Post on 01-Sep-2018
HE BRANCH AGM was held at North Shields Unit. Much of the year’s Branch activity has been reported in our Newsletter and will not be repeated here. The Branch was able to make
substantial grants to the two main regional projects namely Derwenthaugh and Teesside (Stockton).
At the Committee elections Terry Cornick, previously co-opted, was elected. All other members and officers continue. Chairman Victor Spong, Secretary Gwynne Burn, Treasurer Brian Cordiner, and Membership Chris Matthews. We are a membership organisation and our numbers have increased again. This year we are pleased to welcome Cdrs White and Scribbins; we now have six Commanding Officers of HMS Calliope in membership.
The Branch exists to support the 18 Sea Cadet Units in the North East and will do this by:
1. Continuing to support the Regional projects
2. Developing the Branch so that it can better support the 18 Units in our region by:
a. Growing our membership base.
b. Improving our networking with corporate bodies, charities, and professional organisations.
c. Finding opportunities to showcase our Cadets.
Longer Term: As the projects to support boating in the region come to fruition the Committee will be looking at new projects and would welcome input from interested parties. Please contact Victor Spong (victorspong@btinternet.com) with any thoughts.
Branch News
Members’ Day
NE of the functions of the Branch is to hold interesting activities for its members, the most popular being the Members’ Day at Derwenthaugh.
This year we were joined by the High Sheriff Lucy Winskell, and had rowing, sailing, and power boats out on the water. After a dismal start the weather cleared and we came home in warm sunshine. Pat Spong and Aflie Simpson rowed the Trinity 500 back on their own in fine style.Afterwards the group enjoyed a convivial meal at the Skiff Inn, our local hostelry.
All agreed it was a most enjoyable day again.
REGIONAL PROJECTS RS Quest Dinghy
Derwenthaugh Boat Station FTER the effective introduction of the Trinity 500
rowing boat, the Sea
Cadets has again worked
with a leading boat
designer, this time to
develop a replacement for
the obsolete Bosun dinghy.
The Bosun was originally designed as a
recreational boat for the Royal Navy and has been
an excellent teaching boat for the Sea Cadets with
its carrying capacity and sturdy construction.
The new 14ft dinghy boat, designed and built by
RS, is large enough to hold an instructor and 2 or 3
pupils. It is ‘packed with innovative features to
create a uniquely configurable boat to suit
individual needs, with the ability to grow the sailor’.
MSSC in London has obtained funding to allow
100 boats to be purchased at half price.
At the regional sailing centre, Derwenthaugh, a
donation from the St
James’ Place Foundation
will provide one boat. This
will join the two Wanderer
dinghies commissioned last
summer.
On Teesside, Hartlepool Unit has taken delivery of
two of the pre-production models and Teesside
District has received grants from RFCA and the
Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (see below)
for another.
Institute of Chartered Ship Brokers
HE liaison with the North East Branch of the
Institute was continued when Teesside District
Cadets again supported the Annual Tees Dinner.
The District received a share of the charity draw
which will be used to acquire a new RS Quest
Dinghy for Teesside District.
The cheque was presented
by Richard Booth, Vice
Chairman of the ICS North
East, at Hartlepool’ Unit’s
Presentation Night.
HE refurbishment of the old training building at
Derwenthaugh is well under way as it continues its
development programme. The whole of the inside
of the building has been taken out and the new
walls and mezzanine floor are beginning to take
shape. The old entrance at the front of the building
no longer exists and all entry will be from within the
compound. This will make a safer environment for
all users of the building. It is hoped that the work
will be finished by March, with everything back in
place for the start of the new boating season. Once
this is done, Derwenthaugh will be one of the best
equipped boating facilities in the Sea Cadets.
The Boat Station is being used by an increasing
range of groups outside the region’s Sea Cadets,
Units from Scotland and the Midlands have travelled
to Derwenthaugh, and the first Area Rowing course
has also been held there.
The reputation of its facilities continues to spread:
Air Cadets, Girl Guides, and now the Scouts, are
joining the list of users, HMS Calliope held their
Trafalgar Night dinner there whilst their Wardroom
is being refurbished, and most notably, it has been
booked by the Royal Netherlands Marines.
Teesside
OLLOWING the successful acquisition of the
Hadrian House building, Stockton are pressing
ahead with the work to convert the building to a
Sea Cadet Unit and Boat Centre.
In the meantime during the
last year, Teesside District
staff have been boating
regularly at Castlegate Quay,
using the Trinity 500s that
were commissioned there.
There are plans to establish a sailing centre at
Hartlepool and it is hoped to have three RS Quests
sailing dinghies based there this year.
HE Tall Ships Race will visit Blyth between 26th and
29th August this year. It is expected that local Units
will be invited to assist.
Readers may wish to put this in their diaries.
This entrance no longer exists and is bricked up
Tall Ships 2016
District Achievement Award
HE District Achievement Award was introduced in 2012 by the Branch in order to encourage Units to
strive to be the best in their District.
