|
|
T.S. Ardent
Training Ship Ardent, Bollington & Macclesfield Sea Cadets, opened its doors in 1982 at the Wharf in Bollington on the banks of the Macclesfield canal. Our units first Commanding Officer was Mike Foster and our first Chairman John Washington. The unit was formally accepted into the Sea Cadet Association on the 1st of April 1983.
The unit is named after HMS Ardent, a type 21 Frigate which was tragically lost at the Falklands on the 21st May 1982, with 22 lives. We maintain close links with the HMS Ardent Association in memory of our famous namesake and attend the HMS Ardent Association annual reunion and service of remembrance which is held every year at HMS Drake, Plymouth.
Our Unit President is Admiral Alan William John West, Baron West of Spithead, GCB, DSC who was Captain of HMS Ardent during the Falklands War. The unit was officially opened by him when he was Captain A W J West DSC RN on 28th May 1985.
In 2003 we became affiliated to HMS Mersey one of the Royal Navy's new Fishery Protection and Coastal Patrol vessels. Again, we are very proud of our association with Mersey and her crew. This picture above was taken at Mersey's Commisioning ceremony, Liverpool in February 2004. The unit regularly visits HMS Mersey and even on some occasions get a chance to have some ‘Sea Time’ aboard her.
|
OUR UNIT STAFF
Bollington & Macclesfield Sea Cadets is run by a number of adult volunteers. Some instruct the cadets on parade nights and weekend courses. Others help fundraise and maintain the unit and its equipment. Without these volunteers there would be no unit.
|
Unit Management Commitee
Unit President - Admiral The Rt Hon. The Lord West of Spithead GCB DSC PC
Vice President - Mayor of Cheshire East
Chairman - Mrs Sue Littlewood-Duffy
Treasurer - Mrs Christine Osbladiston
Secretary - Mr Nick Wild
The committee meet on the 3rd Wednesday of every month.
|
Commanding Officer
Lt (SCC) David Thickett RNR
Lieutenant Thickett joined the unit in 1999 as a parent helper. He became the units Training Officer in 2000 and shortly after he became a PPO.
In March 2001 he took over as Officer In Charge and became a full Petty Officer later that year. After attending his Command Course in August 2002 he became and Acting Chief Petty officer.
Lt Thickett passed his Officer Selection Board in May 2003 and was promoted to Lieutenant in May 2008.
Lt Thickett has been involved in many events such as IFR & IFOS in 2005 and the 60th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings in 2004.
Lt Thickett is also a Seamanship Instructor.
e-mail the Commanding Officer
|
Executive Officer
SLt (SCC) Karen Black RNR
Sub Lieutenant Black joined the unit in 1999 as a CI and became a PPO in January 2000. In 2002 she attended her SCIQ Course and became a full Petty Officer shortly after.
SLt Black became the units 1st Lieutenant in 2003 and after a year took over the Junior Section with PO V Thickett, raising it to be one of the most successful in the Northwest Area.
After passing her Officer Selection Board in November 2006 and becoming a Sub Lieutenant, SLt Black has been assisting on some of the Northwest Area Pre-OSB's.
SLt Black has done a lot of Kayaking training in cadets. Starting as a novice in 1999 she became a BCU Level 1 Coach in 2004. She also passed her BCU 2* Open in 2008.
SLt Black appointed as the 1st Lieutenant of the unit in March 2008.
e-mail the First Lieutenant
|
Training Officer
CPO (SCC) Michelle Blacoe
Chief Blacoe joined the unit in 1994 at the age of 12. She has achieved many things in cadets, such as becoming the units first female Petty Officer Cadet in 1999. She became an RYA Dinghy Instructor at the age of 16. Due to a shortage of staff, Chief became the units Administration Officer at the age of 17.
Chief Blacoe has attended many events such as National Trafalgar Day Parade in Trafalgar Square London in 1998, The National Sailing Regatta in 1999, The Manchester Districts Trip to American in 2000. Chief has also been part of the Admin Team for the UK Sea Cadet International Summer Camp, HMS Bristol, from 1999 to 2007.
She stayed on as a member of staff when she became 18 and shortly became the units First Lieutenant. She became a Petty Officer in November 2000 and a Chief Petty Officer in May 2005. Chief took over as Training Officer in 2003.
Currently Chief is an Cook/Steward Advanced Instructor, Writer/Stores Instructor, Seamanship Instructor, SCC Pulling Instructor and Piping Instructor.
CPO Blacoe is also Area Staff Officer Cook/Steward for the North West Area.
e-mail the Training Officer
|
Adventurous Training Officer & Boats Officer
PO (SCC) Julian Valentine
Petty Officer Valentine joined the unit as a parent helper and after a stint as a Civilian Instructor he became a PPO in 2001.
PO Valentine attended his SCIQ course in 2002 and became a full Petty Officer.
In 2003 he became the units 1st Lieutenant and in 2007 took on the role as the units Boat Officer. PO Valentine stood down as 1st Lieutenant to concentrate on boat work for the unit in March 2008.
