
or Chris Lewis at Firecrest,
Eight fly Navy
return the cadets to CTCRM – or high standards on display.
Fairlight, East Sussex TN35
at least, that’s what they thought… In the end Plymouth (Drake)
4BQ (tel 01424 813113, email
About a mile from home the were declared winners, with
home exhausted yet exhilarated. the lookout for new instructors.
lewis_cs@btinternet.com)
with 727 NAS
coach pulled over, turfed out the Eastbourne a close second.
C/Sgt Bourne congratulated The skills offered by serving
cadets and the news was broken to The teams from Chelmsford, the cadets on their achievements and retired RM personnel are
marina
them that they would be running Lincoln, Portrush and Wallasey and outstanding conduct and particularly welcome.
THE MAYOR of Copeland, Cllr
EIGHT cadets from TS Mantle VC
the rest of the way back. also performed well. urged them to make space in their If you can spare a few hours,
Willis Metherell, has formally
who meet at RNAS Yeovilton took
Sunday brought more challenges Col Paul Cautley RMR, Trustee diaries for the annual national then get in touch. See the website
presented Whitehaven unit with
part in an Air Experience course
– that morning’s assault course of the Marine Society and Sea Marine Cadet summer camp at at www.ms-sc.org or contact
their efficiency burgee.
with newly-arrived 727 NAS.
would be completed in high winds Cadets, presented the trophy and Fremington in Devon, July 14-21. C/Sgt Bourne on abourne@ms-
The burgee was awarded
The Yeovil cadets got the
and heavy rain. certificates in the comfort of the Marine Cadet detachments sc.org or tel 020 7654 7000 to
following the Annual Inspection
chance to experience life in the
But first the cadets had to drill shed, before everyone headed throughout the UK are always on find out more.
in 2006 – and only the top 25 per
Fleet Air Arm as part of the new
cent of units receive a burgee.
Fly Navy initiative to encourage
Cllr Metherell said: “This
budding aviators to consider the
Charlotte set to travel the world
How’s that to
efficiency burgee, which you are
Navy as a future career – and were
kick-off with?
receiving for the second year
the first students to take part in
running, is of immense credit to
the day-long course.
the Whitehaven Sea Cadets.
A CADET from the Nuneaton and Bedworth She will then fly back to join seven other POC Adam Montgomery, of
After briefings, visits to the Air
“It shows the dedication and
unit has a busy schedule of globetrotting cadets in Denmark to embark on the European Sheppey unit, managed to mix
Traffic Control tower, the Historic
commitment of all the team –
ahead of her. Tall Ships Race in the Baltic, racing between business with pleasure on his first
Flight hangar, and a chat with a
cadets, staff and committee – and
POC Charlotte Dodds is due to swing through Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Poland. official engagement as one of the
Royal Navy Hawk pilot, the cadets
it makes me as your mayor very
four continents in just 12 weeks. Charlotte said she was excited at the Navy Board Cadets.
moved on to the main attraction
proud to be invited to do this
Having completed a week’s work experience prospect of travelling virtually around the ‘Monty’, a keen rugby fan,
of the day – the chance to fly in
honour.”
in HMS Chatham on exercises in the Channel, world in a few weeks, and was aware of enjoyed lunch in HMS Nelson
one of 727’s Grob aircraft.
In her speech the mayor also
Charlotte prepared for a three-week trip to the honour of representing the Corps as an wardroom before watching the
Kitted out, with sick bags at the
referred to the recent award
Australia via Malaysia, to represent the UK at ambassador in a foreign country. Royal Navy beat our old friends
ready, the cadets practiced their
presented to unit CO, S/Lt Keith
the International Summer Camp in Perth. She expected some tough challenges – as from just across the Channel 12-8.
piloting skills, including aerobatics,
Crowe, and plans to form a Marine
After two weeks at home, she is due to fly one of the youngest volunteer crew on the First Sea Lord Admiral Sir
in the West Country skies.
Cadet detachment later this year.
to Charleston, USA, to join the tall ship Prince tall ships, she will be on watches mentoring Jonathon Band, also at the match,
The day was thoroughly enjoyed
William in the Americas Tall Ship Races along other young people from around the world suggested Monty’s presence at the
marina
by all who took part and has given
the Eastern Seaboard. experiencing the oceans for the first time. Army v RN match this month
A CIVILIAN volunteer with
them all a taste of life with the
might prompt a Navy victory.
Southwark unit has won a
Fleet Air Arm – and in case you prestigious award recognising
were wondering, all the sick bags her contribution to TS Cossack.
were returned unsullied. Doreen Nevard, the unit
management committee
Prizes for top
Cadet power shifts warship – and aids charity
chairman was one of only
LOCHABER and Oban units joined were prepared for all eventualities.”
two recipients of the Reserve
Chiltern three
HMS Smiter, British Waterways and On the day everything went like
Forces and Cadets Association
Coastguards for a seamanship exercise clockwork and, if all the pledges come
for Greater London’s Certificate
with a difference to raise money for in, they will have raised nearly £2,000.
for Meritorious Service.
DEPUTY Mayor of Chesham Water Aid and the units. New Entry Cadet Cameron
The unit played host to Capt
Cllr Merrin Molesworth presented In what is believed to be a first, a McCuish from Oban said: “It’s been
Guy Brocklebank, Master of
three cadets from the Chiltern unit team of cadets pulled the 53-tonne great. When I first saw the ship I didn’t
the Worshipful Company of
with awards won over last year.
warship for a mile along a section of think we’d be able to move it. But once
Scientific Instrument Makers, a
Cadet of the Year was POC
the Caledonian Canal. we got it going it was much easier.”
City of London livery company.
Robyn Stephenson, who did a
“The aims of the event have been to Derrick Warner added: “Very few
Close links between unit
BTEC.
raise money for the good causes, to carry RN ships come this way, so when
and Company have developed
AC Zoe Jones was presented
out some useful training in seamanship Smiter’s CO, Lt Kate Dorans, agreed
since Capt Brocklebank took
with two rose bowls, one for Best
and teamwork and, of course, to have to let us ‘borrow’ her ship for a short
up the post.
Achiever and one for most points
loads of fun in the fresh air,” said time I was absolutely delighted.
earned over the year for courses
Lochaber unit CO Derrick Warner. “It was a gold-dust opportunity. I
attended – her final total was 35
“Everyone involved has been very can’t thank her and her team enough.”
points.
supportive in what has been an extremely Donations can still be made by
Emily Jones won the Best Junior
unusual exercise, and months of careful contacting the units on 01397 712605
award.
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● Cadets and HMS Smiter on the Caledonian Canal
planning and preparation meant that we or through the Lochaber website.
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