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Well here we are at the end of another year! And what a great year it has been…

Our Cadets have really excelled themselves this year putting in fantastic efforts both here at the Unit and also during courses, events and competitions. We even had two cadets go to a National competition. We enjoyed individual and team success in the Pulling, Boat Handling, Adventure Training, Swimming and Cross Country competitions. A hectic summer also saw our cadets gain over 80 qualifications.

Special congratulations also go to Leading Cadet Stewart who passed her Leading Cadet Board and also Sub Lt Thompson, Lt Fox, APO FOX and APO Errington from our adult volunteers who also gained promotion.

Here's to 2013!

Whitley Bay Sea Cadets took part in a community Christmas Fayre, organised by the Whitley Bay Chamber of Trade on Sunday 4^th December 2012.

This was an occasion for our Unit to increase local awareness, and also to raise some funds for the Cadets. Sub Lt Thompson organized the TS Whitley Choir, and took pride of place on the steps leading into the Dome to welcome over 2000 local Whitley Bay folk to the Fayre.

A stall also helped drum up interest in the Sea Cadets and what we get up to, as well as raise over £70 with a prize raffle – prizes which were very generously donated by parents and well wishers. Let’s hope that this is an annual event as we believe it was very successful in getting our message out to the local community. In fact we had two eager new recruits appear on the following parade night to join the Sea Cadet experience.

November brings us together again to remember and thank those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Whitley Bay Sea Cadets for the first time in many years, were honoured to provide the Cenotaph Honour Guard with four of our cadets taking their place during the Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph. Here they are pictured with Officer in Command CPO John Littler – from left AC Kelly, AC Garrity, OC Burston and LC Stewart.

On the 22nd October 2012, Whitley Bay Sea Cadets were invited to visit HMS Ledbury while she was docked at the Quayside in Newcastle.

HMS Ledbury is the second of the Hunt Class Mine Counter Measures Vessels to be built. The ship was commissioned into Naval Service on 11th June 1981 and she cost £65 Million at time of building - the most expensive cost for a class of ship per metre ever built by the Royal Navy. Recently returned from active duty in Libya, the crew were happy to show our cadets around.

October and November 2012 saw success again for TS Whitley in District Competitions.

Following on from their triumphs at the District Swimming Gala, the successful Whitley Bay Sea Cadet swim team joined the Northumberland District team at the Area Gala in October. Our cadets helped the District team to win the Area swim competition overall, and also assist bring home the Montrose Trophy, the annual competition for all Districts in the Northern Area.

This year the Cross Country competition was held at Riverside in Chester Le Street. Our 3 competitors had mixed fortunes - LC Stewart won the girls senior event, while OC Burston came 3^rd in the girls 12-15 age group, and AC Moore gave a great effort in the senior boys event.

In the annual competition TS Whitley came a credible 4^th place (33pts) just two points behind Wallsend (31pts) while South Gosforth were second (27pts) as Newburn ran out deserved District Champions (21pts)

TS Whitley’s performance in the District Competitions was as follows:

5-a-side football: Equal 2^nd       Pulling Regatta: Equal 2^nd

Sailing Regatta: 5^th                  Boat Handling: Equal 2^nd

Canoeing: 4^th                          Swimming: 4th     

Adventure Training: 2^nd                Drill: 3^rd                

Piping: 5^th                                Cross Country: 4th