News

Southwark Sea Cadets are proud to be associated with Europe’s oldest and largest charity bike ride providing Marshalls for the opening six check points from the start at Clapham Common. With over 28,000 people getting on their saddles and pedalling 54 miles from city to sea – it can only be the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) London to Brighton Bike Ride. In its 39 year history, the BHF London to Brighton Bike Ride supported by Santander has seen over 750,000 people get on their bikes and raise over £60 million to fight heart disease. Coronary heart disease remains the single biggest killer in the UK claiming nearly 74,000 lives every year – that’s over 200 people every day. Thanks to the money raised, BHF are leading the fight against it but there’s still work to do.

It was a busy day at Royal Victoria Dock with the London Southern regatta. Crews representing 11 units were in attendance competing in a variety of rowing and boat handling events. The Southwark Junior Boys crew finished 1st completing all heats with an impressive lead of several boat lengths. The power boat handling team also did well with a third place. Once again this year Southwark will be competing in the Area Combined Regatta, this year it will be at Royal Victoria Dock on Saturday 5 July 2014.

 A special mention goes to OC Thomas Wood who was on the helm for both for the first time in a competitive event.

Southwark cadets visited Queen Mary Sailing Club near Ashford for the Thames Valley & London Regional final. The opposition was strong and we failed to take first place. However, Alfie Francis finished a close third in the junior event with Harry Tutt and Callum Peek finishing in 4th place in their age groups. All performed extremely well but competition was stiff with times to complete the course under 1 minute 30 seconds ... one penalty was sufficient to miss out on 1st place.

Alfie is the only Sea Cadet listed as a medal winner at regional finals held so far this year and is determined to return next year to secure a place in the finals at Southampton. 

A party of cadets travelled to St Martins Plain Army Training Area near Folkestone to take part in the annual Spitfire Cadet March. All routes from 10km to 40km included scenic views of the Kent countryside including the coastal path and also took in historic sites such as the Battle of Britain RAF Station Hawkinge and Battle of Britain Museum. Finishing at Dibgate Camp all involved received a medal on successful completion.

On Sunday 11 May Oscar Reyes travelled to Kings Cross Station to take the East Coast Line train to Inverkeithing, a short distance from HMS Caledonia which is home to the Royal Navy at Rosyth. The next five days were spent on weapons handling training before working on marksmanship skills on the outdoor ranges. With the Sea Cadets there is the opportunity for target rifle shooting using:

L98 Cadet GP rifle

L81 Cadet target rifle

No 8 .22 rifle

.177 air rifles

Archery