News

A busy October continued with several cadets attending The Annual National Service for Seafarers in St Paul's Cathedral. Representatives of many seafaring organisations attend the event with a number of Sea Cadet Units participating in some capacity. Harry Tutt and Ronie Francis attended with London Nautical School taking on the role of Srandard escorts. The first service was held in 1905, 100 years after the death of Nelson, with only a few gaps since then during the First and Second World Wars.

Next year's service will be held in St Paul's Cathedral on Wednesday 15th October 2014. This year's Trafalgar Day Wreath Laying Ceremony will take place in the Crypt of St Paul's Cathedral at 11:00 on Monday 21st October 2013 while the National Trafalgar Day Service will take place in Trafalgar Square on Sunday 20th October 2013 commencing at 11:15.

Members of Staff and Cadets from Southwark Unit were at the Royal Victoria Docks Boat Station on the weekend of 12-13 October 2013 for the RYA Safety Boat course.

This is a two-day course which provides the skills required when acting as an escort craft, safety boat, or coach boat for a fleet of dinghies, windsurfers, or canoes, or for racing or training activities. It also includes rescue techniques and elements of race management and mark laying.

Prince Philip and the Earl of Wessex attended the 500th Duke of Edinburgh's Award presentation at St James Palace with seven decades of gold award winners and present to as one of the latest recipients was Petty Officer Callum Malone.

Callum had previously completed bronze and silver before commencing gold at 16. During two years of effort he completed five sections:

Service: to the Sea Cadet Corps

Physical: Rowing

Skills: BTEC

Expedition: Dartmoor

Residential: TS Royalist

All in a days work for an active Sea Cadet.

In September 4 Southwark cadets travelled to HMS Raleigh in Cornwall to attend the Naval Acquaint Course. HMS Raleigh is the Royal Navy's largest training establishment in the South West with a main site covering 239 acres. Part of the Flag Officer Sea Training organisation, Raleigh provides a diverse
range of training. This training ranges from the ten-week initial induction for all new rating recruits to specialist training in areas such as seamanship,
submarine operations, logistics, military and board and search skills. During their stay all learnt much about the Royaql Navy as well as basic skills from drill to first aid and fire fighting. Next it will be off to other venues such as HMS Caledonia.

Southwark Sea Cadet Unit were at the Costermongers' Harvest Festival at Guildhall in the City of London on Sunday, 29 September 2013.

Our cadets paraded alongside representatives from the Royal British Legion and HMS President, and watched the traditional entertainment on show before marching to St Mary-le-Bow Church.

The event was attended by many Mayors, Donkey's and Carts, Marching Bands and of course the Pearly Kings & Queens and many other colourful characters.