Well, what a year this has been so far!!!
We have carried on in true sea cadet style, where we can, showing commitment and using all of the Corps values, we have survived two lockdowns, virtual training and our instructors are missing seeing everyone for face-to-face training.
Usually, we would have been busy practicing displays for the Royal Naval Parade (RNP), an inspection we have every other year, where the Area Officer and other VIP’s attend the unit to watch the cadets demonstrate skills and achievements they have made throughout the year.
Unfortunately, Covid-19 got in the way this year and we have had to conduct the inspection via zoom with the district team.
I am delighted to announce that we have been awarded a burgee (Efficiency award) for our RNP, our 12th one in a row.
A burgee is a pennant as the highest efficiency award for a unit and is judged on things like Training, competitions, Cadet Experience, Royal Marine Cadet Detachment, Uniform, Drill, Junior Section, Recruitment, Retention of Numbers, admin and so much more.
Not only have we been awarded this, we have also been given a Captain of Sea Cadets Commendation.
Well done to all the cadets, volunteers & Unit Management Team (UMT), without you this would not happen.
We are continuing boating, kayaking, and power boating on the sea cadet side of things and the Royal Marine Cadets are about to get back out on exercises on Woodbury Common in the new year as a great deal of work has gone into ensuring primarily the Cadets safety at the present time.
We are always looking for Cadets for the Sea Cadets and Royal Marine Cadets as well as instructors for both (no experience needed as full training given); if you are interested please let us know via our website: https://www.sea-cadets.org/exmouth ,email us at: unit@exmouthscc.co.uk or call 01395 279036, or visit us at our purpose built building at 6 Camperdown Terrace, Exmouth EX8 1EJ.
As a result of continuing health problems, Tony Griffin has reluctantly decided to step down as Chairman at this year’s AGM in November but intends to continue to sit on the UMT as a Trustee.
Tony has been Chairman since 2012 and was instrumental in leading the fundraising effort which allowed the Unit to move to its present purpose-built premises in 2016.
As well as the fundraising, he oversaw all the complexities of a demanding building project followed by the fitting out – which had its own difficulties for a 3/4million pound project.
In addition, he raised the funds and sourced both the minibus and support vehicle for the cadets and, only recently, secured the funds to allow purchase of a new safety boat.
As a parting gift to the Unit, Tony and his wife Jackie have generously made a large personal donation to allow purchase of eight new kayaks.
In recognition of his many years of tireless work for Exmouth Sea Cadets, in 2017 Tony was awarded the Exmouth Rotary Club’s ‘Citizen of the Year Award’, and in 2019 was presented with a certificate for meritorious service by the Lord Lieutenant of Devon.
The Exmouth Unit is extremely sorry that he is having to step down because of poor health and express our sincerest thanks to Tony for all his hard work and dedication to Exmouth Sea Cadets.
The new Chair is Ian Jolley who, until his retirement, ran a successful Consulting Engineering business in Exeter. Ian is a former Chairman of the Devon & Cornwall Branch of the Institution of Structural Engineers and served on the committee of the South West region of the Association for Project Safety for many years.
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