He is currently an Instructional Methods Assessor, Drill Instructor, BCU Level 2 Coach and Expedition Leader Grade 2.
|
Officer in Charge Junior Division
PO (SCC) Valerie Thickett
PO Thickett joined the unit in December 2001 as a CI and General Instructor. She became one of the Junior Leaders with SLt Black making it a very successful Junior Section. In 2006 was appointed OIC Juniors.
After becoming a PPO in March 2004 PO Thickett attended her SCIQ in September 2006 and became a Full Petty Officer.
She has also been involved in many events such as IFR & IFOS in 2005. PO Thickett has recently attended the Junior Train the Trainer course, to help give staff who are incharge of Junior Sections guidance.
PO Thickett hopes to become an IM Instructor.
|
Education & Liaison Officer
PO (SCC) Sarah Thickett
Petty Officer Thickett joined the unit at the age of 10 and became the first cadet in the unit to have a qualification in every Specialisation. In 2004 she passed her National Petty Officer Cadet advancement course at HMS Caledonia.
She has represented the unit and the Northwest Area at many events, such as the National Combined Regatta for kayaking and has also been part of the Area physical training display team onboard HMS Albion in 2005. She also attended the National Trafalgar Parade, Trafalgar Square London. She has also been involved with the Sea Cadet International Summer Camp, HMS Bristol from 2004 to 2007.
PO Thickett stayed on as a member of staff after turning 18 in 2006 and became a full Petty Officer in June 2007 after completing her SCIQ Course. She was also the first person in the Manchester District to gain a Distinction for the BTEC First Diploma in Public Services.
In 2007 PO Thickett was appointed Education and Liaison Officer, so she is responsible for the BTEC, Duke of Edinburgh's Award and is constantly in contact with the units affiliated ship HMS Mersey.
Currently Holds an EL Grade 3 and is a BCU Level 1 Coach.
|
Acting 1st Lieutenant and Webmaster
PO (SCC) Alexander Palfreyman
Petty Officer Palfreyman joined the unit back in 2002, when he was 13 and officially became a cadet in July 2002. He worked his way through the rate system reaching Leading Cadet in 2005 and then on to Petty Officer Cadet in April 2006, making him the senior cadet in the unit.
During his cadet years he became a 1st class Cook/Steward and also specialised in Drill, where he became the only Cadet Drill Instructor in the Manchester District.
PO Palfreyman turned 18 in April 2007 and chose to stay on as a member of staff and became a PPO in the unit. He is currently the Units Webmaster. He became Divisional Officer for Collingwood (Starboard) Division in October 2008 is responsible for the tracking of the cadets in his division.
PO Palfreyman passed his SCIQ Course on Feb 22nd 2008. He is a Cook/Steward Instructor and hopes progress onto Adult Drill Instructor in the future.
|
Expeditions Officer & Stores Officer
PO (SCC) Andrew Valentine
Petty Officer Valentine joined the unit at the age of 10 and worked his way up to become a Petty Officer Cadet in 2004 and also qualified as a 1st Class Mechanical Engineer.
PO Valentine turned 18 in 2005 and became a PPO. He spent some time on loan to Middleton & Chadderton unit during 2005 to gain more experience during his transition stage.
After transferring to Altrincham unit for a year in 2006 to concentrate on Engineering, he moved back to our unit and in 2007 he was put in charge of the Adventurous Training within the unit and has helped run many expeditions since. PO Valentine took over as stores officer in August 2008 to assist his mum, PO H Valentine.
PO Valentine holds an EL3 Grade, BELA and Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. He is also a Marine Engineering Instructor and is currently in the process of becoming Communications Instructor.
|
Navigating Officer
PO (SCC) David Bamford
Petty Officer Bamford joined the unit as a unit assistant in 2007. He chose to become a full member of staff at the beginning of 2008 and in April 2008 he became a Probationary Petty Officer. PO Bamford successfully passed his SCIQ Course in January 2009 and has become a full Petty Officer.
PO Bamford has Advanced Powerboating and Dive Leader Qualifications and completed his RN Acquaint Diving Course Summer 2008. He hopes to become a RYA Powerboating Instructor and a Chartwork Instructor.
PO Bamford is also Area Staff Officer Diving for the North West area.
|
Junior Instructor
PPO Richard Wild
PPO Wild joined the unit in 2003 at the age of 13. He worked his way up to Leading Cadet and became an Acting Petty Officer Cadet in August 2007.
PPO Wild turned 18 at the beginning of 2008 and became a Trainee Instructor. He became a Provisional Petty Officer in September 2008. He became Divisional Officer for Nelson (Port) Division in October 2008 and is responsible for the tracking of the cadets in his division. PPO Wild also instructs on a Wednesday evening, helping with the busy Junior Section that our unit has.
PPO Wild would like to become a Chartwork Instructor in the future. He also wishes to train to become a Pulling Instructor and has recently become Expedition Leader Grade 4.
PPO Wild is currently at University
|
Unit Chaplin
Rev. John Lomas
|
Expedition Instructor
CI Nigel Hardman
|
Junior Instructor
APO (SCC) Pat Slade
|
Administration Officer
Appointment Gaped
|
History of the Unit
If you have any stories, memories or any important dates/events that effected Bollington & Macclesfield Sea Cadets please email them to CPO (SCC) M P Blacoe.
|