Commanding Officer
Name: Gary Truelove
Occupation: Jaguar Cars Employee
Sea Cadet Unit: Sutton Coldfield
Gary Truelove joined the Sea Cadets when he was 14 years old and became an instructor at 18. These days, as Commanding Officer of the Sutton Coldfield Unit, Gary’s job is making sure that the latest generation of cadets get as much out of the Corp as he has. “The biggest challenge is keeping the youngsters interested and stimulated,” he says. “We try to get them outside doing practical stuff as much as possible.
“We’re very lucky here. We have a 28-acre lake next door, so we’re out on the water almost all year round.”
Gary’s Unit maintains a small fleet of sailing dinghies, which, he claims, has been acknowledged as one of the best in the country. “We rarely advertise for cadets. We get most of our new recruits through word-of-mouth and our reputation, which is very satisfying.”
With 75 cadets, Gary’s sailing, canoeing, piping and seamanship skills come in handy. But like many a good cadet, he can turn his hand to most things. “I particularly like being involved with the new cadets,” he says, “I feel a good foundation is invaluable.”