Felixstowe Sea Cadets hold presentation ceremony

Felixstowe-based Sea Cadet Corps unit, TS Landguard, held a presentation ceremony of awards and badges at St John the Baptist Church in Felixstowe on the evening of 19 January, in the presence of the Mayor of Felixstowe, Cllr Sharon Harkin, the SCC’s Deputy District Officer, Lt. Cdr (SCC) Graham Waylett RNR, and Ass. D.O. Sub-Lieut (SCC) Heard RNR.

During the ceremony, six new entry cadets were formally enrolled into the SCC by Unit Chaplain Rev Andrew Dotchin, who hosted the evening.

A highpoint of the evening was the presentation of the Eastern Area SCC’s Power Boat Shield by the Mayor, which was won by TS Landguard in the face of fierce competition from across 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 activities such as dinghy and offshore sailing, power-boating, canoeing, paddle boarding and wind-surfing, all conducted on local waters centred around 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 attended by a good number of parents, grandparents and representatives of local organisations including 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 fundraising 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 fundraising campaign to raise around £1 million, once planning permission had been confirmed.

The evening concluded with the presentation of proficiency and service badges to 18 cadets, clearing a backlog due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In making the awards, Lt Cdr Waylett congratulated the cadets and volunteers on emerging from the Covid-19 crisis in good order, manifested by the award of a proficiency pennant to the unit for the past year 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 of 10-17. The unit offers its cadets a fun-packed training programme, which includes participation in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards.