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More than 40 staff and cadets descended onto TS Otter in March for a District Rowing Weekend. The weather was gloriously sunny, though a strong wind made it tough rowing back to base. As well as a training opportunity for District Staff, it also gave cadets a chance to get onto the water for the first time in 2017.  The Unit was turned into a 'hostel' for the weekend with cadets and some staff enjoying bed and board there after a tiring day of rowing. A huge thank you to PO Mercer and his wife Sharon for organising and running such a great event!

Thanks to a successful grant application from Gloucestershire County Council’s Active Together Fund and a generous donation from Councillor Mike Sztymiak, our Unit is now the proud owner of two Yoles or sliding seat rowing boats Cadets Zoe and Ryan can be seen giving one of the craft a dry run - we will shortly be collecting the second boat. Our enormous gratitude must also be given to UMT member Bob Skelt, who initiated and led the grant application with our Chairman.

On Sunday 12th March, this year's Joint Services Skills Competition was held at Imjin Barracks.  In all, 68 Cadets in 17 teams from Gloucestershire’s Sea, Air, Army & Combined Cadets competed throughout the day, facing 15 different tasks covering virtually all aspects of training.  This was the first time, in many years, that any Sea Cadet unit had attended and our team of Cadets (Molly, Matthew and Joshua) supplemented by a Marine Cadet (Frazer) from Stroud unit, discovered just what Gloucestershire Sea Cadets have been missing out on all these years. Lt Cdr Jason Kinghorn, previous TS Otter CO, organised a Laser Rifle & Pistol range (borrowed from Malvern Unit). This proved popular with the cadets throughout the day. For some, this was a new activity and our own cadets made a fantastic effort for first timers with Cadet Molly coming third out of 68 cadets, despite having never shot before.

Our cadets did a brilliant job and made an impact, with all the other cadet staff being very impressed with their teamwork and, given the young age of most of our team, commented very favourably about their leadership and bearing. They did TS Otter proud! Near the end of the event our team had the chance to meet and speak with the Lord Lieutenant, Dame Janet Trotter, who, very kindly said what a great little unit we have in Tewkesbury to keep turning out such keen cadets.  PO Mercer and I thoroughly enjoyed helping with this competition and we’ve promised to try and get a team together for next year’s event. Hopefully, more of the Gloucestershire Sea Cadets Units will be able to attend as well.  We’d like to thank our Cadets and Staff for supporting the event.

After putting in so much practice, we were hugely disappointed to have had to pull out of the 2017 Drill and Piping Competition at the last minute due to illness in our squad. It was the first time we had not entered in living memory! We will be back next year, ready, with twice as much preparation.

Tewkesbury Sea Cadets were honoured with a visit from The Right Honourable the Countess Bathurst, High Sheriff of Gloucestershire, who has a great interested in the work of youth organisations.  She was not disappointed! Having been piped aboard in true naval fashion by the cadets, she witnessed colours and, escorted by our C.O. Sub Lt Tristan Cooper, the Countess inspected the divisions, talking to each of the cadets in turn. After a short break to allow time for the cadets to dismiss to classes, a tour of the unit was made, visiting each class and taking a great interest in the subjects being taught. She saw examples of Engineering, Communications, the building of an extempore rig in the Seamanship class and Junior training, who received an invite to visit her ‘little farm’ (The Bathurst Estate!) On completion of the tour, the unit mustered for ceremonial ‘Sunset’, after which The High Sheriff expressed her delight at what she had seen and the dedication of the instructors and all those who support the unit. It was also very interesting to learn from her a little of the High Sheriff’s work and duties.  The evening concluded with a presentation of a bouquet after which cadets, staff and guest adjourned for a well earned ‘Stand Easy’ which gave the Countess an opportunity to chat informally to the unit staff.  On leaving the unit she expressed a desire to visit us again during the summer, which we will be very happy to arrange!