NAVY NEWS, DECEMBER 2008 43
Lochaber take a lead
at civic ceremony
● LC Richard Hitchens
● PO Chloé White
Richard
IT IS not every day that a Sea Cadet
unit gets asked to take a leading role in
Hard work
an historic civic ceremony, but that is
picks up
what happened to Lochaber unit.
Cadets were invited to take a lead in the
pays off
celebrations when the Burgh Coat of Arms
prestigious
was reinstated to Fort William.
The ceremony marked the Lord Lyon as Chloé is
King of Arms in Scotland granting Burgh
Coat of Arms to Fort William Community
certificate
Council (FWCC) for safekeeping on behalf promoted
of the townspeople.
The investiture took place on the former
HARD work has paid off for an
DONCASTER unit’s Richard
parade ground of the original Fort William.
adult instructor at Marlow unit.
Hitchens has been selected as one
Dating back to the 14th Century, the Lord
The promotion of Chloé White
of the Lord Lieutenant’s Cadets
Lyon is the only person authorized by the
(20) to Petty Officer marked the
for South Yorkshire.
Crown to grant coats of arms in Scotland,
end of an 18-month period in
Richard joined the Sea Cadets
and it was Charles Burnett, Ross Herald of
which time she has completed
at the age of ten as a Junior, and
Arms, who presented a vellum parchment courses in child protection, lesson
the leading cadet recently took his
depicting the town’s new device. delivery and first aid.
Petty Officer Cadet Advancement
The Lochaber cadets led the procession PO White took on additional
Board.
of youth organisations and participants, responsibilities, not least becoming
Keen to be on the water,
while the new coat of arms on a flag was Unit Training Officer, responsible
Richard has represented TS raised for the first time by a Sea Cadet. for organising a challenging
Lightning at the District power AC Rebecca Hickman, who lives in programme for the cadets.
boating competition each year, Fort William, was given the honour of She has also helped organise
winning on two occasions and hoisting the flag and she said: “During my training courses with other units
going on to compete against 60 experience at the Coat of Arms Ceremony from around the county, including
other units at Area level. I felt very nervous because I was terrified in a fieldwork and shooting weekend
He is also a good dinghy sailor, case I dropped the flag. with cadets from Milton Keynes.
and is competing at Area level in
“It was a great honour to be asked
Marlow CO S/Lt Nick Jones
the sailing competition this year.
to raise the fl ag for the fi rst time.
said: “Chloé’s contribution to the
Richard and his RAF and unit has been invaluable over the
Army counterparts, Cdt Flt Sgt
“Everything went very smoothly. After the past two years, serving through a
Joshua Bradley and Band Sgt
ceremony had finished I felt so proud and change in command and resulting
Maj Cassandra Mather, received
really happy that I had taken part in it, not staff shortages.
their certificates of office from the
just as an ordinary person but as a Sea Cadet, “This promotion is thoroughly
Lord Lieutenant, David Moody, which made it even more special for me.” deserved and I am sure that Chloé
at a ceremony at Scarborough An extra honour given to the unit was to will continue to build her skills
Barracks in Doncaster. parade the Ross Herald’s personal banner, a and knowledge into the future.”
task which fell to AC Shannon Feggans. The unit is currently recruiting
Frigate CO is
Mr Burnett said: “The whole event went new instructors. No prior
really well, and it was a delight to be in Fort experience of the Services or cadet
William with everyone on their special day. forces is required, and full training
special guest
“I’d like to say a special thank you to is available.
Shannon, who did a tremendous job of Contact Nick Jones on
looking after my flag in what were at times, 07952 922836 or by email at
THE Commanding Officer of quite breezy conditions!” marlowscc@googlemail.com
HMS Somerset has paid a visit to
Tricia Jordan, chairman of FWCC, said:
Glastonbury and Street unit.
“The Sea Cadets were asked to take a leading
Cdr Rob Wilson, accompanied
role in the ceremony, as a body which has a CCFs visit
by Lt Kate Muir and CPO
high profile in the town and could represent
Jamie Neill, inspected the cadets,
the youth organisations of the area.
toured the unit and spoke of his
“They were a credit to the Senior Service,
Collingwood
frigate’s recent deployment to the
their officer and their home town, and
Mediterranean.
we appreciate and thank them for their
GROUPS from Maidstone
Before evening colours Cdr
exemplary conduct throughout – and they
Grammar School CCF and St
Wilson presented the Westlake
were great!”
