Felixstowe Sea Cadets hold Presentation Ceremony

TS Landguard, the Felixstowe-based Sea Cadet Corps unit, held a presentation of awards and badges ceremony in St John the Baptist church, Felixstowe on the evening of the 19th January, in the presence of Felixstowe’s Mayor, Councilor Sharon Harkin and the SCC’s Deputy District Officer, Lt. Cdr (SCC) Graham Waylett RNR accompanied by Ass. D.O. Sub-Lieut (SCC) Heard RNR. In the course of the ceremony, six new entry cadets were formally enrolled into the SCC by Unit Chaplain, the Rev Andrew Dotchin, who hosted the evening.

Highpoint of the evening was the presentation by her worship the Mayor, of the Eastern Area SCC’s Power Boat Shield, won by TS Landguard in the face of fierce competition from over the whole Eastern Area, which stretches from North Yorkshire down to the London borders. The award reflects TS Landguard’s reputation as an ‘afloat’ unit, offering its cadets such activities as dinghy and offshore sailing, power-boating, canoeing, paddle boarding, wind-surfing, all conducted on local waters centred on Felixstowe Ferry under the safety umbrella of RYA-qualified staff. The Unit has recently taken delivery of a replacement RIB safety boat in advance of the 2023 afloat season.

In the course of the evening, which was conducted by the Unit’s Officer in Charge, PO (SCC) Tony Duke, and which was attended by a god number of parents, grandparents and representatives of local organisations, including the Felixstowe Master Mariners’ Club and the Royal British Legion, presentations were made by Mrs Sally Thompson on behalf of the Chair of the Parents and Friends’ Committee, Mrs Sharon Hume, detailing the fund-raising activities of her committee. The Chairman of the Unit Management Committee, Captain Peter King, gave a presentation on plans to redevelop the current HQ site in Garrison Lane to incorporate modern classroom, office and social facilities and a custom-designed boat storage / maintenance area in the existing Drill Hall. This would involve an intense fund-raising campaign to furnish around £1 million, once planning permission had been confirmed.

The event concluded with the presentation of proficiency and service badges to 18 cadets, clearing a backlog due to Covid. In making the awards, Lt Cdr Waylett congratulated the Cadets and Volunteers on emerging from the Covid crisis in good order, manifested by the award of a proficiency Pennant to the Unit for the year past and throwing down the challenge of a top-rated Burgee for 2023.

TS Landguard’s doors are open for new Cadets in the age range 10 to 17. The Unit offers its Cadets a fun-packed training programme, training which includes participation in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme.