Dedication Ceremony HMS President, Tuesday 13th
Leading Cadet Alex attended a ceremony to dedicate a “new” figurehead for the Royal Navy Reserve establishment HMS President. The occasion was the 200th anniversary of the capture of the American heavy frigate USS President, at the tail end of the Anglo-American War of 1812 (actually went on for three years). Taken into RN service, this second HMS President (the first was HMS Président- captured from the French in 1806) was scrapped after a few years to be succeeded by HMS President (1829). This third HMS President ended her days as the drill ship for the London RNR. The “new” figurehead for the RNR was from HMS President (1829) and was donated by the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers. This started a long line of ships, which after active service were renamed HMS President and then served the London RNR. This continued to 1988 when the RNR took possession of the current HMS President- a shore establishment or “stone frigate” near St Katharine’s Dock.
District 5-A-Side, Sunday 18th.
The U18 and U15 boys did well, both coming second. PASA ran a snack bar for the event.
Visit by Rear Admiral John Kingwell, Friday 23rd.
John is currently the Director of the Development, Concepts and Doctrine Centre- the MoD’s in-house think tank. John was a City of London Sea Cadet in the early 1980s; he joined the Royal Navy in 1984. John’s major seagoing commands have been the Type 23 frigate HMS Argyll, the assault ship HMS Albion and, most recently, John commanded the Response Force Task Group off the coast of Libya in 2011, enforcing the “no-fly” zone.
This was an informal visit. John spent the first half of the evening participating in the cadet classes and then gave an inspirational talk to the cadets on RN careers. At colours John presented some awards to cadets.
Training Outcomes:
Well done to Imogen, Dawid and James for gaining their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Awards. Very well done to Alex, for achieving his Silver Award. Imogen also got her basic piping award.
Photo: John Kingwell presents Lorna with three years’ good conduct stripes.