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On 26th July 2013, Middlesbrough Sea Cadets learned that a £4.8 million contract has been awarded to build the Sea Cadets new 21st century flagship which will take thousands of cadets on an offshore voyage.

The new ship will replace the current ship, TS Royalist, now over 40 years old and increasingly expensive to maintain. A flagship voyage is the pinnacle of the Sea Cadet experience and one which the charity wants to ensure future generations of Sea Cadets can benefit from. TS Royalist launched in 1971 taking over 30,000 cadets to sea in her lifetime.

The new and innovative design offers greater use of space, with better all-round sailing ability and performance. Faster and easier to handle than Royalist, the new ship is also more economical to run. This makes it ideal for offering young people offshore sailing, helping them to learn greater seamanship and sailing skills. The ship is expected to be in service for 40 years and we have no doubt that many generations of Middlesbrough Sea Cadets will have the opportunity to enjoy it in the future.

Sam Skene has been a Middlesbrough Sea Cadet for four years, since she was 13. She admired the uniformed cadets on a Remembrance Day parade, searched for them online and has not looked back. Being part of the Sea Cadets has given her opportunities she would never otherwise have had, such as taking part in regional rowing and football competitions and going camping and shooting in Scotland. Since being a Sea Cadet, Sam has gained nationally recognised qualifications in first aid and she now has a rowing qualification, which she can use outside the Sea Cadets when applying for jobs. Sam said ‘If someone had told me I would have qualifications like that, I’d have thought they were joking.’

The cadets spent 18 days in May 2013 in New South Wales at HMAS Penguin, HMAS Creswell, Jervis Bay, and they visited Canberra. As well as the 6 cadets from the UK, there were cadets from Canada and Singapore. Sam found it interesting to talk to the other cadets about their shared practices and activities and different ways of doing things - Sam said it made her think and be more creative. Sam felt her confidence grew on this trip and incredibly proud to have been selected, she recommends the Sea Cadets to anyone and says new members are made to feel very welcome.

Sam Skene photographed by Jason Watkin Photography

Have you ever marveled at Errol Flynn or Johnny Depp as they defended their honor in an extravaganza of fancy swordsmanship?! Did you know, they both started by learning ‘fencing’? It’s a well know fact that most master swordsmen start off with a fencing foil as they are much safer than a hefty great blade. Well, 12 cadets from Middlesbrough Sea Cadets have been chosen to learn this ancient art.

P.O. Stamp has recently qualified as a Streets Swords Coach (fencing coach) and along with Commonwealth Champion Beth Davidson, he will be running a training night. The 12 Cadets will embark on a six week training course and at the end of the six weeks,  they will take part in a competition between them and a group from the Air Training Corp in Hartlepool.

On Thursday 18th July 2013, Middlesbrough Sea Cadets held our presentation evening and what a night it was! Cadets N Marron and E Murphy became Ordinary Cadets and L Speck was promoted to Able Cadet. Petty Officer Stamp also received his second good conduct stripe which means our First Lieutenant has been staff with us for six years.

Promotion Night happens every now and again and Cadets who have done their duty and excelled are rewarded. The question is, who will be stepping forward next time?!

A Change of Command parade was held on 5th July 2013, to formally say goodbye to Captain Mark Windsor RN and welcome the new Captain Sea Cadets, Captain Johnathan Holloway RN.  Captain Windsor who has been in post since 2010, was presented with a copy of the Thames Diamond Jubilee River Pageant print by artist James Milroy, an event which Captain Windsor played a signifcant and inspirational role in, enabling Sea Cadets to earn the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Award, he also received a photobook of pictures from his career as Captain Sea Cadets.

Everyone at Middlesbrough Sea Cadets extends a very warm welcome to Captain Holloway.