HE BRANCH AGM was held at North Shields Unit. Much of the year’s Branch activity has been reported in our Newsletter and will not be repeated here. The Branch was able to make

substantial grants to the two main regional projects namely Derwenthaugh and Teesside (Stockton).

At the Committee elections Terry Cornick, previously co-opted, was elected. All other members and officers continue. Chairman Victor Spong, Secretary Gwynne Burn, Treasurer Brian Cordiner, and Membership Chris Matthews. We are a membership organisation and our numbers have increased again. This year we are pleased to welcome Cdrs White and Scribbins; we now have six Commanding Officers of HMS Calliope in membership.

The Branch exists to support the 18 Sea Cadet Units in the North East and will do this by:

1. Continuing to support the Regional projects

2. Developing the Branch so that it can better support the 18 Units in our region by:

a. Growing our membership base.

b. Improving our networking with corporate bodies, charities, and professional organisations.

c. Finding opportunities to showcase our Cadets.

Longer Term: As the projects to support boating in the region come to fruition the Committee will be looking at new projects and would welcome input from interested parties. Please contact Victor Spong (victorspong@btinternet.com) with any thoughts.

Branch News

Members’ Day

NE of the functions of the Branch is to hold interesting activities for its members, the most popular being the Members’ Day at Derwenthaugh.

This year we were joined by the High Sheriff Lucy Winskell, and had rowing, sailing, and power boats out on the water. After a dismal start the weather cleared and we came home in warm sunshine. Pat Spong and Aflie Simpson rowed the Trinity 500 back on their own in fine style.Afterwards the group enjoyed a convivial meal at the Skiff Inn, our local hostelry.

All agreed it was a most enjoyable day again.

REGIONAL PROJECTS RS Quest Dinghy

Derwenthaugh Boat Station FTER the effective introduction of the Trinity 500

rowing boat, the Sea

Cadets has again worked

with a leading boat

designer, this time to

develop a replacement for

the obsolete Bosun dinghy.

The Bosun was originally designed as a

recreational boat for the Royal Navy and has been

an excellent teaching boat for the Sea Cadets with

its carrying capacity and sturdy construction.

The new 14ft dinghy boat, designed and built by

RS, is large enough to hold an instructor and 2 or 3

pupils. It is ‘packed with innovative features to

create a uniquely configurable boat to suit

individual needs, with the ability to grow the sailor’.

MSSC in London has obtained funding to allow

100 boats to be purchased at half price.

At the regional sailing centre, Derwenthaugh, a

donation from the St

James’ Place Foundation

will provide one boat. This

will join the two Wanderer

dinghies commissioned last

summer.

On Teesside, Hartlepool Unit has taken delivery of

two of the pre-production models and Teesside

District has received grants from RFCA and the

Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (see below)

for another.

Institute of Chartered Ship Brokers

HE liaison with the North East Branch of the

Institute was continued when Teesside District

Cadets again supported the Annual Tees Dinner.

The District received a share of the charity draw

which will be used to acquire a new RS Quest

Dinghy for Teesside District.

The cheque was presented

by Richard Booth, Vice

Chairman of the ICS North

East, at Hartlepool’ Unit’s

Presentation Night.

HE refurbishment of the old training building at

Derwenthaugh is well under way as it continues its

development programme. The whole of the inside

of the building has been taken out and the new

walls and mezzanine floor are beginning to take

shape. The old entrance at the front of the building

no longer exists and all entry will be from within the

compound. This will make a safer environment for

all users of the building. It is hoped that the work

will be finished by March, with everything back in

place for the start of the new boating season. Once

this is done, Derwenthaugh will be one of the best

equipped boating facilities in the Sea Cadets.

The Boat Station is being used by an increasing

range of groups outside the region’s Sea Cadets,

Units from Scotland and the Midlands have travelled

to Derwenthaugh, and the first Area Rowing course

has also been held there.

The reputation of its facilities continues to spread:

Air Cadets, Girl Guides, and now the Scouts, are

joining the list of users, HMS Calliope held their

Trafalgar Night dinner there whilst their Wardroom

is being refurbished, and most notably, it has been

booked by the Royal Netherlands Marines.

Teesside

OLLOWING the successful acquisition of the

Hadrian House building, Stockton are pressing

ahead with the work to convert the building to a

Sea Cadet Unit and Boat Centre.

In the meantime during the

last year, Teesside District

staff have been boating

regularly at Castlegate Quay,

using the Trinity 500s that

were commissioned there.

There are plans to establish a sailing centre at

Hartlepool and it is hoped to have three RS Quests

sailing dinghies based there this year.

HE Tall Ships Race will visit Blyth between 26th and

29th August this year. It is expected that local Units

will be invited to assist.

Readers may wish to put this in their diaries.

This entrance no longer exists and is bricked up

Tall Ships 2016

District Achievement Award

HE District Achievement Award was introduced in 2012 by the Branch in order to encourage Units to

strive to be the best in their District.

