The Sea Cadets stall dispensed 60 litres of mulled wine and about 250 mince pies at the Toyland Christmas Festival last Saturday, and I took the opportunity, whilst munching a delicious mince pie, to quiz the stall-holders about latest news from the Rye Sea Cadets.
Cadet George Sheppard, told me of the recent inspirational talk given to the cadets by Commander Jane Allen, who is marking her recent retirement from the Royal Naval Reserve by undertaking a solo charity coastal walk round Britain. Her 5,500 mile ‘Victory Walk‘ started at Portsmouth on Trafalgar Day 21 October and will end there in about a year’s time. She aims to cover 100 miles a day, starting each time from the point she left off.
The walk also marks the centenary year of the founding of the WRNS, the women’s service which has this year merged with the Royal Navy.
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George Sheppard has just been accepted to start training at Dartmouth next year for a career in the Royal Navy.
There was news too of Kieran Baker, a former Rye Sea Cadet, who was promoted to the rank of Able Cadet on December 1 and has recently been deployed to serve on the new Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier. He also got to meet the Queen (See photo, right).
Rye Unit Senior Cadets won the District Football Competition last Tuesday 12 December and will represent Sussex District at the area competition on 28 January.
Finally, in a year of achievement, The Rye Sea Cadets were awarded a burgee (a nautical distinguishing flag), one of 50 awarded annually to the most active and best run sea cadet groups in the country.
The local group has 30 young cadets enrolled, juniors under 12 years and seniors aged 12-18.
James Sheppard, who lives in Camber, is their new management committee chairman, appointed at the AGM in October this year in succession to Roger Neave, who had held office for 10 years.
Photo: Kenneth Bird
Photo: Kenneth Bird