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Southern Area Drill Competition
Farnham Unit's Unarmed Drill Squad competed at the Area Drill Competition on Sunday 7th March at HMS Excellent.
After winning at Surrey District, they went on to the Area stage, showing the skills they had learned on the Parade Square and in uniform preparation.
With seven out of the 13 cadets competing for the first time, it was a nervous day for some.
TS Swiftsure won Bronze Medals for their superb efforts, being only narrowly beaten by the top two.
Congratulations to all who took part, the CO and her Staff for preparation and training and to the Parents and Supporters who travelled to Portsmouth on what turned out to be a dry but very cold day.
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Golden Touch
Farnham Unit's Unarmed Drill Squad have won the Surrey District Drill Competition for the third year running.
Units from the Surrey District met on Sunday 21st February at TS Swiftsure for the annual competition. After a somewhat damp and cold start to the day, Farnham's squad were the first to take to the square to show the routine they had been practicing for the last five weeks.
An almost faultless performance gave them the most points for their display and this combined with their score for their dress and turnout won them the gold medal position.
PO Cadet Tensing won the trophy for the best Unarmed Squad Commander.
Also competing were the unit's Junior Section Piping Team, in their first ever competition. They performed very well, overcoming any nerves and winning their competition in true Farnham style.
Cdt Wilson was another cadet in his first competition, taking part in the Individual Piping discipline and was only just outside the top three against some much older and more experienced opposition, one to watch for future events!
The Drill Squad now go forward to represent Surrey District at the Southern Area Competition at HMS Excellent in March.
Congratulations to all who took part, and to the training team and back-up staff and to the unit management team for making the event such a success.
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Rotary Club of Aldershot
On 16th February, Mr Graham Ingram, Chairaman of Farnham's Unit Management Committee attended the Annual Dinner of the Rotary Club of Aldershot where he was presented a cheque for £400 towards Unit Funds.
Cadets and Staff from TS Swiftsure would like to offer their thanks for such a generous donation.
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Boiler room gets greener
After several recent breakdowns of T S Swiftsure's rather ageing boiler, the Unit's Management Team took the descision to replace it with a modern efficient "on demand" supply.
The works were completed in less than a week and this involved removal of the old boiler and tank, installation of the new on demand system and the installation of three new electric power showers.
Unlike the system that was fitted when the building was completed in 1973, the new one will greatly reduce gas consumption and also release markedly less CO2 into the atmosphere and, as it only heats water when needed, reduces the Unit's utility bills.
Anyone interested in joining Farnham Unit's Management Team should contact the Unit on 01252 310 783
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Slightly smaller hills.......
Able Cadet Dykes from T S Swiftsure took part in a training weekend recently as part of the build up to the Cadet 150 Lesotho Expedition that takes place in the summer of 2010.
He joined with cadets and staff from the Sea Cadets to cover various parts of the expedition, including an update on their fundraising, a fitness programme and practical walking skills.
The South Downs had to take the place of the mountains they will be walking while in Lesotho but there were several steep areas where they could practice their skills for acending and decending safely.
A/C Dykes said he found the weekend interesting and very worthwhile but he did ache a little afterwards.
If anyone would like to donate towards the funds needed to send A/C Dykes and O/C Olley on this once in a lifetime expedition, please contact the Commanding Officer at the Unit.
A/C Dykes is pictured here, walking across the South Downs with other cadets and staff that will be taking part in the expedition.
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Joining Routine for New Entry
New Entry Lewcock became Cadet Lewcock on 22nd January 2010, our first enrolment of the New Year.
The short enrolment ceremony, led by Lt Greenaway, took place just before evening colours in front of the ship's company.
Cdt Lewcock joined the Unit from the Scouts and wishes to join the Royal Navy as a Logistics Rating in the future.
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Bronze for the Boys
Farnham’s Senior Boys 5 a side football team represented Surrey District at the Area 5-a-Side competition, held in Gosport on 17th January.
They played their initial three league games, winning their first game 5 – 2, lost the second 2 – 1 and won their third 3 – 2. This put them forward to the Semi-Finals, and they lost their game 8 – 4 after the score was tied after extra time at 3 all.
They won the playoff game 4 – 3 to take the Bronze medals for third place.
Congratulations to all the team, and to our fifth team member from Guildford Unit who helped Swiftsure do so well.
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Santa's Little Helpers
Cadets and Staff from Swiftsure accompanied Santa on two evenings on the annual Rotary Club Christmas collection in and around Aldershot and Badshot Lea.
Six Junior Sea Cadets, under the guidance of Mr Crewdson and Mr Mayes braved some rather inclemant weather on Friday 7th December to help collect with the Rotary Club's Santa. Four cadets did the same on Monday 7th, led by Lt Greenaway, a dryer but colder evening for them.
