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Offshore sail training
In March four of our cadets went to sea on the sail training ships T.S. City Liveryman and T.S. Vigilant.
Sailing from Gosport, the cadets were soon involved in hoisting and trimming the sails, steering the ship and, when the wind got stronger, taking in a reef. Two, who shall remain nameless, also enjoyed the experience of seasickness!
At the end of the week Petty Officer Cadet Avery-Hawkins and Able Cadet Pickles were awarded their RYA Competent Offshore crew qualification whilst Able Cadet Gibbs and Ordinary Cadet Stewart gained Offshore grade II.
All cadets thoroughly enjoyed the very challenging week and wish to record their gratitude to HSBC for their generous contribution to the cost of their courses.
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Staff training
In order to train our cadets properly we have to train our volunteer staff. To this end, Sgt Green recently completed the 4 day tri-service short range conductors course and the one day tri-service small arms ammunition storemans course at Browndown camp in Gosport. Sgts Cross and Riley both completed the tri-service assault course instructors course at Browndown and also the Sea Cadet instructors Qualifying course at H.M.S. Excellent in Portsmouth.
PPO Wallace also completed the Sea Cadet instructors Qualifying course.
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District Drill Competition
Sunday 24th February saw the units of Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire district assembling at RAF Halton for the District Drill competition. As Usual, there was a strong contingent from Milton Keynes and as usual, trophies were lifted!
MK were adjudged the best unarmed squad and its commander Petty Officer Cadet Avery-Hawkins won both best squad commander and best dressed cadet awards.
Well done to all who competed, trained and supported our teams.
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District Piping competition
The same date and place was also the venue for the District Piping competition. Our Juniors did us proud with Junior Cadet Spruce taking first individual and Junior Cadet Jones coming third, our unit also taking the junior team trophy.
MK came second overall in the combined drill and piping award.
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Retirement of Chairman Syd
On Friday 22nd February our monthly divisions (where the cadets dress in their best uniforms and are inspected by the Officer in Charge) was dedicated to bidding farewell to our retiring chairman, Syd Shadbolt.
Syd has been with the unit for 20 years and chairman for ten after service as a commando in WWII and then as a fireman in London and Milton Keynes.
Syd was piped aboard and was the invited to inspect the guard and ship's company before being presented with a pair of decanters from the staff and cadets and gardening vouchers from the committee. A bouquet was presented to Joan Shadbolt in recognition of her tolerance of Syd's frequent absences on Sea Cadet business. "A first class parade" and "smartly turned out" were Syd's reactions; the evening concluded with a buffet supper for all present.
On 1st March fifteen staff and committee dined Syd and Joan out at a local restuarant where a certificate of appreciation, signed by the commandant of the Sea Cadet Corps, was presented to Syd.
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Lions roar for T. S. Whaddon
On a very wet Saturday 8th December, a contingent of cadets, staff and committee were delighted to take delivery of a baggage trailer thanks to the generosity of Stony Stratford Lions. Lion Verdun Webley handed over the trailer and said how pleased they were to help an organisation that had helped them in the past. Proceedings were ended with three hearty cheers for Stony Stratford Lions.
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District football trophy
The first weekend of December saw our unit retaining the overall district football trophy with an outright win in the junior boys' event and and a combined MK and Banbury junior girls' winning their category. With a runners up spot this was sufficient to take the trophy back to Kiln Farm. The icing on the cake was the best player awards to Leading Cadet Stutina Hawkins and Able Cadet Scott Oliver.
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Remembrance Sunday Parade
On Sunday 11th November a large contingent of our cadets under the command of CPO(SCC) Trevor Cole were present at local ceromonies to mark this solemn anniversary.
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Trafalgar parade at Abingdon
Twelve cadets under the command of CPO(SCC) Trevor Cole took part in the district Trafalgar day Parade on Sunday October 14th. Six of our cadets were in the guard, maintaining our tradition of more than pulling our weight in supporting district activities.
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Meet the Marines
Our Marine cadet section were active again over the weekend of 13/14th October when they met the Royal Marines at Caldecote lake. Eight cadets under the command of Sergeant Paul Riley participated in various activities including riding in a "Rigid Raider" craft on the lake, drill, PT and paintballing.
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Boatwork at Marlow
Over the weekend of 8/9th September a group of our cadets accompanied by our CO, Trevor Cole attended a boatwork course at Marlow. It was an instructive and enjoyable weekend, crowned with success when six of our cadets gained qualifications.
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Greens at Stony fair
Bank holiday Monday found our ever-active Marine Cadet detachment at Stony Stratford's annual fair. They joined myriad local organisations with a demonstration of fieldcraft along with a "guess the weight of the bergen" competition and a warm welcome for anyone interested in joining our unit.
