News

HRH Princess Royal has accepted the role of Patron of the Marine Society and Sea Cadets, alongside her current role as Admiral of the Sea Cadet Corps.

The Captain Sea Cadets, Captain Neil E Downing RD RN says, "We know HRH already shares a passion for our charity through her role as Admiral, and we are hugely excited about the future with her as our Patron. We look forward to all that will be made possible with this new chapter." (Photo Crown Copyright, 2024)

At a packed public meeting, Poole Sea Cadets outlined their expansion plans to more than a hundred interested parties that included the public, families, Councillors, and an MP.

The background is that Poole’s popular Cadets are attracting record numbers of potential recruits but are confined by their existing Headquarters Building – TS Drax – parts of which date back 85 years. A proposed new building would enable the existing Unit to expand from sixty cadets to ninety girls and boys.

Following a display by the Unit’s award-winning marching band the audience were given the opportunity to ask questions and to record their views.

The business community in Poole has been incredibly supportive in the design process. The new building makes use of the existing site in Sterte in Poole, and its proposed replacement has been designed by Forum Architects, for whom Tim Gough was on hand to talk through and explain the intricacies of the design. Planning concepts have been eased by advice from Gavin Hall of Savills. Poole structural Engineers Calcinotto, represented by Mark Dawson, have been intimately involved too. Poole Harbour Commissioners and the Port of Poole provided the venue for the meeting.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Pete Miles, who is an active Patron of Poole Sea Cadets, gave a very enthusiastic and rousing supporting speech whilst Vikki Slade, MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, said, “It was fantastic to visit Poole Sea Cadets and receive an update on plans for a new HQ. The team they have put together has designed a great space that will enable them to grow and continue their fantastic work with young people. I was especially thrilled to hear the Cadet Band play; they are incredibly talented.”

Picture: (Left to Right) Lee Hardy, Chair of Poole Sea Cadets, Cllr Richard Burton, Cllr Pete Miles, Mayor of Poole, Cllr Paul Slade, Vikki Slade, MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole

Recently Poole Sea Cadets once again formed up as part of the Wessex District Sea Cadets Band to play in the beautifully manicured grounds of the historic Montagu Arms Hotel in Beaulieu for the Concours d’Elegance.

The cadets were honoured to be asked to play in the presence of HRH Prince Michael of Kent, the first cousin of the late Queen Elisabeth II. His keen appreciation of military band music stems not only from his royal duties but also from his twenty years in the 11th and then Royal Hussars.

On completion of the band display AC Eleanor gave a demonstration of the solo bugle, being the recent silver medallist at the National Band Competition.

The display then moved to the lower garden for the introduction of the Southampton Unit Physical Training display team led by OC Jessie, the new advanced PT Cadet. OC Jessie trained her fellow Cadets in the art of Club Swinging, a traditional naval exercise.

To end the first part of the evening, and to ensure the guests made it to dinner, PPO McCullagh piped the dinner call.

BZ to all the Cadets from Poole, Southampton and Warsash who did themselves, their units and the Sea Cadet Corps proud.

The 80th commemoration of the capturing intact of what was to be called “Pegasus Bridge” in Normandy on the morning of 6th June 1944, was attended by Cadets and staff of Sea Cadets Offshore.

Poole Sea Cadet AC Wil was honoured to be selected to lay a wreath on the memorial which said, “In memory of Lieutenant Den Brotheridge, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who was the first British soldier to die in action on D-Day leading his platoon across this bridge”.

Lieutenant Brotheridge would have flown in a glider, initially towed by a Halifax bomber,  having taken off from Tarrant Rushton airfield, which is only 14 miles from Poole.

This was a huge honour, especially as it was in the presence of Lieutenant Brotheridge’s surviving family and friends, and we congratulate AC Wil on a once in a lifetime opportunity carried off with great professionalism. BZ.

A huge thanks and congratulations to AC Charlie for his sterling efforts on the 80th Anniversary of D-Day.

Twice on the day he played his bugle to perfection - no easy task in front of the large crowds for the commemorations in and around Poole Quay.

Eighty years ago Poole was the third largest embarkation point for Normandy.

Veterans and others were visibly moved by his excellent efforts.

BZ to him personally from all at TS Drax and the wider Sea Cadets in general.

(Photo courtesy of Charlie's family)