TS Swiftsure has a long relationship with the Rotary Club of Aldershot and helps out by keeping Santa's Sleigh safe when he's not using it.
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Football Focus
On 5th December, Farnham's Senior Boys 5-a-Side Football team took part in the Surrey District Tournament held in Horsham.
The boys did very well in the league stage of the competition, winning all their games and took this forward to the final where they won the right to represent Surrey District at the Southern Area 5-a-Side Competition in January.
Congratulations to the team, and to PO Mugridge who was their Team Manager. Thanks also go to PO Frampton for providing the transport to and from the event.
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Welcome Wilson
Cadet Wilson was enrolled into the Ship's Company of TS Swiftsure on Friday 27th November.
He had been one of our sucessful Junior Section prior to making the step up to the Seniors. He very much enjoys Piping and is looking at improving his qualification in this and many other things that the Unit takes part in.
After reciting his Sea Cadet Promise, Cadet Wilson was officially welcomed into the Ship's Company by the Commanding Officer.
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Inspection Perfection
TS Swiftsure’s Royal Naval Parade took place on 9th November 2009 and was a great success. The RNP is held every two years and, as well as an inspection of how the Unit is progressing, is an opportunity for the cadets to showcase the skills they have learned throughout their time in the Sea Cadets.
Southern Area Officer, Commander Andy Giles Royal Navy arrived at the Unit at 19:30 and was piped aboard by CDT Wilson. He then inspected the Unit Guard, led by Able Cadet Crewdson before the Colours Ceremony took place under the command of PO Cadet Tensing.
Following an inspection of the Ships’ Company, Commander Giles then went to the Wardroom to meet the Invited Guests who were
Councillor Pat Frost, the Mayor of Waverley
Councillor Lucinda Fleming, the Mayor of Farnham
Councillor Roger Kimber, the Mayor of Rushmoor
Major Nichols from the Royal British Legion
Captain Stuart Rivers from the Salvation Army
Mr John Jerome, Chairman of the Farnham Rotary Club
Ms Jenny Rawlings, Treasurer of the Farnham Rotary Club
and CPO (SCC) Carrol Greenaway, Commanding Officer Reading Sea Cadets.
After a quick cup of tea, served by Mrs Rita Jelley, Commander Giles was taken on a tour of the Unit by POC Tensing, including static displays from the Seamanship, First Aid, Band and Drill Departments and a picture board of the cadets’ activities during the previous year.
It was then back to the main deck where the cadets performed their Evolutions, which is their chance to show their skills and ingenuity to the audience of 50 or so family and friends and the VIP’s.
This took the form of two evolutions, one major that the cadets had practiced and a minor evolution that the cadets are informed of on the night.
The major evolution, led by Leading Cadet Harvey-Nevin was entitled “The wrong and right way” and showed how the task of crossing a river with some simple equipment could be carried out much more effectively using the leadership and teamwork training that the cadets are taught rather than working as individuals or not helping at all.
The minor evolution was led by Able Cadet Dykes and involved two teams of cadets, blindfolded and making animal noises, having to find the closest match – cat/dog, horse/cow etc. There were some interesting interpretations on the animal noises, especially the elephant!
At the end of this part of the evening, the cadets and staff formed up for the Evening Colours Ceremony followed by presentations of Cadet Qualifying Badges and a cheque from Farnham Rotary Club which was received on behalf of the Unit by Lt (SCC) Lorna Greenaway, Commanding Officer TS Swiftsure.
The Area Officer and the District Staff complimented the Cadets, Staff, Management Committee and Unit Assistants at Swiftsure on the RNP Evening and said it had all gone very well.
Lt (SCC) Greenaway would like to pass on her congratulations to all involved in making the evening such a success and for their hard work during the preceding year.
There are some pictures of the evening in the Picture Gallery.
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At the going down of the sun........
24 cadets and 7 staff from TS Swiftsure along with LtCdr Ray Mitchell, District Officer Surrey, paraded at the War Memorial at Farnham on Remembrance Sunday to pay their respects to the fallen.
PO Cadet Tensing and Able Cadet Dykes were part of a 6 cadet tri-service guard, along with two cadets from the Army Cadet Force and two from the Air Training Corps.
Cadet Wilson and Junior Sea Cadet Spencer laid wreaths on behalf of Farnham Unit.
The Staff at Farnham would like to take the opportunity to pass on the many compliments they received from Vetrans and Members of the Public about the high level of turnout from the Cadets of TS Swiftsure.
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Junior Sea Cadets
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Tri-Service Guard
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Preparation prevents.....
The entire Ships Company of Farnham Sea Cadets spent Saturday 7th November fine tuning their Ceremonial and Evolutions in preparation for their Royal Naval Parade on Monday 9th.
