The recently held AGM confirmed the numerous successes of TS St Albans with increased numbers and victory in competitions.

Being well established St Albans Sea Cadets has a track record of success over many years and this year has been no exception with successes in kayaking, sailing and Expedition training.

“During the year we have seen St Albans Cadets are just as good on dry land as they are on the water with four cadets winning the Herts District Expedition competition held in woodland outside Stevenage last month.

Camping out over two nights, the cadets lead by Leading Cadet Sharp demonstrated their skills in a variety of exercises including map-reading, orienteering, river crossing, mountaineering skills, speed-marching, & first aid to beat cadet units from across Hertfordshire.

The winning team compromised Leading Cadets, Sharp, Threadgold & Hughes and Marine C Buck.

But it’s in water born activities we have really excelled. Following successful wins in regional heats in June this year, two cadets attended the national Sea cadet canoe competition at Victoria Docks London, in September where Ordinary Cadet Samantha Smart battled atrocious, high winds & rain to take the Silver medal in her race with Marine Cadet Ben Lansdown piped to a close 4th in his race after drawing a particularly bad lane.

During the summer Cadet Jamie Earle and Leading Cadet Steven Smart won the Boson sailing race beating other cadets from across Hertfordshire.

Pat Gosling After Blood

Pat Gosling the unit Chairman praised the cadets and staff alike at the recent AGM. She said “Its been another busy year for the St Albans unit and we are seeking new blood both on the committee and as instructors to take the unit even further forward. Anybody wanting to know more about how they can get involved can contact the unit on 07958 320 638.”

Galley Duty

Can you help out in the Galley once a month?

We are actively seeking people to help out in the Galley once a month for a couple of hours on a cadet evening to run the tuck shop at Stand Easy (break). Currently the burden of proving the Cadets with their chocolate, sweets and fizzy falls on a few people, but with more help we could share the task.

Its easy, its fun and it will only take a couple of hours a month.

If you can help please contact Pat on 01707 321447 or by email: pat@stalbans-seacadets.org.uk. Some may have been contacted already by the Unit’s darling José Nash, who has raised a couple of helpers already. More people are required to make the rota work as intended. Please come along, your child knows the drill and will point you in the right direction; ask for Ted or Pat on arrival they too will show you the ropes.

New 1st Lieutenant placed.
Lt (SCC) Brett Packham RMR
Brett joined TS St Albans in 2003 as a Marine Cadet reaching the rank of Cadet Sergeant. In 2005 he joined the staff as a Probationary Sergeant and in the following year was promoted to Marine 2nd Lieutenant. In August 2008 Brett was promoted to the ships First Lieutenant and to a full Lieutenant in September 08. Brett is training to be a doctor and is studying at the Royal Free and University College Medical School.

Accordingly as well as his duties as the ships First Lieutenant he has a keen interest in ensuring that cadets have a thorough grasp of First Aid

Junior Cadet Ranks Grow

St Albans Junior Cadets have seen their ranks swell over the last few months with a busy programme of activities and fun.

Earlier in the year they took part in the annual St George’s Day parade in London.

12 cadets, officers and instructors attended the St George’s Day Parade at the Cenotaph Whitehall in central London (19th April), the cadets forming part of the 200 strong parade of cadets.

Following the parade the TS St Albans Cadets were invited to nearby 10 Downing St were they were given a briefing on the building by the attending Police and then on to the Tower of London and the cadets were given a private tour of the Tower by one of the Beefeaters (Yeoman Warders).

Sergeant (SCC) Peter Lansdown, of TS St Albans Marine Cadet Detachment who organised the visits said:

“The afternoon at the Tower in the company of the Yeoman Warders who demonstrated their impressive foot drill marching, convinced a number of the tourists that the cadets were part of the event.”

Junior Cadets also visited St Albans Fire Station to increase their fire safety awareness and took part in the Weekend of Activity at the Unit in September.

Construction matters – work start with a vengeance.

The unit has recently under gone an electrical upgrade which has cost in excess of £5,600. The work covered infrastructure and emergency lighting throughout. Grant aid was received in support equating to £2,500. The next electrical project is to renew the lighting system. We spend something close to £50 monthly on lighting, so only the best will do to drive this cost down. This is bid close to £2,500. Grant applications are in progress.

Other major works are the roof at £24,000, external walls and doors £??? Accessible showers and toilets £????? Gas fired heating boiler £???? Hearing assist equipment £2100, Replacement containers store £1800. Replacement portacabin classroom. The list goes on and is all work we need to do this next two years. We are planning for the future.

If you have ideas about fund raising then please come forward and share these with us, or perhaps you are aware of a grant provider we have missed.

See the web site for full details of the works we are intending to undertake.

Useful Numbers:

Unit 01727 842351 answer phone available

Chair:  Pat Gosling - 01707 321445

Vice Chair:  Arthur Nowell - 01727 768557

Treasurer:  Brian Hewitt - 01727 760272

Commanding Office:  Graham Waylett - 01442 394543

Unit Chaplain:  Canon Iain Lane - 01707 660485

Unit Admin Officer:  Ted Hill - 01727 765903

Useful email addresses:

chair@stalbans-seacadets.org.uk

Treasurer@stalbans-seacadets.org.uk

Commanding.officer@stalbans-seacadets.org.uk