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Training Ship St Christopher, Fort William, Scotland
Why TS St Christopher?
T.S. St. Christopher took its name from the coastal forces training base that was set up in Fort William during the second world war. The base basically took over the town and trained some 55,000 personnel in the basics of running and fighting Motor Torpedo and Gun Boats. The veterans H.M.S. St. Christopher held a reunion at the hotel and paraded in the high street every two years until their last event on Saturday 2nd September 1995. For more information click here.
Unit History
The unit was established on 3rd July 1952 in ex-naval buildings at Corpach but moved to a hut at Outward Bound Locheil in 1955. This served as a very good unit H.Q. and the unit achieved a great deal during this period until it left in 1989 when the building was condemned.
Achievments...
Many achievements were made in the 1970's when the unit won an efficiency pendant almost every year. Adrian Hope, an ex-officer of the unit and a very competent sailing instructor, once organised group of cadets to take two 11ft ‘Mirror’ dinghies up Ben Nevis in 1972 and had them sailing on the half-way lochan. The expedition was to win an award which was presented to the unit which had carried out the most enterprising and adventurous project in the Corps that year. Adrian also took six cadets on a seven night sailing expedition along the length of the Caledonian Canal in an A.S.C. dinghy. The statistics recorded are quite staggering; distance covered sailing, about 50 miles with another ten miles of rowing. Further, no less than 34 locks were successfully negotiated. It seems that Adrian’s total time with the unit was something in the order of 30 years.
New 'Ports'
When the unit left Outward Bound Locheil in 1989 it took up residence in an old trouser factory on the site of what is the present Fort William Cadet Centre in Croft Road. Although it leaked like a sieve, had a very unreliable electricity supply and little, if any water, the building provided the unit with a series of useful spaces. In 1992 the Lochaber Yacht Club was started to be used as a classroom and parade room while the trouser factory effectively became a store.
Sailing Sucesses
1995 saw Fort William Sea Cadets win eight out of nine trophies at the national sailing regatta in Weymouth, which made the T.S. St Christopher the best sailing unit in the country. Apparently the unit has rarely been good at drill but in other respects it has often been a quality ship!
Stormy Times
Sadly the unit hit a crisis in about 2000 when for various reasons it came within hours of being removed from the Corps list of units and therefore being disbanded. However, February 2001 saw a public meeting held following which it was decided to re-establish the unit using a new management committee and staff from the old ship. Unfortunately, in the interim the old unit HQ had been lost as had virtually all the contents including the ships bell and many other treasures.
During a few months of help and support from the local Air Training Corps, a local minister and the Highland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association we gradually re-established ourselves and moved into a new joint unit with the army and air cadets on the site of our old Croft Road building. Within the year the TS St Christopher was once again viable in terms of funds, staff, committee and most importantly cadets.
Sadly, August 2003, saw Russell Beeston, one of our past cadets, killed in an ambush while on active service with the Territorial Army in Iraq.
Royal Visit
In the summer of 2005 we were privileged to be asked to parade before their Majesties Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip during their visit to Lochaber. We were also asked to take responsibility for the Royal Ensign during the day and to fly it as needed.
On Course to New Horizons
2008 has already been a busy and successful year. Early in the spring we successfuly finished our parenting role of the newe Oban Unit who are now fully fledged.
We were also delighted to receive our first Efficiency Pennant in 29 years!
New cadets and staff are always welcome. Please click for further details.
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