October 2011 – Issue 16 WELCOME TO THE SEA CADETS THE HARVESTER MONTHLY What is remarkable about 1966? well, the first episode of STAR TREK was screened in the USA – here in the UK the very first episode of TILL DEATH DO US PART was screened on the BBC starring Warren Mitchell, BARCLAYCARD was introduced to us, ENGLAND beat Germany at Wembley to WIN the World Cup and petrol was a mere five shillings (26p) a gallon! The average male annual salary was £1200pa (a woman’s was £620pa) and the average 3 bedroom semi detached house cost around £4500. More notable perhaps our C.O. was just 17 and had just qualified as a Cadet Petty Officer in the Willesden & Paddington unit of the corps (T.S.Bicester), perhaps just slightly more relevant “T.S Lion” won the Banbury Units only ever Burgee – now after 45 years “TS Harvester” (formerly TS Lion) wins a Burgee for the first time! Are we happy? ...YOU BET WE ARE!!!! What does a Burgee mean – it means that Banbury Unit has after various inspections been judged as one of the top 10% of Sea Cadet Units in the Sea Cadet Corps and this just a mere 3 years after it was due to close having no staff, no equipment and just 3 cadets! The cadets achievements this last year have been remarkable – as part of the Oxon & Bucks District of the Southern Area of the Sea Cadet Corps the unit has competed in a variety of different disciplines and has seen them win outright The Drill & Ceremonial Competition, with both the senior and junior parade commanders winning their respective competitions, the cadets also won the District five – a – side football, The District Rowing Competition and in September walked away with the District Swimming Trophy held at RAF Halton in Aylesbury. The cadets have also done well in other events finishing second in the Kayaking competition and all in all have clocked up over 1000 hours on the water at Boddington Reservoir, sailing, rowing, kayaking and power boating. Cadets have attended a variety of different training events gaining qualifications in Marine Engineering, Meteorology, Cooking, First Aid, scoring very high marks in almost every subject. They have also attended National Training events in Scotland at the Royal Naval base HMS Caledonia, and gone to sea in the Corps Flagship the Tall Ship “TS ROYALIST”, as well as spending time at sea in other vessels of the sea cadet corps. Keep checking www.banburyseacadets.org.uk for the latest news....NEW UPDATES COMING SOON!!!! October 2011 – Issue 16 On September 10 cadets age 10‐15 spent the weekend at the Bournemouth Air Show living onboard the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Mounts Bay for a weekend of fun and training. This busy schedule is added to the routine weekday parades at their HQ’s at the TA Centre and culminated on September 12th when the unit was inspected by the Southern Area Officer Cmdr. Richard Tarr RN, in front of an audience of over 50 parents and friends of the unit including Banbury Town Mayor Councillor Alistair Milne‐Home. The cadets put on a splendid evening of both the necessary formal ceremonials as well as a demonstration of their achievements this year and a special University Challenge style quiz with both inspecting office Cmdr. Tarr and the Town Mayor taking part in this none to serious quiz. In his written report Cmdr Tarr stated that “The cadets have fun and this fun is evident in all they do, be it drill, boatwork or ceremonial and the commanding officer Lt Cox is justifiably confident in their ability” Captain of the Sea Cadet Corp Captain Mark Windsor RN endorsed Cmdr Tarr’s comments on the unit adding that he has watched the unit’s steady progress over the last two years and the award of the Burgee is just reward for everyone’s hard work. The New Unit ‐ update The Unit now faces new challenges as it prepares to move part of its operations to its new premises in Lower Cherwell street which will enable it to accept more young people who wish to join the thriving youth organisation and offers young people between the ages of 10 and 18 a wide variety of training and activities as well as having lots of fun and making new friends. New Signs have been put up on the new unit and also on the advertising boards in Bridge Street, very near to the entrance to the railway station; telephone and broadband line have also been installed and within the next 2/3 weeks work will start on building the classrooms; offices etc with a completion date of mid October anticipated. I certainly hope that we shall be holding regular parade nights in the new Unit before the end of October. It is expected that the next round of school presentations both to year 6 students at local primary schools and year 7 pupils at secondary schools is likely to start in the next couple of weeks and it is likely therefore that we will enjoy seeing a lot of new faces in the coming weeks – I would like to think that everyone will make the new recruits feel welcome and obviously set a good example to them – we have cadets now who have been with us for over 2 years and who achieved much by way of experience and qualifications and you are the role models that new recruits will need to look to for help and assistance – I know you will not let the unit down. With around 35 young cadets I am hoping we can double our cadet base in the next 12 months and the move to the new HQ will no doubt help us achieve this due to its