Hoist up the sails!

VISIT Newham on a Thursday evening, and you’ll hear the lively sound of the City of Truro Sea Cadets and Royal Marines Cadets emanating from their premises in Riverside House at the summit of Heron Way.  

 

The Sea Cadets and Royal Marine Cadets follow the traditions and ethos of the Royal Naval and Royal Marines. (They should not be confused with the Sea Scouts, who are part of the Scout Association and are based in Boscawen Park).  

 

Members are aged 10 to 18 and are given access to an array of exciting activities, ranging from drill and marching (demonstrated to great effect at June’s Armed Forces Day in St Austell) to expedition skills and water safety. Sports onshore and offshore such as sailing, power boating, mountain biking and even flying can result in nationally recognised qualifications. 

 

While the unit is not intended as a recruitment pathway, it does offer opportunities to visit HMS Raleigh, the Royal Navy’s training establishment in Torpoint, south-east Cornwall, and cadets explored ocean survey vessel HMS Scott when she checked in at Falmouth Docks in May.

  

Petty Officer Mike Alford joined the Sea Cadets at 11, and at 25 is now second in command (First Lieutenant) of the Truro unit, a volunteer position alongside his day job. “Everyone is different,” he explains. “When you can tell a young person doesn’t understand something, then their face lights up as it clicks for them, then they teach it to someone else – that's amazing. That’s why I do this.” 

 

On the night I drop in, there are 25 young people - almost full capacity - on the “main deck”. Here they will learn many of the skills that will take them forward in life, from washing and ironing their uniforms to looking after their health and wellbeing. “Since Covid, we’ve noticed that young people are not used to being able to share information,” says PO Alford. “We aim to teach them where they can go and who they can talk to.” 

 

Tonight’s cohort is learning knot tying (Seamanship), naming parts of a boat and how to use a bosun’s call whistle. At 15, Ordinary Cadet (OC) Albert is one of the older members here tonight. He’s been in the Sea Cadets for five years, during which time he’s visited HMS Raleigh twice and come second in a Cornwall-wide drill competition. 

 

Albert envisions a career in the Royal Navy. “I like the people, I like the things you get to do - it gives me a bit of a challenge,” he says of the Sea Cadets. He demonstrates how to use the bosun’s call – designed to give clear orders on a ship while saving the voice of the officer in charge of the deck. “Ignore that one,” he shouts to his fellow cadets, who have gone mysteriously quiet in the background.  

 

City of Truro Sea Cadets is a registered charity; everything in the building has been paid for by fundraising efforts and private donations, from decor and soft furnishings to laptops and printers. Most recently, the cadets received a share of blue token funding from Truro’s Tesco superstore, which paid for galley equipment to provide catering training. 

 

And in May, Redruth company CCS Heating & Renewables Ltd donated a full installation of 10 solar panels worth £4,000. “It should save them around £750 a year, which can go back into the charity and activities,” said CCS company director Gerome Devooght-Johnson. “I like giving back to the local community, and the Sea Cadets is a great organisation giving young people something to do rather than being inside on their phones.”  

 

Alex Lamb, chairman of City of Truro Sea Cadets and Royal Marines Cadets, said: “This is a gift that will keep on giving for many years to come, helping secure a more sustainable future for our charity. This project is a fantastic example of how local organisations working together can strengthen youth provision and community resilience. We are sincerely thankful for the time, expertise, and goodwill invested in supporting our cadets.”

 

City of Truro Sea Cadets & Royal Marines Cadets, Unit 7 Riverside House, Heron Way, Newham, TR1 2XN. Tel 01872 270653 (manned Thursday evenings only).