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Annual Awards Evening 2009
The mayor of Winchester came to the unit to present annual awards to cadets on the 22nd January. There were 24 cadets that attended this everning and about 40 parents came as well. The awards ceremony is a opportunity to highlight achievements over the past year.
The mayor was presented with a unit plaque as a momento of his visit and he was kind enough to present the unit with a Winchester plaque.
(Added by: Cadet Class)
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Unit Dedication
Having spent 15 years at our home at Peter Symonds College we needed to move to new premises, it took 3 years of being ‘homeless’ when the Army came to our aid. So we moved to Worthy Down Army Station and a purpose built unit. In the tradition of the Navy we needed to organise a dedication ceremony. The dedication was held on May 4th 2008 with around 80 cadets from units across the area in attendance. On the parade which was the pinnacle of lots of hard work were a 12 person guard, with LC George as an excellent guard commander, 2 cadet divisions, a junior division and a band.
The invited V.I.P for the ceremony was The Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire Mary Fagan. She was greeted by OC Hough and OC Kimber piped her ‘on board’. She inspected and spoke to most of the cadets and staff; she was very interested in their achievements.
The Unit padre Jonathon Cruickshank conducted the official prayers of dedication, the C.O then asked the Lord Lieutenant to unveil the dedication plaque which now hangs on the main deck. Lt Dyer then presented the Lord Lieutenant with a unit plaque, as well as the retiring District Officer.
The official ceremony was completed in true naval tradition with the C.O’s wife Mrs Sue Dyer and the youngest cadet on parade Junior Andrew Milne cutting the cake with a naval sword.
There was then the chance for parents and guests to explore the new unit, and enjoy refreshments.
All the cadets and staff did an amazing job over the whole weekend and I’m sure all will agree looked very smart.
Well done all…
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Lt Roger Dyer’s Dining Out
After 10 years as the units commanding officer Lt Roger Dyer decided it was time to step down. In the tradition of the Royal Navy to show how much we appreciated all his hard work and excellent leadership a mess dinner called a dining out dinner was held in the officer’s mess at Worthy Down Army Camp. Amazingly we managed to organise this magnificent meal without Lt Dyer knowing, so when he walked into the mess, while Ac Sam Phillips piped the side to a room full of his friends and colleagues, past and present.
The staff at the officer’s mess provided a wonderful meal and all thoroughly enjoyed the evening.
The president of the unit Rear Admiral Lang presented Lt Dyer with a framed collection of pictures of his ten years as C.O, signed by all in attendance. His wife Sue Dyer was presented with a large bouquet of flowers for all she has done for the unit.
Thank-you so much Lt Dyer for all you have achieved as your time as commanding officer of Winchester Unit.
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H.M.S Trafalgar visit
At the end of 2008 The Royal Navy careers office kindly invited the cadets on a mystery ships visit. We were not told at first what ship we would be visiting as it was to be kept quiet for security reasons. A few days before the visit we were told the ship was the submarine H.M.S Trafalgar in Southampton.
8 cadets were lucky enough to be selected for this rare experience. The cadets were given a tour of the submarine by one of the crew and experienced what it would be like to live in the cramped conditions were they ‘hot bunk’ (this is where two crew are on opposite shifts and sleep in the same bed whilst the other is working). Many laughs were had when C.P.O Dyer and Lt Bassett donned the breathing masks…
All the cadets had a wonderful time and were very grateful to the crew for being so informative and friendly. O/C Kimber even got the chance to talk to Cdr Giles ( Area Officer) the next evening about their trip.
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Farewell to the unit Padre
Chaplain of the sea cadet corps Jonathon Cruickshank who for the past 6 years has been the unit’s padre, enrolling most of the present cadets is moving away down to Devon and a new parish.
We would like to Thank Jonathon for all his support over the last 6 years and we wish him well in sunny Devon.
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Unit Boating
The unit has several boats including an A.S.C, a Viking and bosun dinghies. Having spent the winter working on the boats to get them ready for the new boating season, the cadets and staff were excited to be able to put the boats back in the water at our moorings at Empress Docks.
A boating weekend was arranged in April, and many cadets helped to put the A.S.C in the water. Thankful the weather was sunny for us…
Then the boating season was under way and every Thursday evening 10 cadets went boating some for the first time. Several day sails were also undertaken and lots of ice creams eaten. Thanks Lt Bassett…
We were then able to train teams for the Wessex District Regatta.
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District Regatta
At the 2008 Wessex district regatta held at H.M.S Bristol, Portsmouth, T.S Itchen entered a power boat handling team with LC Miles as coxswain and LC George and OC Thorne as crew. The team were very successful and won the district competition and then went on to the Area competition but were piped to the top spot. Well done lads lets repeat the success in 2009.
