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For over 100 years, Sea Cadets have marked the anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar with a parade onTrafalgar Squareon the Sunday closest to 21 October. On that date in 1805, Admiral Lord Nelson defeated the French and Spanish fleets offCape Trafalgarin South West Spain losing his life at the height of his most famous victory.

On the day a significant contribution from Southwark Unit included:

OC S Cummins – London Area Platoon

AC J McBride – Sea Cadet Massed Band

Cadets A Button, A Blackmore, A Smith and K Andino – London Area Support Team.

 ‘BRAVO ZULU’ to all involved.

The new RIB recently took to the water on the River Lee. Launching at Clapton Unit the RIB together with Viking navigated the river and locks passing the Olympic Stadium and down to Bow Lock and the Limehouse Cut. Negotiating locks was a new experience and future trips will involve more extensive investigation of the East London waterways.

A busy October continued with 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. Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence were also in attendance. 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 10th October 2012. The Trafalgar Day Wreath Laying Ceremony will take place in the Crypt of St Paul's Cathedral at 11:00 on Friday 21st October 2012.

In October we were pleased to welcome The Reverend David Evans onboard. Vicar of the local church, St Christopher's, Reverend Evans presented a crucifix to be displayed on the Quarterdeck.  

Saluting the Quarterdeck. Some hold that the salute to the quarterdeck is derived from the very early seagoing custom of the respect paid to the pagan altar on board ship, and later to the crucifix and shrine ...

The custom of saluting the quarter-deck is said to have come from the practice of having a crucifix on the quarter-deck and paying it the normal mark of respect, originating from the old universal custom of making the sign of the Cross on possing any wayside crucifix.

Others hold that the custom comes from the early days of the British Navy when all officers who were present on the quarterdeck returned the salute of an individual by uncovering (removing the hat). The original salute consisted of uncovering. The salute, touching the hat, to the seat of authority, the quarterdeck, the place nearest the colors, is certainly an old tradition.