Teesside
The Award for Teesside was again won by Hartlepool Unit. The presentation was made to the Officer in Charge, Lt Dave Quin RMR, by Captain Colin Pratt MNM, Vice Chairman of the Tyne Tees Branch, at the Unit’s Annual Christmas Party and Awards Night.
Northumberland
The Award for Northumberland District has changed hands again and this year the trophy is being shared between Wallsend and Ashington Units. It is the first time that Wallsend has featured in this Award.
Tyne South
This year the trophy has been won back by South Shields Unit, after a short stay at Gateshead.
Very well done to all concerned.
TS Royalist—Fundraising Campaign
YNE SOUTH District raised more money per capita than any other District in the UK which led to the award of the national Trophy.
This was presented by Captain Russell RN, Captain Sea Cadets, whilst visiting the region.
Gateshead Unit won the individual Unit Trophy for best contributors to the fundraising effort.
High Sheriff Visits Newburn Unit
HE High Sheriff of Tyne & Wear (Lucy Winskell OBE DL) visited Newburn Unit for their Awards night.
She presented the Unit’s Burgee for 2015 to the Chairman Mr P J Morrissey and the Commanding Officer, Lt Margaret Bickle.
The presentation was shared with Lt Cdr Mike Morrell who had been CO until June.
S/Lt Karensa Miller was presented with the staff prize by L/Cdt James Dey, who was responsible for the vote.
Alfie Dining Out
YEARS’ uniformed service with The Sea Cadets came to an end when Alfie Simpson retired at the
end of November. A ‘Dining Out’ was held at the Assembly Rooms in Newcastle and was attended by a large gathering of Sea Cadet Adult Staff from across the Area.
Presiding was Lt Margaret Bickle with VIP guest Cdr Liz Bryson DL RD RNR Ret’d, representing the Lord Lieutenant of Tyne & Wear, and Captain Peter Adams RN, Area Officer, who proposed the toast to Alfie.
This evening recognised the extraordinary contribution by Alfie to the ‘Sea Cadets’, culminating in a major development at Derwenthaugh, and recently as District Officer for all three Districts. Alfie will continue to be involved with the Sea Cadets as Chairman of the Derwenthaugh Boat Station Trustees. As well as his MBE, Alfie has been awarded the Sea Cadet Medal for his unique contribution to the Sea Cadets over the many years.
We wish him every success in the future.
National Award
ACH year the best District in the Sea
Cadets is awarded the Navy League Trophy; and once again this year, Tyne South District, comprising Chester-le-Street, Gateshead, Hebburn and Sunderland, Jarrow, Seaham, and South Shields Units, have been awarded this prestigious trophy.
Two thumbs up to the Sea Cadets and the Royal Marines Cadets on their achievement.
Alfie with wife Helen during the presentation
Captain Russell (centre)
UNIT APPOINTMENTS
PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS/NEWS
DISTRICT APPOINTMENTS
Teesside. Lt Mike Morrell has taken over as Deputy District Officer and is expected
to be confirmed as District Officer in the very near future. Mike was formerly Commanding Officer at Newburn Unit,
His new staff team includes S/Lt Wendy O’Donnell from the Offshore team and W/O Rob Fielden formerly of Guisborough Unit.
Northumberland Tracy Peel, the former Deputy DO is now District Officer and is
promoted to Lt Cdr.
Tyne South Lt Cdr Chris Healy continues as District Officer Tyne South with S/Lt Lesley Somerville, former CO of Gateshead Unit, as his ADO.
TS FLAMINGO (Gateshead Unit) will start 2016 with a new Officer in Charge as Warrant Officer William Pascoe takes over from S/Lt Lesley Somerville.
Will was OiC of South Shields Unit and continues as the current Area Staff Officer for Drill and Ceremonial.
GAINING a nomination as a Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet is the pinnacle of many cadets’ careers, and the Tyne South nominations for the respective Lieutenancies of County Durham and Tyne and Wear are Leading Cadets Adam Petch (Chester-le-Street) and Ethan Barber (Seaham).
Both cadets have had a successful year in the lead up to their nominations, with Adam representing the Northern Area at not one but two National Competitions, and Ethan being selected for the Sea Cadet Aviation Programme and earning his Silver wings.
Well done lads- a credit to the North East!
NEWCASTLE EAST UNIT.
S/Lt Kerensa Miller has established the School section of the Unit which meets in the daytime. Readers may remember that this Unit is now housed in Walker Technical College and has an open and a closed section. This is a new model for the ‘Sea Cadets’.
Lord Lieutenant Cadets
We were disappointed that our new flag ship
was unable to visit
the Tyne last year
but she is scheduled
to visit this year.
She will berth at
Town Quay and we
plan to hold a reception on Thursday 30 June.
Please make a note in your diaries.
Bob retired at the end of 2015 after 17 years service with Hartlepool Unit RMCD.
In that time he has held the roles of
detachment commander and troop
commander. In his time he became
almost a living legend of Hartlepool
Sea Cadets and is well liked and
respected throughout the organisation.
We wish him a happy retirement.
We wish them all well in their new or continuing roles.
Sergeant Bob Hammond SCC Royalist