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Every two years, each Sea Cadet Unit across the Corps has a Royal Naval Parade. This is when the local Area Officer visits the Unit and inspects it. They have a look at all aspects of the Unit - its management, its training, and most importantly the quality of what the cadets are achieving. 

What a night! Months in the planning, hours of rehearsal and our Ship's Company of TS Dreadnought has pulled off a remarkable Royal Naval Parade. Since our closure in May 2017, we have been on an incredible journey and tonight, was a celebration of the great success we have achieved, together. Our Inspecting Officer, Commander James Nisbet RNR, gave us full marks for the Parade (an extremely rare score)! 

Our Cadets had to perform for the Area Officer and guests an 'evolution'. This is a demonstration that is meant to show what our Cadets learn, do and achieve within GDR. Within this we showed seamanship, communications, metrology, cook stewarding, engineering and our juniors provided a historical reflection of the Great War. Under each seat, was a name and picture of a past Greenwich servicemen who had been killed during the Great War. A very reflective and beautiful occasion. 

Our guest list ranged from the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Greenwich, Mr Peter van de Merwe, the Chairman of the Trustees of the Greenwich Foundation Mr Tony Hales (who is also our Unit President). We had the Duty Lord Mayor and Mayoress of Greenwich Mr Mick and Gillian Hayes. We had the Chair of Lewisham Council, Councillor Jacp Paschoud and we were deeply honoured to have some of the members of the Ship's Company of the new aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales. 

As well as the annual four trophies that were awarded, we had two other things to celebrate on this great occasion. The first, was our Ship's Padre, Chaplain (SCC) Dr Susan Blackall RNR was formally officiated into the Sea Cadet Corps. The second, was the formal exchanging of Ship's Crests between TS Dreadnought and our new sister ship, the new HMS Prince of Wales.

When it comes to the Summer, GDR like to get away from the congested streets of London and escape to the water. For our Summer Camp this year, we travelled all the way down to HMS Raleigh, in Torpoint, Cornwall! 

The Cadets and Staff spent the whole week on the water! Our Cadets sailed at the Navy's Jupiter Point boat station and all of our cadets came away with sailing qualifications. We also found time to head to the hills and watch the Plymouth firework show!

(Top left - OC Barnes conducting his capsize drill, Top Right - OC Madden and Cdt Elision sailing, Bottom Left - our CO, Lt Hanlon and our Senior Training Officer, PO Town).

On Saturday 9th June, Greenwich Cutty Sark saw scenes of a historic nature. It was the last "hurrah" of the Old Worcesters Association. 

It seems hardly possible but 2018 marked a half century since the closure of their college. At that time their youngest member was sixty seven years old and the Council of the Association decided that they should commemorate and celebrate the occasion with a last major event centred round ‘The Prime Meridian’ in London. 

Our Cadets were asked to provide an Guard and the London Area Sea Cadet Band performed, to mark this last occasion with panache. It was an honour for GDR Sea Cadets to be present. 

During the boating Season (April to September), you can find GDR Sea Cadets on the water at our local boating station. The Sea Cadet's Boating Station at the Royal Albert Docks, provides an opportunity for cadets and staff to train and qualify in many waterborne proficiencies, including rowing, powerboating, kayaking, sailing and many more!