Teesside

The Award for Teesside was again won by Hartlepool Unit. The presentation was made to the Officer in Charge, Lt Dave Quin RMR, by Captain Colin Pratt MNM, Vice Chairman of the Tyne Tees Branch, at the Unit’s Annual Christmas Party and Awards Night.

Northumberland

The Award for Northumberland District has changed hands again and this year the trophy is being shared between Wallsend and Ashington Units. It is the first time that Wallsend has featured in this Award.

Tyne South

This year the trophy has been won back by South Shields Unit, after a short stay at Gateshead.

Very well done to all concerned.

TS Royalist—Fundraising Campaign

YNE SOUTH District raised more money per capita than any other District in the UK which led to the award of the national Trophy.

This was presented by Captain Russell RN, Captain Sea Cadets, whilst visiting the region.

Gateshead Unit won the individual Unit Trophy for best contributors to the fundraising effort.

High Sheriff Visits Newburn Unit

HE High Sheriff of Tyne & Wear (Lucy Winskell OBE DL) visited Newburn Unit for their Awards night.

She presented the Unit’s Burgee for 2015 to the Chairman Mr P J Morrissey and the Commanding Officer, Lt Margaret Bickle.

The presentation was shared with Lt Cdr Mike Morrell who had been CO until June.

S/Lt Karensa Miller was presented with the staff prize by L/Cdt James Dey, who was responsible for the vote.

Alfie Dining Out

YEARS’ uniformed service with The Sea Cadets came to an end when Alfie Simpson retired at the

end of November. A ‘Dining Out’ was held at the Assembly Rooms in Newcastle and was attended by a large gathering of Sea Cadet Adult Staff from across the Area.

Presiding was Lt Margaret Bickle with VIP guest Cdr Liz Bryson DL RD RNR Ret’d, representing the Lord Lieutenant of Tyne & Wear, and Captain Peter Adams RN, Area Officer, who proposed the toast to Alfie.

This evening recognised the extraordinary contribution by Alfie to the ‘Sea Cadets’, culminating in a major development at Derwenthaugh, and recently as District Officer for all three Districts. Alfie will continue to be involved with the Sea Cadets as Chairman of the Derwenthaugh Boat Station Trustees. As well as his MBE, Alfie has been awarded the Sea Cadet Medal for his unique contribution to the Sea Cadets over the many years.

We wish him every success in the future.

National Award

ACH year the best District in the Sea

Cadets is awarded the Navy League Trophy; and once again this year, Tyne South District, comprising Chester-le-Street, Gateshead, Hebburn and Sunderland, Jarrow, Seaham, and South Shields Units, have been awarded this prestigious trophy.

Two thumbs up to the Sea Cadets and the Royal Marines Cadets on their achievement.

Alfie with wife Helen during the presentation

Captain Russell (centre)

UNIT APPOINTMENTS

PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS/NEWS

DISTRICT APPOINTMENTS

Teesside. Lt Mike Morrell has taken over as Deputy District Officer and is expected

to be confirmed as District Officer in the very near future. Mike was formerly Commanding Officer at Newburn Unit,

His new staff team includes S/Lt Wendy O’Donnell from the Offshore team and W/O Rob Fielden formerly of Guisborough Unit.

Northumberland Tracy Peel, the former Deputy DO is now District Officer and is

promoted to Lt Cdr.

Tyne South Lt Cdr Chris Healy continues as District Officer Tyne South with S/Lt Lesley Somerville, former CO of Gateshead Unit, as his ADO.

TS FLAMINGO (Gateshead Unit) will start 2016 with a new Officer in Charge as Warrant Officer William Pascoe takes over from S/Lt Lesley Somerville.

Will was OiC of South Shields Unit and continues as the current Area Staff Officer for Drill and Ceremonial.

GAINING a nomination as a Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet is the pinnacle of many cadets’ careers, and the Tyne South nominations for the respective Lieutenancies of County Durham and Tyne and Wear are Leading Cadets Adam Petch (Chester-le-Street) and Ethan Barber (Seaham).

Both cadets have had a successful year in the lead up to their nominations, with Adam representing the Northern Area at not one but two National Competitions, and Ethan being selected for the Sea Cadet Aviation Programme and earning his Silver wings.

Well done lads- a credit to the North East!

NEWCASTLE EAST UNIT.

S/Lt Kerensa Miller has established the School section of the Unit which meets in the daytime. Readers may remember that this Unit is now housed in Walker Technical College and has an open and a closed section. This is a new model for the ‘Sea Cadets’.

Lord Lieutenant Cadets

We were disappointed that our new flag ship

was unable to visit

the Tyne last year

but she is scheduled

to visit this year.

She will berth at

Town Quay and we

plan to hold a reception on Thursday 30 June.

Please make a note in your diaries.

Bob retired at the end of 2015 after 17 years service with Hartlepool Unit RMCD.

In that time he has held the roles of

detachment commander and troop

commander. In his time he became

almost a living legend of Hartlepool

Sea Cadets and is well liked and

respected throughout the organisation.

We wish him a happy retirement.

We wish them all well in their new or continuing roles.

Sergeant Bob Hammond SCC Royalist