News

Poole Sea Cadets Unarmed Drill Squad was victorious several times over at the 2023 Sea Cadet Corps National Drill and Piping Competition.

They are now officially the best in the country in their areas of specialism.

The competition is held annually between the regional champions from Sea Cadet Units across the country.

Poole’s team represented the Southern Area of the Sea Cadets.

The event was held at HMS Raleigh in Torpoint, Cornwall, the Royal Navy shore establishment and training centre.

At the end of an arduous and competitive day Poole’s team won: 

• Best Arena Display
• Best Unarmed Squad

In addition, their Squad Commander, PO Phoebe, personally won:

• Best Unarmed Squad Commander

PO Phoebe (pictured) is seen receiving one of the trophies from Admiral Sir Philip Andrew Jones GCB, ADC, DL who is a former First Sea Lord and is President of the Sea Cadet Corps.

Southern Area Sea Cadets said, “All the cadets involved demonstrated brilliant teamwork by performing synchronised drill routines. This involves a level of skill that is achieved through months of hard work and dedication”.

In Poole we would like to acknowledge our volunteers too who went above and beyond in getting our cadets to this level of performance.

A fantastic effort from our two amazing teams at the Southern Area Drill Competition

Results:

1st Place Unarmed squad

Best squad commander

2nd Place Guard

Best guard commander

Well done done cadets, your Unit is very proud of you. BZ.

Poole Sea Cadets are proud to support the ambition of International Women’s Day to endorse and promote a gender equal world, which is free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive.

Equity, diversity and Inclusion are fundamental to the national Sea Cadet organisation. They lie at the heart of our mission to help young people and seafarers to achieve their potential with the support of volunteers.

Our aim is to:

- Fully reflect and celebrate the diversity of the community we serve

- Remove barriers to inclusion, both real and perceived

- Become more equitable

There is a misconception that The Sea Cadets is a male dominated organisation – that is a historic view. In Poole at least half our cadets and volunteer helpers are female, and have been for some time.

Poole juniors enjoyed a little trip to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. This is a great day out and always enjoyed by all. We love watching the public join the group and walk round with us as our own personal tour guide Katherine Steele talks and explains all about the sights we see, the ships and their history.

Juniors participated in lots of activities and loved the dressing up box. This trip not only being fun and bonding for the group goes towards another completed module for them, another step closer to ranking up.

Thank you to our staff and volunteers as always for making these things happen.

As Christmas approached our hardy band members were pleased to be called in to action to help the Poole Old Town Community Group with their Guildhall Carols.

While Poole is not quite Royal David’s City (it does have a population of more than 150,000) it has a rich maritime history that TS Drax is keen to continue embracing.

The Grade 2 listed Guildhall itself has been a centre of the town’s civic activities since 1761, and 261 years later our cadets are happy to maintain such a tradition.

While the impressive building is located close to Poole’s quayside, the band didn’t on this occasion see three ships come sailing in but did contribute jingle bells amongst other instruments as they wished the residents an evening that was merry and bright.  

It was a very cold evening, and the cadets did well to keep in tune in darkness whilst cultivating their Rudolph-like red-noses! They received a huge round of applause from the assembled crowd at the event’s conclusion.

Whilst dreaming of a white Christmas the band returned to TS Drax having left Poole Old town where “All is calm, all is bright.”