At the end of every month Thornbury Sea Cadets likes to invite a guest to visit the unit to see what we do. This month was a little different when Rear Admiral Lloyd RN visited the unit following stories from the staff in his office about what their children were getting up to at the weekends.
The Rear Admiral who is based at Abbeywood in Filton arrived at the unit to a show of Colours and a guard run by the Cadets (aged 12 to 18). After inspecting the ships company and finding out what they enjoyed about being part of the unit he was given a tour by Ordinary Cadet Miles to find out more of what we do from those that do it. Following a quick break the Rear Admiral took part in a class in which the cadets were practising their seamanship skills in splicing rope – a technique used to join a single rope or two together by weaving the strands, producing a join much stronger than if it were tied.
At the end of the evening the junior cadets (aged 10 to 12) ran evening colours when the ensign is lowered, Rear Admiral Lloyd then presented cadets with badges they had earnt as part of their training in the previous month including piping badges, seamanship and chart work awards and two promotions to Able Cadet. He then continued to thank the unit and generously give a Chief Strategic Systems Executive badge to mark the occasion.