Dunstan’s College CCF visited
Cup to Cadet of the Year Ryan
HMS Collingwood to allow them
Jeffries, enrolled two new entries
the opportunity to see how the
● AC Shannon Feggans marches in front
and listened to them saying the of Ross Herald of Arms, Charles Burnett,
Royal Navy operates.
Sea Cadet Promise. at the ceremony in Fort William
Two staff officers accompanied
the 19 Maidstone cadets to
Looking back – and ahead
Certifi ed valuable
Hampshire where they spent
the night on HMS Bristol
before heading to the training
establishment in Fareham.
THE Severn Marine Society Marine Society and the Severn While on the base, the youngsters
branch organised a visit to Belgium District Sea Cadet Corps.
UNIT stalwarts from Slough and Windsor have Lt (SCC) Peter Knibbs RNR (retd) first joined
had a good look at the bridge
for the 90th anniversary of the end Looking ahead, on July 25 the
been rewarded for their efforts with Lord Lieutenant’s TS Windsor Castle in 1944 as a cadet, joining the
simulator, Weapon Engineering
of World War 1. Severn Marine Society branch is
Certificates. Senior Service in 1947 and serving with distinction
Principles training unit and the
Cadets visited a number arranging the military and civilian
Beverley Ridout was a former Slough cadet in the in Korea. Mercury Fleet Comms simulator.
of memorials and met up with services display and youth pageant
1970s, and is now unit administration officer at TS On leaving the Navy in 1964 he rejoined Windsor The 15 youngsters from St
Natalie Cassidy – Sonia in to mark the 65th anniversary of
Lion having rejoined the unit as a member of the unit as a CPO, leading and instructing cadets Dunstan’s followed a similar
EastEnders – who was at Tyne Cot D-Day.
Parents and Friends Association in 1982. until retirement in 1990, when he joined the unit programme, with time at the end
cemetery making a Remembrance There will be a parade of colours
She helps at Easter and summer camps, as well as management committee. to demonstrate their practical
documentary for the BBC (in and standards as well as a service
other unit events, despite living more than 20 miles Both received their certificates from the Lord
leadership skills to their four staff
which the visitors took part). of remembrance and ceremonial
from the headquarters. Lieutenant of Berkshire, Mary Bayliss.
officers as well as their hosts.
At the Menin Gate in Ypres, evening colours.
in front of some 250 people, the The Mayor of Arromanches has
touring party paraded behind a also agreed to attend.
60-strong pipe and drum band Details are available from
where wreaths were laid for the bulldog.smith@btinternet.com
Northampton are taken OnBoard
NORTHAMPTON unit has offer our young people.
broken new ground by gaining “We have trained cadets
recognition as an OnBoard within the organisation to a high
training centre. standard and we want to help
The OnBoard scheme has young people to progress into
been developed by the RYA as the sport in a fun and safe way.
a programme to help introduce “Our location offers a safe
sailing and windsurfing and easily-accessed way ● Caption
as sports for young people to sail and learn the ropes
regardless of need and ability. before joining a sailing club or
Northampton, based on the pursuing sailing as a sport.”
River Nene, is the first Sea The news coincided with a
Cadet unit to gain such status. Northamptonshire Community
CO Lt (SCC) Chris Read, Foundation grant to the unit to
who is also RYA Principal at help buy sailing equipment.
the unit, said: “Sailing and Plans include the purchase of
windsurfing is the mainstay of six Laser Bug dinghies, a Laser
the waterborne activities we Vago dinghy and a safety boat.
Off the water, four
Northampton five-a-side
● Northampton unit will be
teams won their respective
teaching youngsters how to
competitions at county level,
enjoy the thrills – and spills (left)
qualifying to represent the
– of sailing and windsurfi ng
county at regional finals.
042-044_NN_dec.indd 2 17/11/08 17:47:16
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