The Sea Cadets

Sea Cadets celebrate first Trafalgar Day Spectacular with Royal Navy’s Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet

21 October 2007 – Today over 500 Sea Cadets from all over the UK are in London on Trafalgar Square for the organisation’s annual Trafalgar Day commemorations. This year the parade is being inspected by the Navy’s Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet & Chief of Staff (Headquarters), Vice Admiral Paul Boissier CB. Although Sea Cadets have paraded on Trafalgar Square on the Sunday closest to 21 October (Trafalgar Day) for over one hundred years, it is Admiral Boissier’s first Trafalgar Day since he took up post last year.

Remembering the 202nd anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar and the death of Admiral Lord Nelson at the height of his most famous victory in 1805, the parade is a spectacle that annually attracts hundreds of spectators. The event starts at 11am on the Square with a display of traditional hornpipe dancing and club swinging followed by a window ladder display. Then platoons of Sea Cadets and Marine Cadets will march from the Mall on to the Square, led by the 80-strong national massed band of the Sea Cadet Corps.

After the inspection Admiral Boissier will be joined by The Lord Mayor of Westminster, Councillor Caroline Keen, and other dignitaries for a wreath-laying ceremony at the foot of Nelson’s Column. In the short service that follows, 17-year-old Adam Montgomery from Sheppey Sea Cadets will read Nelson’s prayer.

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary is providing invaluable support to this year’s parade by accommodating the participating cadets on board their new Bay Class Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary), RFA Largs Bay. The youngsters joined the vessel in Portsmouth on Thursday and trained on board as she sailed to Greenwich where she is berthed throughout the weekend.

The parade will also be the first event attended by the new Captain of the Sea Cadet Corps, Captain Jonathan Fry RN, who takes up his new post just two days beforehand. In a break with recent tradition, the Royal Navy has seconded a serving captain to the head of the Sea Cadet Corps, a position previously held by a retired naval officer.

Mike Cornish, chief executive of the Sea Cadets’ parent charity, said today: “We are immensely grateful for all the support we receive from the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The decision to appoint a serving officer to the key role of Captain Sea Cadets was a most welcome move which reflects the importance the Royal Navy attaches to the Sea Cadet Corps and our position in the wider maritime sector. We are greatly looking forward to welcoming Jonathan on board”.

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