25/07/2012

Joe Smith, 14, a Sea Cadet from Basingstoke won the Royal Navy’s most prestigious photo competition with his image: ‘Team work’. And congratulations to Reece Harris, 13 from Ryde Unit whose image, 'Into the Distance' was Runner Up.

Joe received his award, a framed print of the image and a certificate,  from the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope  at The Painted Hall, Greenwich, Old Royal Naval College, London, in front  of some of the most senior RN personal and fellow photographic winners, all serving RN. Joe also gets the chance to spend a week offshore sailing on the Sea Cadets tall ship, TS Royalist.

Joe won the Sea Cadet category , especially created for the charity, a result of the close and supportive relationship between the RN and the Sea Cadets. Joe’s winning image was of the  Sea Cadet band marching through the Tower of London helping to launch the start of the Jubilee Celebrations earlier in May.

The judges said the image showed ‘ impact and the spirit and ethos of the Sea Cadets having fun.’ Part of the category requirements. Of Reece they said:  'It was highly commended as a well taken image with good composition and leading lines'

Joe’s mum, Elaine and his Dad, Paul, who flew in from the States for the ceremony said; ‘it’s amazing, Joe is a keen amateur photographer, we bought him the camera a couple of years ago and since then he’s got a real taste for it, plus as  Sea Cadet he gets the chance to do a lot of picture worthy stuff, from scuba diving to band and travel across the country seeing different places as he trains at the charity’s centres, so it’s a great fit.’

Inspired by his win and meeting the First Sea Lord, and chief of Naval Staff, the professional head of the RN , Joe is planning a career in the RN, with university first followed by either professional diving or cook stewarding (chef), poles apart but two areas he’s smitten with since he  became a Sea Cadet.