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Great view of HMS Victory from the viewing deck at the new Mary Rose Museum

...IMPORTANT...

Will all Cadets travelling to the Mary Rose Museum on Sunday 19th May, please ensure they attend the unit on Fridays parade night, in particular those travelling in their own parents vehicles. The XO would like to speak at the end of the evening to all the parents who are coming with us to the museum. Thankyou

Good luck to all Cadets taking part in the Hamble River Raid on Saturday (11th May) and hope the weather is kind to us all for The Festival of Transport on Sunday (12th May )at the War Memorial Park Basingstoke, FULL DETAILS & TIMINGS FOR BOTH EVENTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT FRIDAYS PARADE NIGHT.

The Head of CIS ( Cadet Intellegence Section) of the Knights of Harlech came to me in the early hours of Saturday morning the third of November 2012 with the blackest of news.

Word had come through our network of sympathisers who, at great risk to themselves, had smuggled out photographs and posted on the internet for all the world to see.  There can no longer be doubt as to the wickedness and depths of cruelty the Dark Lady or should I say ”She who can’t be Named”, will stoop to.

I needed to steel myself to be able to stand up in front of the nation, the Cadets, Squires and Knights.  It was to be the most difficult tasks I have ever had to do.  With a tear in my eye, I informed my Company of the loss of Mary Rose, the bravest and noblest, teddy in the world.  I described how Mary had fought evil in all its forms but had succumbed to “She who can’t be Named” and the huge dark forces at her disposal.  The Dread Mark was seen in the skies above Maidenhead from as far afield as Slough.

With much wailing and beating of breasts the news was taken in by the good people of Basingstoke.  A few Knights, with righteous indignation, wanted to ride out immediately to the lair of the Dark Lady and take revenge.  It took a lot of persuasion to restrain these headstrong good Knights, but their blood cooled and calm returned.

Every Cadet, Squire and Knight broke into small groups and vowed to each other “Justice will prevail” and argued on how to take their revenge.

Over a lunch of roast meats, roast potatoes, tender vegetables, gravy, stuffing and Yorkshire puddings, followed by a choice of chocolate Cake, applestrudel or bread and butter pudding with lashings of custard, deliciously cooked by MasterChef PO Stainer and our Castellan Mr Allum, (a pair of C/S instructors in the making if there were), all these quickly made plans were told to me.  Some I admit had merit and could be utilised while others ould fail immediately and if put into action would be defeated by “She who can’t be Named” and turned into her own victories.  It is not a secret that I have passed the problem on to our Combined Operations Division.

With heavy hearts we returned to work passing on the collective wisdom of the Senior Knights to the younglings and the secrets of marine navigation, when a rap on the gate of Harlech came.  We had learnt our lesson of not leaving the drawbridge down and gates open, trusting the good people of Basingstoke.  

A courier presented a letter to the Castellan who hurriedly brought it to me.

A facsimile is attached:

                                                         Buckingham Palace

Dear PO Wake,

Her Majesty has commanded me to tell you of Her great sadness and horror at the fate of Her most trust bear, Mary Rose.

The Queen recalled Miss Rose with affection when they met at both her Golden and Diamond Jubilee banquets.  The Queen and the Royal Household knew then of the work Miss Rose performed as a campaigner against cruelty and injustice.

Her Majesty wishes you to know that steps are underway to remove Maidenhead from the title of the Royal Borough and that a Royal Commission has been established to enquire into the dark deeds by the Thames.

The Queen sends Her sympathy to the good Cadets, Squires and Knights of Harlech and to all the good people of Basingstoke in there hour of sadness.

Sir Archbold Arbutnott-Smythe. KCVO

Royal Chamberlain

I had only just finished reading the letter and taking in the importance of what it said when another courier arrived:

We will be having a memorial to St Mary Rose, so we can celebrate her lifetime fight against tyranny.  It is with great relief that the fight against “She who can’t be Named” has now been taken up by the Great and the Good of the World.  A world united against injustice.

PO Wake Knight Commander of the Knights of Harlech.

Long Live Basingstoke