Unit Supporter
Name: Gareth Jones
Occupation: Retired toolmaker and florist's assistant
Sea Cadet Unit: Rhondda
Based in Rhondda, South Wales, just 100 yards from Sea Cadet Unit TS Minerva, Gareth Jones says his biggest challenge now that he’s retired is staying away from the Unit. “I’m there almost every day,” he laughs. “The Unit building is 40 years old so it needs a lot of upkeep. We try to keep costs down, so there’s plenty of DIY jobs to be done.” And when he’s not fixing the place up, he spends his time supporting the CO and generally helping things run smoothly. “It’s a very busy Unit. The cadets are always away doing something. In true Sea Cadet spirit, they love to get involved and participate.”
Gareth first became involved with the cadets when his children joined 25 years ago. They eventually moved on; he stayed. “I’ve seen a lot of people come and go,” he says, “instructors as well as cadets. The nice thing is that everyone who helps is a volunteer. They do it because they want to. Our reward is seeing the cadets grow and progress.”