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This years prizewinners are;

Junior Cadet of the year - JC Sarah Harper

Most waterborne hours - AC Gregor Linfield

Community Shield - AC Deeann Strachan

Cadet of the Year - CFC Cameron Campbell

Best Cadet - AC Gregor Linfield

Ordinary Cadet Emma Watchman is the first Sea Cadet in Lochaber to have gained a new BTEC qualification as part of her training programme.

The BTEC Teamwork, Personal Skills and citizenship in Uniformed Youth Organisations is accredited by the SQA and is recognised as a Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Level 4 qualification. The course included modules in teamworking, goal setting, volunteer working, citizenship and ceremonial skills.

Emma said, “I’m really pleased to have got this. It was great fun doing all the courses that I needed and to get this qualification was an extra bonus!”

Petty Officer Derick Campbell who is Emma’s instructor said, "This award shows that hard work, dedication and a commitment to your own personal development can have great rewards for the young people of today. With the right guidance today’s youth can achieve anything they put their mind to."

Lieutenant Derrick Warner, the units Commanding Officer said, “It’s great that Emma is the first of our cadets to gain this award. Many of the qualifications that we award are internationally recognised and will help our cadets gain places at University or in employment.”

We were delighted to get a visit from Danny Streames fo Poppy Scotland who came to tell us all about the work of the organization and their centre in Inverness. It was great to hear where all the money that we collect in the run-up to remembrance Sunday goes. So many people in need, so much good work done.

Every year, on Remembrance Sunday we commemorate those who gave their lives around the world for freedom. In the morning we join the armed forces, veterans and the other youth organisations in the parade in Fort William before an audience of many hundreds of people.

We then go up to the Coastal Forces Memorial at the Highland Hotel which was the Headquarters of HMS St Christopher.

Once we've warmed up again, we join the Commandos at the Spean Bridge memorial for another parade and ceremony.

The picture shows us in 2016, which was cold and wet! 

Lochaber’s TS St Christopher Sea Cadet Unit hosted a visit from the Captain of the Corps, Captain Phil Russell Royal Navy and his Partner Jackie Gale on their first tour of the Highland Sea cadet units.

As part of the visit, Jackie, named the T.S. St Christopher’s new boat ‘Sea King’ in memory of the Royal Naval Search and Rescue helicopters which served Lochaber for so many years. The boat, which cost £6000, was funded by the unit itself by carrying out work in the local community, numerous bag packs and donations from the Rotary Club of Lochaber, Fort William Community Council, Foundation Scotland and the HMS Ganges Association. Being built by a company that used to build lifeboats, the boat is very sturdy and will last many decades while enabling a whole suite of new skills and qualifications to be taught to the cadets.

Jackie said, “I was honoured to be asked to name the T.S. St Christopher’s new boat. I’ve never done anything like this before and the boat itself is lovely. I’m sure that the ‘Sea King’ will provide the cadets with many years of fun and new training opportunities.”