Civilian Instructor
Name: Marian Roots
Occupation: Housewife
Sea Cadet Unit: Wandsworth
Marian Roots is a non-uniformed instructor, her husband is First Lieutenant and both children, 23-year-old Terry and 21-year-old Catherine, are ex-cadets-turned-uniformed instructors. “When you’re surrounded by Sea Cadets, it’s hard not to be involved,” she says. “I began helping out at the local Chelsea Unit when my husband and I lived in London. Over the years I’ve done as much as I can, family commitments permitting.”
The Chelsea Unit has since merged with Putney Unit and Marian’s commitments have lessened. “I now act as the Training Officer and look after the clothing store.”
Like many of her fellow volunteers, Marian says the reward for her efforts is seeing the young cadets grow in confidence. “It’s great to see them achieve something they thought they couldn’t. In my case, I’ve also been able to watch my children develop. They got to try things they perhaps would never have tried if they hadn’t joined the Sea Cadets.”