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CADETS HIT NEW HEIGHTS ON ARMED FORCES DAY
As the UK celebrated the first Armed Forces Day on Saturday, a group of local youngsters were at the national event in Kent, wowing crowds with an impressive display of mammoth proportions!
The Tameside Sea Cadets were at the Historic Dockyard in Chatham, participating in the centrepiece event of the UK’s first Armed Forces Day. Over 30,000 people attended the sold out event, as well as a number of VIPs including the Prime Minister, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Chief of the Defence Staff, Sir Jock Stirrup. The event was designed to celebrate and commemorate the work of everyone in the Armed Forces. It was also an opportunity for visitors to get a close-up look at service life and to meet and chat to personnel from all services, of all ranks and ages.
The Ashton-based Cadets were showing off their moves on the “window ladder” - a formidable 40-foot high rig of ladders and ropes. They’re the only formation display of this kind in the UK, and they’ve become rather famous for it. They’ve given displays across the country, and abroad, and have even performed in front of The Queen.
Working without supporting ropes or harnesses, the display requires concentration, co-ordination and, of course, lots of practice. Their display on Saturday was set to a varied suite of music which included the theme from Superman as well as “Sailing” and Busted’s rock-out version of “Thunderbirds.” The routine included over 400 individual movements, all executed in perfect synchronisation in time to the music, and all without spoken commands. And the crowds loved it.
Leading Cadet Charlotte Saycell (17), one of the team scaling the ropes, said “This is fantastic. It’s scary and exhilarating; but being so high up we’ve got a great view of the whole event!”
The Cadets travelled to Kent on Friday and stayed on board HMS Cavalier for the weekend. Their Commanding Officer, Lt Cdr Graham Broadbent, said “We’re thrilled to be participating in this national event celebrating Armed Forces Day. And staying on HMS Cavalier, a 1940s destroyer has been a great experience - the Cadets have really enjoyed being on a real naval vessel.”
The cadets pictured are Charlotte Saycell, Laura Handley, Jessica Melles, Rebecca Hursthouse, Jane Mungai and Thomas Saycell. They were joined on the expedition to Kent by Andrew Taylor, Shannon Aldcroft, Kieran Husthouse and Holly Gillespie, who acted as reserves and riggers.
The Tameside Sea Cadets formed in 1943 and today has a membership of around 80 boys and girls aged between 10 and 18. They meet at Lower Wharf Street in Ashton on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights, and enjoy a wide range of team activities including sailing and canoeing as well as learning seamanship and leadership skills. Anyone interested in finding out more, or how to join, should visit www.tsquantock.co.uk
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All aboard HMS Walney
Cadets from Tameside unit visited their affiliated Navy ship HMS Walney.
The Walney visit overall was intended to reinvigorate the ties the unit has to the town and demonstrate the Navy’s role in the world today. The best way to show people what the Ship is about is to hold an open day where the public can come onboard and look around the ship with commentary and demonstration from the crew.
Over the weekend in excess of 300 people came onboard, which for the size of the Ship, proved to be a very pleasing turnout “We were very well received by the people of Barrow, which is what we have become accustomed to in our home port. The Navy has deep ties with the area and we were privileged to experience the reception we were offered” said Walney’s Commanding Officer Lt Cdr Tim Green.
For the Open day Walney’s crew was complemented by the Sea Cadet Unit TS. Quantock who brought a number of cadets down to the ship to facilitate the event. “It was a pleasure to have them onboard” Executive Officer Lt Chris Flaherty exclaimed “their interest and attitude made them a real asset for the day”.
To find out more about HMS Walney then click on the link below. 16.11.08
More about the Navys HMS Walney
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Battle of Trafalgar Remembered
Cadets from Tameside joined with other cadets in the Manchester District to parade in rememberance of Nelsons death and Famous Battle of Trafalgar.
In addition to the parade the units famous Window Ladder team performed their unique and renowned display for the crowd. 19.10.08
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Leolagrange School Spends 4th Year at Unit
St Pauls School and Stalybridge are twinned with the town of Armentieres in France.
Each year about 70 students and staff visit the area for various activities and for the past three years they have spent their week here at Tameside Sea Cadets.
This year the french staff saw various improvements at the unit since their last visit and commented on efforts put in by the unit staff to satisfy the guests needs and make them and the children feel at home.
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Bonjour Tameside
Its been a busy weekend down at Tameside Sea Cadets, not only are they hosting around 50 french children and parents here to take part in football from Armentieres, Staylbridges twin town in France, but as well as that the cadets are involved in fund raising locally.
Our french friends are using the unit as their base of operations for their time in England and playing plenty of football.
The visitors presented a plate and flag to the unit and in turn the unit presented the team with a nice framed picture of them outside the unit.
As well as hosting our french visitors, we went out fundraising today in the Ladysmith Shopping Centre in Ashton Under Lyne. Lyn Williams the Manager at the Ladysmith Centre felt we would benefit from the exposure and fund raising so got in touch with us.
We helped to sell the Cheshire Hanging Baskets from the Garden centre across the road from the unit. As well as helping by trying to sell the flower baskets, we had cadets out in the centre collecting. Click here to find out more about Whitelands Garden Centre.
All in all with only 13 cadets we did pretty well and managed to raise around £650, so well done and thanks to all those involved.
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Cadets have fun Sailing at Glossop...
