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Once again our Cadets did a fine job of escorting the new May Queen through the streets on her grand chariot. Congratulations on a job well done!

Congratulations to our Honorary President, Eur Ing Professor Geoffrey Beresford Hartwell CEng, who turns 80 tomorrow.  Geoffrey has been involved with the Sea Cadets for many years, joining as a Petty Officer Cadet as a transfer from Whitgift CCF in the early 1950's.  Geoffrey went to sea as a young man and later returned to the Unit as an Instructor, rising to the rank of Lt(SCC) RNR.  Geoffrey became the Chairman of the UMC in 2005 and is now our Honorary President.  Geoffrey has faced some fun and sometimes difficult times during his years with the Sea Cadets and can recount some wonderful stories.  We are told by reliable sources that Geoffrey once inadvertently turned out the guard at RNAS Culdrose when he turned up for a course in his black Humber Hawk which looked very like the senior officer's staff car!  Geoffrey is known to have successfully and safely landed boatloads of cadets one night on a dark beach on the Sussex Coast and while on a "wide game" on Portland Down, cadets were rounded up by the local police trying to recover escapees from the local young offenders prison and Geoffrey was needed to help identify which of the blue-clad youngsters were Croydon's cadets and not guests at HM Prison Portland - the uniforms being closely similar!   Personally I had the greatest of pleasure when sitting with Geoffrey and his lovely wife, Joy, at the Christmas Party.  He really is the most interesting character, still very much involved with various professional organisations, working and lending his time and expertise to worthwhile causes.  Joy must be congratulated too as when they married in February 1962, they curtailed their honeymoon so that Geoffrey could attend Croydon's RNP and indeed they held their wedding reception in the Wardroom at The Waldrons.  Sadly The Waldrons is now part of our history but Geoffrey has steadfastly lent his time, support and wisdom alongside the other Trustees of the premises and our current Chairman, Mervin Sharp, in bringing that particular and difficult part of T.S. Terra Nova's history to fruition enabling the Unit to rise from the ashes (literally) and once again thrive and grow offering all the opportunities and adventures that makes Sea Cadets what it is. Thank you Geoffrey and our sincere and best wishes to you for a very happy birthday indeed.

On Monday 18 January 2016 it was our pleasure to welcome on board Dame Mary Richardson and London Area Office Commander James Nisbet MA VR RNR to formally present TS Terra Nova with its Pennant awarded to the Unit following our RNP on 4 November 2015.  The staff and cadets very much enjoyed speaking with our guests about the Unit and the experiences and opportunities afforded to them.  Able Cadet Kamoju gave an excellent presentation regarding her recent off-shore sailing experience aboard STS Lord Nelson over the Christmas period. Dame Richardson gave an all inspiring address and Commander Nisbet's words of praise and encouragement were gratefully received.  Croydon Unit is honoured to learn that Dame Richardson has addressed Heads of State referring to her previous visit to our Unit and comments made to her by our Cadets.  Our Cadets are proud of who they are and what they represent and it is wonderful to have the opportunity to express themselves and demonstrate what being a Sea Cadet is all about to such distinguished guests.  Thank you Dame Richardson and Commander James for taking the time to visit us and we very much hope we will see you again soon.

Bravo Zulu to all Cadets and Staff on achieving a Pennant again this year.  44 Cadets participated in our RNP on 4 November 2015 in which they demonstrated excellent team work and skill.  With many new recruits Croydon is certainly on course to go from strength to strength.  Well done!