SEA CADETS GET A TRAINING FOR LIFE
By LISA PORTER
RESIDENTS in Kingfield will not forget
the bravery and courage of Woking Sea Cadets during the floods in
2000.
The
corps at TS Dianthus was able to put its training and expertise
into action to help those in need in the area. However some may
be unaware of what being a Sea Cadet entails.
The Sea
Cadets, who can be regularly spotted on Goldsworth Park Lake sailing
or canoeing, is a uniformed, disciplined youth movement based upon
the customs and traditions of the Royal Navy. Its aim is to help
young people towards responsible adulthood by encouraging valuable
personal attributes and high standards of conduct using a theme
based on Naval customs.
Commanding
officer Lt John Bray said: “We can claim the longest continuous
history of any British youth movement, dating back to the Crimean
War when sailors returning home from the campaign formed Naval Lads
Brigades to help orphans in the sea port back streets.
“Although
more than 20 per cent of new recruits embarking on careers in the
Royal Navy are Sea Cadets, the movement is not primarily a pre-service
organisation.
“It sets
its sights on equipping young people with the essentials of self
reliance, personal discipline and team work which will hold them
in good stead whatever career they pursue.”
Woking
Sea Cadets was formed originally at Chertsey but later moved to
Woking and its current headquarters is situated in Westfield Avenue,
Kingfield.
Lt Bray said: “There are presently 40 cadets, (boys and girls) in
the Woking Unit and we meet twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays
on what are called parade nights.
“We also
meet on various other evenings and at weekends to participate in
some of the many activities that the Sea Cadets offer.”
Activities
include, shooting, dinghy sailing, cruiser sailing, power boating,
rowing, canoeing, adventure training, seamanship, engineering band
and first aid training. The cadets also visit navy ships and shore
stations for courses of up to two weeks.
Courses
are held at many Royal Navy bases for a whole range of skills and
activities from junior Naval Air acquaintance courses to specialisation
in areas including seamanship, marine engineering and physical training.
The cadets
can travel on the square rigged sailing ship TS Royalist or on modern
sailing yachts like TS Leopold Muller and sail around Britain’s
coast or even over to France.
There
is also the opportunity to learn how to steer and navigate motor
vessels.
If you
would like to join the Sea Cadets and are aged between 12 and 18
then call 01483 768323 or go along on parade night for an informal
chat.
Lt Bray would also like to hear from any adults who are interested
in becoming instructors. |
