News

A Happy New Year to you from all of us at Harrogate Sea Cadets! Over the festive period, our volunteers have been less active, which is why our web and social media updates have been quieter than usual. However, we are now getting back to normal.

In case you missed it, our Christmas Prize Draw wrapped up with a live event on Friday, 20th December, streamed on our Facebook page. Thanks to the generous donations of fantastic prizes, we were able to name 15 lucky winners. All winners have now been contacted to claim their prizes. We're thrilled to announce that the draw raised an impressive £869 for our Transforming TS Cleopatra campaign. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated and supported this initiative.

In other festive news, our cadets shared their Christmas wishes with all our supporters and followers through a brilliant musical video.

Looking ahead, we’re excited about the events planned for 2025. Highlights include:

• Annual Awards Night: Taking place at the end of January.

• Area Drill and Piping Competition: Anticipated in March.

• Speed Quiz: Scheduled for April.

For all the latest updates, make sure you’re following our public Facebook page. Stay connected to hear more about our activities and achievements!

We were honored to participate in this past week’s services and parades in Harrogate to mark Armistice Day. In the weeks leading up to the event, our cadets and volunteers dedicated their time to support the Royal British Legion by selling poppies, honoring the legacy and sacrifices of our servicemen and women.

As always, the Remembrance Sunday parade and service at Harrogate's War Memorial was a profoundly moving experience, and we felt privileged to be a part of it. The sense of camaraderie and respect was palpable as everyone gathered in silence to reflect on the significance of the day and pay tribute to the bravery and selflessness of those who served.

A special mention goes to Cadet First Class Bea, who, for the first time, played The Last Post alongside Lt. Dan Wilding—an incredible accomplishment. We couldn’t be prouder of all our cadets, who represented the Sea Cadets Corps with dedication, respect, and excellence.

More images and videos from these events can be found on our Facebook and Instagram pages. 

"They went with songs to the battle, they were young,

Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: 

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them."

On Saturday 12th October, cadets, volunteers, family and friends gathered at the Victoria Shopping Centre in Central Harrogate for the Sponsored Rowathon. Our goal was to row the equivalent distance of the River Severn—220 miles (354 km)—in just over eight hours. We not only met this target but surpassed it, rowing an impressive 264.1 miles (426 km). 

This event is part of the ongoing Transforming TS Cleopatra Campaign, aimed at raising £175,000 to upgrade our Unit in Harrogate. Participants took turns rowing on machines in 30-minute shifts throughout the day, with many rowing multiple shifts. An early tally reveals that we raised at least £3,400!

A standout moment from the day came from First Cadet Oscar, who completed the 9 am shift before competing in a Junior Sailing Competition, where he took home the winner’s trophy. He then returned to the Victoria Centre to finish the final shift at 5 pm. Bravo Zulu to Oscar for his dedication!  

The event also provided an opportunity for us to engage with the public, sharing information about joining the Sea Cadets as cadets or volunteers. Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, Tom Gordon, also popped down to chat and lend his support.  

Our Transforming TS Cleopatra campiagn aims to upgrade our Unit, creating new classroom space, enhanced accessible toilet and shower facilities, and a state-of-the-art marine engineering workshop, where cadets can acquire specialised skills. To support and find out more, donations can be made through the JustGiving page: Transforming TS Cleopatra Campaign. 

Follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with all our fundraising campaign news. 

Cadet parent Alec Kendrick has shared their experience as a parent of a Harrogate Sea Cadet

I didn’t know much about the Sea Cadets when our youngest expressed a desire to join. The request came as a surprise and to be honest my first thoughts were … what an earth is a Sea Cadet Unit doing in Harrogate so far from the Sea! At the end of the first Junior drill night , I turned up and asked in an embarrassed manner if I could watch the parade and see what it was all about. Of course the volunteers (after checking I genuinely had a child at the Unit) were only too pleased for me to stand at the back and see the Unit end of night parade. 

Staying informed

The notice boards outlining the Volunteer structure and who was responsible for what and the various seamanship courses the Cadets could undertake gave a me a sense of the opportunities on offer, as well as an insight into the Naval ethos of team work, structure, and respect. 

So our youngest continued to attend and progress from Junior once a week attendance to twice weekly and then three times a week with Band on Wednesdays. It is a testament to the Sea Cadets and volunteers that despite all the pressures on children’s lives with school and after school activities, our Cadet would look forward to the parade nights. Even during Covid, the activities continued albeit on Zoom with Volunteers conducting Catering Courses and Seamanship Training. The comradery amongst the Cadets continued even during those hard times. 

Cadets have purpose and meaning

Naively I still wasn’t fully aware of the scope of the activities and community events that the Unit was involved in. I just knew our youngest was enjoying it and I could see the structure and parade discipline bring out their confidence whilst making some great pals outside of school. It wasn’t until I saw the Remembrance Service Parade at the Harrogate Cenotaph that I got an inkling of what they do in the community and the great contribution all the Cadets and Volunteers played in that moving service. This naivety was almost my undoing as one day a few years ago the conversation at home turned to attendance in London at “Traff”. Busy with work and dealing with our other children I assumed it would simply be a “Band Camp” and “Traff” was the nickname of a parade/concert. However come the Saturday morning, it dawned on me that “Traff” was a big deal. I didn’t know why it was a big deal but I jumped on the train nevertheless to London and found myself at Trafalgar Square stunned at the size and scale of the Battle of Trafalgar memorial service. I was in awe of the Sea Cadets from around the country coming together in one overall Sea Cadet Band with hundreds of other Cadets marching down the Mall towards Buckingham Palace after the memorial service at Trafalgar Square, delighting thousands of tourists with the spectacle and history.

Participate and support

So, if you are like me, just grateful that your child has discovered the Sea Cadets but you’re not too sure what goes on, please do get in touch with one of the great volunteers and ask plenty of questions. I wish I had! There is plenty of fundraising events for much needed development work for TSS Cleopatra. A Unit that might be a long way from the Sea but carries on the great traditions and ethos of the Navy!

Thanks Alec for sharing your experience!

On Saturday, 12th October, the Harrogate Sea Cadets will be taking over a space at the Victoria Shopping Centre in the heart of Harrogate. Our mission? To collectively row the length of the River Severn—an impressive 220 miles (354 km)—as part of our fundraising campaign for the refurbishment of our home unit TS Cleopatra.

Cadets, volunteers, family, and friends will be rowing in 30-minute shifts on rowing machines throughout the day, and we’ll be around the Victoria Centre to support and engage with the community. Drop by to cheer on our rowers, learn more about the Harrogate Sea Cadets, and discover how you can get involved, either as a cadet or volunteer.

Many participants will be setting up personal sponsorship pages in the coming weeks, or you can contribute directly through our central Transforming TS Cleopatra donation page on JustGiving.

Stay updated by visiting our website and following us on social media, especially Facebook, for the latest news on the event.