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Marine's weekend at Marchwood
9 cadets and 2 staff spent the weekend of 10th - 12th August at the Sea Mounting centre at Marchwood for fire-fighting and first-aid training. The course was given by the Defence Fire Service and consisted of the following modules:
The chemistry of fire and use of extinguishers
First Aid and casualty handling
Use of the light portable pump
Hose running and branch holding
Initial firefighting (practical)
A very instructive day was enjoyed by all and all cadets passed the course and were awarded their certificates.
On Sunday the cadets visited the Royal Marine's museum at Eastney where a great deal was learned about the history of the corps.
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Marine Cadets' Summer Camp
Three instructors and seven cadets attended the annual camp at Fremington in Devon from 14th - 21st July. They enjoyed a plethora of activities including shooting, quad biking, clay pigeon shooting, climbing, abseiling and the assault course. Their day started at 06:00 with PT and often went on to 19:00 (7 p.m.) but despite the efforts of the RM recruiting team running the camp our cadets were always ready for more.
MC2 Stewart gained his basic shooting award but the fun was not confined to the cadets when Sgt. Riley and T.I. Cross had a flight in a RAF Sea King helicopter and Sgt. Green had a "coming together" with his instructor on a quad bike!
All returned tired but triumphant, with experience which will stand them in good stead in their futures both as Marine Cadets and as young citizens.
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Area Kayak Championships
After their clean sweep at disrict level, our canoeists found the opposition at area level far tougher but were second Senior Boys and third Senior Girls. Well done to all concerned.
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Annual Royal Navy Parade
Each year a serving officer, on secondment to the Sea Cadet Corps, inspects the unit and makes his assessment of its performance, so every effort is made to impress him.
The evening started with Major Andy Henderson, Royal Marines, being welcomed aboard. He inspected the Guard before the colours ceremony when the ensign was raised.
After inspection of the remainder of the ship’s company, the cadets performed various evolutions to demonstrate their skills and teamwork before Major Henderson presented awards and addressed the ship’s company to congratulate them on their turnout and enthusiasm.
A surprise item was introduced into the proceedings when the cadets made presentations to members of the staff and the committee in recognition of their efforts on behalf of the unit. Major Henderson commented that this was a unique gesture in his experience.
The evening closed with the Sunset ceremony followed by a buffet for all , including many parents and siblings who attended the evening.
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Local MP is guest of honour
Present as guest of honour was local MP Mark Lancaster, who is a Major in the TAVR. Mark commented on the smartness and enthusiasm of the 35 cadets on parade but was surprised to learn that the running costs of the unit have to be raised locally. He wished us well for the future and expressed the hope that our efforts on behalf of the young people of Milton Keynes would receive more official recognition and support.
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Retirement of our president
Present at the parade for the last time was our president, Major Steve Nicoll RM with his wife, Helen. Their retirement to Scotland makes it impossible for him to serve us further and he will be sorely missed. A memento of the unit was presented to him by Major Henderson and CO Trevor Cole.
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Cockleshell heroes
The weekend of 2nd/3rd June marked the district Kayak championships and the unit entered a team drawn from bothe the Sea Cadets and the Royal Marine detachment. It proved far too strong for the opposition and the trophy was won by a margin of over 100 points. Well done to those who competed and to those who organised and supported the event.
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A wet yomp for the 'Greens'
On a very wet spring bank holiday weekend Sgt. Lloyd Green led a party of instructors and Marine cadets to Ash Ranges in Surrey where they completed an 11 mile sponsored yomp to commemorate the Falklands conflict of 25 years ago and to raise funds for Falklands charities.
All of our unit completed the course and £170 was raised; a report and picture appeared in the Woking local newspaper, though not of the exhausted cadets and at least one instructor sleeping through the return journey!
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Kayak success for the 'Blues'
Over the Mayday weekend four of our female cadets attended a Kayaking course and all were successful in gaining their 'one star' qualification. We hope to have many more cadets afloat during the summer.
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'Greens' hit their target
Over the Easter weekend our Royal Marine cadets (the 'Greens') visited Bicester for a shooting weekend. They fired both small-bore and full-calibre weapons and all achieved at least the basic qualification with some gaining advanced and one taking the small-bore prize. A good time was also had by all off the ranges and we wish to record our thanks to the staff at Bicester for making us so welcome.
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Vernon Trophy
The unit was suprised and delighted to learn that it had won this national award for engineering. This is awarded for both cadet attendances on engineering courses and the unit hosting training weekends. Our Commanding Officer, CPO(SCC) Trevor Cole is seen here with the award.
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District Shooting competition
On Sunday 14th January a team travelled to Abingdon for the district shooting competition. Despite being a cadet short due to illness they secured third place. Well done to all concerned.
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Fundraising award
An award is made to the cadet who makes the greatest effort to raise funds for the unit. In 2006 there was a tie between Leading Cadet Stutina Hawkins and Able Cadet Scott Oliver. Stutina graciously waived her claim to the award and is seen here presenting it to Scott.
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