Starting early on Saturday morning, the cadets practiced their Major Evolution, which is designed to showcase the skills they have learnt in the Sea Cadets, this years theme is "The right way and the wrong way"
After lunch, they moved into practicing the Ceremonial Phase of the evening, when the Ships Guard formally greet the Inspecting Officer, Commander Giles RN, Area Officer Southern Area.
Following a full dress rehearsal, the cadets settled down in the early evening to prepare their uniforms for the Remembrance Day Parade the next morning.
All the cadets are looking forward to the RNP and the opportunity to shine in front of their Area Officer, their District Staff and, of course, their parents.
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Swiftsure meets Portland
Seven cadets and 3 Staff from TS Swiftsure had the superb opportunity of visiting their unit’s affiliated ship on Saturday 31st October 2009 after receiving an invitation from HMS Portland’s Commanding Officer, Commander Tim Henry RN.
After leaving the Unit HQ at 05:30, they arrived just after 8am and were meet by their host team, Deputy Weapons Engineering Officer Lt Greason, CPO Brown, RPO Boxall (an ex Farnham cadet), LS Gibson (Gibo) and AB Masterton, who all introduced themselves and told the cadets what jobs they did onboard.
After observing the ship leaving harbour, they then were invited down to the Warfare Mess where the cadets were treated to cans of Fanta and the Staff had a cuppa with some of the members of the Warfare Branch.
After this refreshment break, they were taken on a tour of the ship which included, the engine room, the bridge, accommodation and the ops room, and whilst on the
tour they made stops to watch demonstrations on fire fighting, medical response, and flood procedure.
At the end of this tour, the cadets and staff then had lunch, which was a very nice curry, and during this time LS Gibson had arranged for NE Lewcock, to speak to the Chief Steward and visit the galleys and Officers Wardroom as he is interested in joining the Royal Navy steward.
After lunch the displays continued on deck and they were treated to a fly past display by RAF Tornados and a man overboard rescue demonstration. It was then back to the Messes for another refreshment break before watching the ship return to Portland Harbour at around 3pm.
Just before they disembarked their host team presented them with an HMS Portland ships crest, a 30 inch shell casing and a ships polo shirt.
Cdr Henry was then invited to TS Swiftsure in December as VIP for the
Annual Presentation Evening, which he said he would be very pleased to attend and would be accompanied by some of the host team from the day.
It has been some time since cadets from TS Swiftsure have been able to visit their affiliated ship due to either her operational commitments, or circumstances beyond our control, but the cadets and staff said they enjoyed the experience and were made to feel very much part of HMS Portland’s extended family and certainly look forward to future meetings.
Photographs to follow.
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Cadets and Staff on Training Weekend
Two Cadets and two Staff from Farnham Unit recently took part in a District Training weekend based at Guildford Sea Cadet Unit.
LC Harvey Nevin and NE Lewcock spent the weekend training alongside cadets from other units in the Surrey District. Both did very well, with Harvey Nevin adding a Marine Engineering Qualification to his tally and NE Lewcock gaining his first (of many we hope) qualification in the Sea Cadets, a Class 3 First Aid.
The Unit's Commanding Officer and 1st Lt both acted as instructors in First Aid and Drill respectively.
Many thanks to Guildford Unit for organising and running the weekend.
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Africa bound!
Ordinary Cadet J Olley and Able Cadet A Dykes from T.S. Swiftsure have been invited to join “Exercise Lesotho Venturer”, a 21 day expedition, in July/August 2010 as part of the Cadet 150 Celebrations.
The two Farnham Sea Cadets were among the 200 initial applicants from all three cadet forces, and had to write an essay on why they should take part in the expedition and how it would benefit them in the future.
After this initial phase, the applicants were whittled down to 80, who were invited to a selection weekend where they were put through their paces on leadership and teamwork tasks, physical training exercises and sessions on campcraft skills. They also attended lectures on fundraising and environmental issues. At the end of this the numbers were reduced once again to reach the final 60.
The expedition, who’s Patron is HRH Prince Harry, will visit the Kingdom of Lesotho for a period of 21 days, during which time they will take part in a Community Project, hill walking and trekking, abseiling, canoeing and kayaking and a tour of the battlefields of Rorke’s Drift and Islandwana.
HRH Prince Harry hopes to be able to meet the lucky 60 during training and while they are taking part in the expedition.
OC Olley and AC Dykes will now have to raise the £1000 they each require to fund this trip of a lifetime.
If anyone would like to contribute towards the total of £2000 for these two young adventurers, please feel free to contact the Commanding Officer
By telephone: 01252 310 783
By email: lorna-greenaway@o2.co.uk
Or by letter to:
T.S. Swiftsure,
Farnham Sea Cadets,
Lower Weybourne lane,
Badshot Lea,
Surrey.
GU9 9LG
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