central location. Banbury Sea Cadet Corps (TS Harvester) The TA Centre Oxford Road, Banbury, Oxon, OX16 9AN Commanding Officer: Lt (SCC) Jon Cox RNR Telephone: 07725 302188 Email: [email protected] October 2011 – Issue 16 Increased Training I have met with members of Banbury Sub Aqua club and will be finalising details of this addition to our training ‐ the exciting thing is that after a trial dive to see if cadets are up to the physical side of things any cadet over 14 years of age can enrol for 7 weekly 2 hour sessions at the end of which they will qualify as an “Ocean Diver”. This can be progressed through other courses available to “Sports Diver” and then on to “Dive Leader”. I am working with Sea Cadet HQ and the HSO Diving to ensure that everything that has been discussed with Banbury Sub Aqua Club conforms to the corps requirements and to seek approval for us to proceed – once permission has been given I will announce the full training scheme and dates to all. I believe this will add to our training program and give cadets (and adult staff) a broader training basis during the long dark winter nights. We shall also be adding regular Monday evening swimming sessions at Bloxham school to our training program and ensure that all new recruits can either take the SCC swimming test or receive swimming lessons. With the move to our new HQ very near, permission is being sought to continue waterborne training throughout the year and this will enable us to continue Kayak training on the canal subject to weather conditions. An access gate has been put in to the compound fence around the unit to give us access to the canal, we will need some old car tyres to put alongside the small landing stage and of course we need to apply to British Waterways for a licence to use the canal before we start. To enhance the Kayak training we will be acquiring 2 Open Canoes as these are necessary for cadets to progress from the BCU 1 star qualification to the 2 star level. Unit Management Committee We welcome new members – Janice Tredwell, Cara Law and Colin Clark to the UMC as Trustees – and I am confident that the UMC will ensure that the Unit continues to thrive and grow. Sue Kaemena has started the Parents and Supporters Association (PSA) and is looking for more parents to join her and Amanda Tanner to help run their fund raising campaigns as well as running stand easy for cadets and staff. Sue does need the help of volunteer mums and dads to help out on a rota basis with running not only the mid evening break (stand easy) for cadets but also on the many fund raising events they put on, so if you have a couple of spare hours a month please either contact the chairman Mrs Davis or the CO and we will pass your details on to Sue and Amanda. Banbury Sea Cadet Corps (TS Harvester) The TA Centre Oxford Road, Banbury, Oxon, OX16 9AN Commanding Officer: Lt (SCC) Jon Cox RNR Telephone: 07725 302188 Email: [email protected] October 2011 – Issue 16 The new unit at Bridge Wharf is a new beginning for Banbury Sea Cadets – it is our new “ship” and we will not only be able to make the place feel more ship like, but our “ownership” places a greater degree of responsibility on all of us to keep the place shipshape. We have been greatly assisted with the new premises by our landlord Mr David Pratley who has been fantastic with his help, it was David who organised and erected the new signs for the Unit, and who also organised the gate being put in on the canal side fence, and in many more ways with his enthusiastic and energetic support without which much of what has been achieved so far at the new premises would not Courses have been possible. 21st –23rd /10/2011 – District Training Diary Dates Call for Volunteers The unit would also like to hear from any interested adults who may wish to pass on any skills or experience they have which would benefit the cadets especially in engineering, kayaking or sailing. Marlow Unit, Marlow Seamanship 3rd Class, Navigation 3rd Class 18th–20th /11/2011 – Southern Area Training (Staff Only) Chiltern Unit - Chesham Adult Induction, Core Seamanship Competitions 2nd /10/2011 – Area Swimming Gala RMA Sandhurst, Camberley, Surrey 7am at the unit, estimated return 5.30pm Entries have been made aware of events Events 2nd/10/2011 Banbury Canal Day Canal Side, Castle Quay Event Start 10am – Finish 4pm Cadets to arrive in uniform as instructed Anyone wishing to assist the cadets with the refurbishment of the new premises or wishing to make a donation to this local and established youth charity can either make donations via the Localgiving button on the unit’s website or by contacting the unit Chairman Mrs Susan Davis on 07813 806405 Junior Corner will return Next Month to show what our juniors’ have been up to. 9th/10/2011 Trafalgar Day Parade Training Aylesbury – Venue tbc Cadets 4s, Staff 3s Timings TBC 16th/10/2011 Trafalgar Day Parade Milton Keynes Unit Cadets and Staff to attend in No 1 Uniforms Timings TBC 11th/11/2011 Festival of Remembrance North Oxfordshire Academy Cadets and Staff to attend in No 1 Uniforms Evening Timings TBC 13th/11/2011 National Remembrance Sunday Banbury Town Centre, Bandstand Cadets and Staff to attend in No 1 Uniforms Timings TBC Banbury Sea Cadet Corps (TS Harvester) The TA Centre Oxford Road, Banbury, Oxon, OX16 9AN Commanding Officer: Lt (SCC) Jon Cox RNR Telephone: 07725 302188 Email: [email protected]