Two sailing teams were also entered in Bosun dinghies. LC Miles and LC George in one and AC Newton and OC Hough in the winning boat and with LC Miles boat coming in third overall. Both went on to Area Regatta and from their success they were selected for race training to have the chance of going to Nationals. Unfortunately AC Newton and OC Hough were not able to go as they were already booked on an offshore sailing course. You all did fantastic and lots hope we keep the trophy in 2009.
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Juniors
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Wessex District Junior Weekend
In November 2008 at Winchester unit we held the second district junior weekend with 25 juniors in attendance from Winchester, Southampton and Parkstone. The weekend was based on the junior training programme. Activities included
o Clay candle holders for Diwali
o Swimming Test
o Water Safety Test
o Heart Start first aid
o Learning to cope – using equipment to feel what it is like to have a disability
o Country code
o And lots of fun and games
The juniors all had a fantastic time and were keen and enthusiastic about all the activities and we achieved 70 qualifications throughout the weekend. This amazing achievement made the MS-SC newsletter a first for Wessex district in a long time. We also received a note from the Area Officer Cdr Giles to say a big well done to all the juniors.
From this weekend Jnr Holly Miles gained her commodores Award and many of the other juniors gained coloured modules.
Well done to you all and let’s hope the next junior weekend is just as fun… It will be held in April/May 2009.
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Photography Night
As part of the Green module in the juniors training programme they need to learn about photography, and as PO Bassett knows next to nothing about this she invited Lt Brian Fry to come along and share his knowledge. Lt Fry has done photography as a hobby for many years and brought a collection of cameras with him one was dated 1921ish. The juniors had lots of fun learning about how the different parts of cameras work and then playing with the different types.
Some of their pictures can be found in the picture gallery.
The juniors would like to invite Lt Fry back to teach some more about photography and would like to say a big thank-you for their fun evening.
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New Unit Forums
Join the Unit forums! Discuss anything to do with cadets from training to general chit chat to other members of winchester sea cadets.
T.S Itchen Forums
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Playing for The Army!
Well done to Winchester Sea Cadet Band who played their first Public Performance on 6th November! They acheived 1 hours worth of music at times in pich blackness due to power failures and didn't miss a note! The Group Commander was so impressed she thanked the cadets and staff in person and the band has been asked to play at Worthy Down's Family day next Summer! Well done guys! Video footage to come soon!
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Unit Camp!
Well done to all those cadets who gained qualifications at Cricket camp! we are now planning to hold a more serious weekend adding a bit more of the concept of "roughing it!" You had better get used to those ration packs guys!
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Promotions!
A big pat on the back for the following cadets that have gained promotions!
L/C Chris George
A/C Sarah Newton
O/C Calum Kimber
Cadet Holly Miles
Cadet Alex Dicker
Junior 1st Class Amber Jones
Junior 1st Class Andrew George
Junior 1st Class Andrew Milne
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Royal Navy Parade
Our Anual Inspection! Well done everyone! We managed to get a very positive result! Keep up the good work!
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Offshore Sailing
Well done to O/C Hough and A/C Newton who both gained futher qualificatios in offshore sailing! Hope you had a great time guys!
Sea Cadet Offshore Training
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Music to our ears!
On the weekend of the 11-13th May, cadets from Reading, Winchester, Kettering and Romsey came together for a novice band training weekend.
The weekend was aimed at improving basic musical techniques for new band members, and for cadets and staff to meet other bandies! The weekend was a great success, with all bands learning new tunes, routines and impressing all around the camp! Well done everyone!
If you are interested in joining the cadet band, then you must be a cadet in the unit. No musical knowledge is required. Most band members have never picked up an instrument before joining. Just come alongto the unit on a Sunday 1830-2030! We are always looking for new members, especially staff!
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T.S Royalist
We are very lucky to have been able to get 2 cadets onto T.S. Royalist this year,with full sponership
T.S. Royalist is a 29 metre (97 foot) long square-rigged tall ship which was launched in 1971. The ship provides opportunities for Sea Cadets from all over the country to take part in voyages abroad in countries such as the Channel Islands and to France, Belgium and in some cases, the Netherlands and Germany. Also, during the Tall Ships race period, Royalist can visit other countries of Europe.
It is a fantastic opportunity for cadets in the corps and something the cadets will not forget in a hurry. More sponserships are available to be applyed for if any more cadets would like to try out this amazing experience. LC George shares some of his pictures of his time on Royalist in the photo gallery.
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