Latest News

3rd October 2017

Cadets from TS Gurkha were delighted when the climbing wall visited the unit.  

28th September 2017

Cadets from Stratford were excited to welcome desert adventurers, Julian Woodhall and Seb Coulthard to TS Gurkha on Thursday when they learnt more about ‘The Footsteps Of Lawrence Of Arabia - The Man Behind The Legend’ Expedition.

Seb Coulthard, former Royal Naval Air Service and polar explorer explained how T.E. Lawrence contributed to WW1 by his actions in Arabia, adapting to his surroundings and working with local tribes to defeat the Ottomans. For many of the cadets this highlighted a different aspect of the Great War that they had not previously been aware of, being more familiar with the trenches of Europe and sea battles such as Jutland.

The expedition marked the 100th anniversary of T.E. Lawrence travelling across the Jordanian desert and entering the city of Aqaba. Woodhall and Coulthard re-traced his footsteps using camels, a single Bedouin guide and period equipment and lived just as Lawrence had amongst the mountains of Wadi Rumm.

Julian Woodhall, ex-British Army and former Sea Cadet, demonstrated how traditional desert dress is most appropriate for survival in the extreme cold and heat of the desert, how Lawrence blew up enemy trains and how he lived in a desert environment.

‘The cadets have had a great night’ said APO Drinkwater ‘It was great that they were able to handle some of the equipment that Lawrence of Arabia would have used. It’s not so different to the adventure equipment that the cadets use nowadays.’

Before Julian went to Jordan, TS Gurkha asked him to send a video message whilst in the desert letting them know which skills and attributes learnt whilst in the Sea Cadets were proving most useful. He messaged to say ‘Leadership, fitness and a willingness to carry on when things are tough.’

‘Tonight’s presentation has been very enjoyable’ commented Lt Roger Edmunds, Officer in Charge ‘Not only have the cadets learnt an important part of our military history but they can also see how some of the skills that we teach them on a weekly basis are incredibly important in extreme conditions.’

26th August 2017

Cadets and volunteers from TS Gurkha were on the river for Stratford Rotary Club's annual Duck Race.  Our job was to collect all of the ducks swimming down the river.  Great job!

2nd August 2017

Cadets from TS Gurkha attain Meteorolgy qualifications at HMS Raleigh.

15th July 2017

Lieutenant Roger Edmunds, Officer in Charger at Stratford-upon-Avon Sea Cadets, was delighted to be presented with a mobile defibrillator at a recent charity fun day in Redditch. This life saving piece of equipment was given to the Stratford youth charity by Charlotte and Craig’s Saving Hearts Foundation as recognition of the contribution made by local electricians, Three Sea Electrical Ltd.

The Charlotte and Craig Saving Hearts Foundation was set up by Maggie and Rob Underwood after tragically losing their daughter Charlotte in 2010 when she died of Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome and their son Craig three years later who died from Marfan Syndrome. The foundation has worked tirelessly to ensure that every school within their hometown is equipped with a defibrillator and now continues to raise money to install further units at other key points within the area and raise awareness of the importance of CPR.

‘When a sudden cardiac arrest occurs, the casualty is usually relying on the ambulance service and first responders, and although they try their best, they can be a fair distance away from the scene’ explained Rob from CCSHF ‘The more defibrillators that are out in the community the more people that suffer cardiac arrest have a chance of survival.’

Three Sea Electrical Ltd support CCSHF by installing defibrillators free of charge. This is a significant help to the charity, reducing costs and enabling more units to be funded. Martin and Debbie Carvill, Directors of Three Seas Electrical are also both volunteers at Stratford Sea Cadets.

‘Providing this mobile unit seemed like the perfect way to say thank you’ said Rob from CCSHF. ‘We have been able to give a gift to an organisation that is important to Martin and Debbie and fulfil our aim of getting more defibrillators out in the community.’

‘Our cadets learn first aid as part of their training modules and an aspect of that is the use of a defibrillator’ explained Debbie, who is also the treasurer at Stratford Sea Cadets. ‘Having one of our own that we can carry with us to events and competitions will ensure that if a cadet, volunteer or member of the public suffers a cardiac arrest they will have access to potentially life-saving equipment.’

‘This is brilliant.’ Commented Lt Edmunds. ‘On behalf of all of the cadets I would like to say a huge Thank you to both CCSHF and Threes Sea Electrical.’