The regular Sunday boating season started at the begining of April with the opportunity for all cadets to sail our Laser sailing fleet comprising of Laser Picos, Laser Vagos and a new Laser Bahia.
This Weekend a large group of regular sailors, although starting out very wet headed out to Glossop. Although it wasnt too cold, the rain came down whilst the cadets and staff setup the boats, but after a short break, hot drink and a bite to eat the rain stopped.
There wasnt a lot of wind but as we had quite a few new cadets trying out sailing it was good for people to get some experience in easy conditions.
We made a good day of it and the cadets had a fun time sailing, some cadets took and passed their swimming test and others just went in the water for fun.
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Cadets Celebrate Training Success...
Nine Cadets returned from Manchester Trafalgar Unit tired but in good spirits having done well this weekend. Cadets Mungai, Parkinson, Aldcroft and Hurtshouse spent the weekend doing their Cook Steward 3rd Class course. All the cadets did very well passing this course and getting their 3rd class badge having prepared a buffet for lunch on Sunday. Special note to Cadets Mungai and Hursthouse who got a Pass Well.
The other five, cadets Taylor, Rowbottom, Melles, Gillespie and Bouchier all took their leading cadet board, this would advance them to the 2nd highest rank achievable that under 18s can achieve and would mean they would assist in the leadership of the other cadets in the unit. Cadets Taylor, Rowbottom and Melles all passed outright with Cadet Taylor notably getting a credit pass meaning he got 120 or more out of a total of 150. Cadets Gillespie and Bouchier took a partial pass but will have to be re-tested on leadership in the unit in a few weeks.
This brings our total number of leading cadets up to nine, well done to all. 20.04.08
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Best Unit in the North West win for Tameside...
Great news for the unit was received today, the Stevenson Trophy, which is awarded annually to the best unit in the North West was awarded to Tameside Unit. The unit has won the trophy in recent years and it entitles the unit to go through to the national competition (Canada Trophy)awarded to the best unit in the UK. Tameside, previous winners of the Canada Trophy in 1999 have worked hard in many areas so its well deserved.
The Stevenson Trophy will be formally awarded to the unit by Vice Admiral Blackburn on the 21st Feb 08, so well done to everybody for a great year in 2007, culminating in this award. 10.01.08
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New Minibus for the crew at Tameside Sea Cadets...
Over the past year the unit has continued to improve it waterborne fleet as well as improving various aspects of the unit both inside and out, but monies from recent displays, pub crawls and other areas have been used to replace our recently departed minibus.
Well the day has finally arrived. After raising nearly £12,000 in recent months the unit took delivery of its replacement LDV minibus, today. This is the latest in a line of significant investments to ensure the cadets of Tameside have the best equipment. Commenting on the delivery, Lt Cdr (SCC) Graham Broadbent the units Commanding Officer said 'Our success at raising funds is all down to teamwork, working together we have managed to replace the majority of our major equipment which is great for the cadets of Tameside'. 06.07.07
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Cadets perform in all weathers for Falklands Tattoo...
On Saturday 23rd June 2007 the Window Ladder Team of Tameside Sea Cadets helped the Sea Cadet Association, the Royal Naval Association and other affiliated organisations commemorate the 25th anniversary of the liberation of the Falkland Islands following the invasion by Argentina on 2nd April 1982.
The events held at the Tattoo commemorate the achievements of all those involved in the conflict 25 years ago. Events included the Band of HM Lifeguards, Rapid UK, 201 Squadron RAF, Marine Cadets PT Display, Sea Cadets' Club/Cutlass Displays and the Hornpipe, RAF Police Dogs, Flying displays by the Royal Navy's Sea King helicopters and much more.
Unfortunately though the weather was not as good as it was for our last display in Portsmouth, it rained just before we put the equipment up. On the day after a morning of sunshine we had a down pour in the afternoon then the sun came out towards the end of the day for the ceremonial part of the day.
Well Done to all the cadets who climbed the frame after the down pour and wiped away the water ready for the final display. The window ladder team braved the weather and completed their final performance even though it started raining half way though and it continued to rain whilst the equipment was put away.
Thanks to Malvern Sea Cadets who accommodated and fed the team at their unit on the Friday and Saturday.
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Marine Cadets ride in Sea King Helicopter...
It has been a busy few weeks for the Tameside detachment of Marine Cadets. Six cadets visited RM Lympstone for various training and to learn more about the history of the Royal Marines.
A group of cadets even managed to hitch a ride in a Sea King Helicopter from Poole to Lympstone and took part in a Falklands anniversary yomp in the local area whereby on completion they were drummed into Lymptsone.
In addition an article was written in the local paper along with a photo of a cadet in the sea king helicopter... 05.06.07
Click here to read the full story
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Unit Staff Complete Food Safety Course...
Well Done to Petty Officer's Paula Saycell, Andrew Saycell and Vanessa Barlow have all spent some time in the kitchen recently passing their Level 2 Food Safety in Awards.
The staff put their award into practice at the unit at the weekend making sure the cadets and staff of the Expedition Leader and PT Course were all fed and watered.
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Royal Navy Careers site gets a new Look...
A friend of mine is responsible for the Royal Navy Careers website. The recent adverts are good but the anybody considering a career with the Royal Navy should visit the careers site which is full of information about what life at sea is like.
Click here to checkout the Royal Navy Careers site
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