32 NAVY NEWS, JULY 2008
Whitehaven unit at
heart of royal visit
WHITEHAVEN cadets were
bursting with pride when
they met the Queen and
Duke of Edinburgh during
a royal visit to the North-
West last month.
An estimated 10,000 people
filled the harbour area to
greet the royal couple, who
were visiting as part of the
celebrations commemorating
the 300th anniversary of
the town and harbour of
Whitehaven.
And in the middle of it all were
a 50-strong contingent of cadets
and staff from TS Bee, who had
been invited to provide a Guard of
Honour for the VIP guests.
Whitehaven’s Commanding
Officer, Lt (SCC) Peter Lucas
RNR – who had also been asked
to act as parade commander – said
that it was a huge honour, but it
also presented some fairly unique
challenges.
“Although we had plenty of ● Lt (SCC) Peter Lucas (left) escorts the Queen as she inspects members of the Whitehaven unit during
advance notice, the information her visit to Cumbria for the town and harbour’s 300th anniversary celebrations. In the background is Rear
had to be strictly limited to a very Admiral Steve Morgan USN, TS Bee’s president Picture courtesy the Whitehaven News
few members of our staff and
management committee,” said
anyone about it until a week or Escorted by Rear Admiral feel very special.”
Peter.
so before the event makes the job Morgan and Lt Lucas, the Queen While the Queen was touring
“Planning for something like
almost impossible. then inspected the cadets, pausing the Beacon, one of the royal
this when you don’t have an exact
“But we managed, even coping to speak with most of the cadets as equerries approached Lt Lucas
programme and timings is difficult
with various small changes which well as several members of staff. and asked if two female cadets
enough.
were being made right up until the Although the original plan was could be made available to come
“Not being allowed to tell
evening before.” for the Queen to inspect only the forward to him at his signal.
The Queen arrived in front two ranks of cadets, she took Choosing AC Emily Lucas (14)
Whitehaven at 10am and went the decision to also inspect the rear and Marine Cadet Viki Hamilton
directly to tour the Beacon, a rank and even called back some of (17), the equerry told them that
● Junior cadets from the
Horsham unit had a seamanship
recently-refurbished art gallery her staff who had started to move they were to follow closely behind
lesson with a difference when
and museum complex located on to the next section of the visit. the Queen and carry the flowers
staff took them to Southwater
right on the harbourside. “It really took everyone by given to her by well-wishers.
Country Park to launch the
Accompanied by Prince Phillip, surprise, especially me,” added Afterwards, Emily and Viki said
model boat Ocean Glory (see
she then met the Whitehaven unit’s Peter Lucas. it had been a huge honour.
right) that they been building as
president, Rear Admiral Steve “I really thought that these “Most of the dozens of flowers
part of their Waterborne badge. Morgan USN, before inspecting events were planned to the were given to us by people in
The cadets had been helped a Colour Party made up of one smallest detail. the crowd, but several times the
by members of the Southwater British and four American sailors “But Her Majesty had clearly Queen herself gave us flowers
Dabblers Model Boat Club from the Joint Military Force decided that she wished to meet which she had received.
based in Cornwall. all the cadets, which made them “It made us really proud.”
An astute change of name
‘Inspiring’ cadet
WALLASEY unit has changed its name from Duchess of Cornwall, who launched Astute
TS Revenge to TS Astute, reflecting a new in June 2007, has agreed to become the unit’s
affiliation. new patron.
TS Revenge was so-named through an The unit celebrates its 70th birthday this
starts civic duty
affiliation with HMS Revenge in 1968, but year as Wallasey Sea Cadets, 1st Mersey A “CONFIDENT and inspiring” leading cadet
there was no replacement when Revenge was Unit. has taken up his role as the Lord Lieutenant of
decommissioned in 1993. There has already been plenty to celebrate, Greater Manchester’s Cadet for 2008-09.
But last year the union was affiliated to with the Junior Boys winning a national five- LC Andrew Koropisz, of the Stockport unit,
Astute, and on January 1 HQ gave the unit a-side tournament and the Armed Guard was presented with his certificate of appointment
permission to switch to TS Astute. winning the area contest for the sixth year in a and badge of office by Col Warren Smith, who is
And the icing on the cake is that the row, going on to third place in the nationals. in his first year as Lord Lieutenant.
The presentation took place
at the University Barracks in
Manchester.
The three Service-linked youth
movements – the Sea Cadet
Corps, the Army Cadet Force and
the Air Training Corps – take it
in rotation to provide the Lord
Lieutenant’s Cadet, whose duties
involve assisting at Service-related
functions throughout the year.
Andrew (17) was described in
the citation as “a confident and
inspiring young man, with a 100
per cent record for every parade.”
He is currently studying for ● Matt Sumner (left) collects the precious family papers from Capt
A-levels at Cheadle and Marple Jonathan Fry in London
College.
Unit to mark
Old score is settled
centenary
TS CONSTANT will later this after papers found
month celebrate the centenary of
the formation of the unit as the THE Corps’ exhibition in Royal Tournament in 1996.
All Saints Boys Naval Brigade the Houses of Parliament in Since Peter’s death, the family
Wandsworth in May 1908. March helped restore an had been trying to track down
The unit moved to its present historical document to one the score, without success.
location in Mellison Road in 1948, family long associated with the By chance, a recent clear-out
and is now known as the Tooting organisation. at MSSC HQ had unearthed a
and Balham Sea Cadets. During the week a member of file on the Royal Tournament,
Celebrations will take place on staff, Matt Sumner, approached and tucked away inside was the
Saturday July 26 at a club close to the cadets on duty and told musical score, together with ● Sea Cadets and Marine cadets from the Exmouth unit are pictured with the 30mm machine gun on
board minehunter HMS Middleton in Plymouth. The visiting party was hosted by PO Mick Brady, the the unit, and TS Constant would them that his late grandfather, several of Peter’s hand-written
uncle of one of the cadets. The group explored the bridge, operations room and sweeping deck, and saw like to hear from any former cadets, Peter Sumner, had been the letters.
the new Seafox mine disposal system, while a look at the onboard decompression chamber gave them staff and committee members – Corps’ long-standing Director of Matt was able to visit the
the opportunity to try out some breathing apparatus. Cadets were treated to goodies and drinks in the emails to tootingbalham@aol. Music, and had composed the headquarters, where Capt
wardroom, and they also had some good ‘gizzits’ to take home. Although not their offi cial affi liated ship, com as soon as possible, please or music Ready Aye Ready, which Jonathan Fry presented him
the cadets are looking forward to keeping in contact with Middleton see the MSSC website. the SCC band performed at the with his grandfather’s papers.
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