Bideford Sea Cadets’ award stimulates recruiting week

Another honour has been gained for Torridge-side.

An efficiency pendant for units in the Sea Cadet Corps has been awarded to the Bideford unit whose headquarters are on board the Training Ship Revenge alongside Bideford Quay. The Mayor of Bideford is to show his appreciation of the award by presenting it publicly to the cadets at the Strand Cinema, Bideford, on Saturday evening, April 24th.

All have become used to seeing the Revenge alongside the Quay, always well-kept and properly “dressed” on the appropriate occasions, and to accepting the discipline of its cadets as a matter of fact. But it is well for Bideford district parents, and the community generally, to appreciate the work put in by officers and cadets in the excellent training that has achieved this new award. It implies that a Staff Officer of the Admiral Commanding Reserves on his recent official yearly inspection found everything at Bideford at the top level to be expected of any Sea Cadet unit in the land.

Coinciding with the presentation will be the start of a special recruiting drive for the Sea Cadets. This includes a church parade to Manor Court service at Bideford Parish Church on Sunday morning, April 25th, when it is hoped that Ilfracombe, Barnstaple and Bideford cadets will be accompanied by the Blue-jacket band of H.M.S. Drake, Plymouth. Various other items are on the week’s programme and members of the public and would-be recruits are invited to pay their own “visit of inspection.” They are assured of a courteous naval welcome. On Monday, May 3rd, comes the proud moment of the ceremony of Hoisting the Pendant on board T.S. Revenge in the presence of the Commandant of the Amphibious Warfare Centre.

Lieut. T.N. Rowe is commanding officer of the unit, and is assisted by Lieut. R.O. Bridger and Sub-Lieuts. W.J. Chubb, W.E. Stocker and F. Jeffries. They have the support of a local committee of which Rear Admiral H.G.C. Franklin is chairman and Miss G. Luxton hon. secretary. This committee is responsible for the general administration of the unit and for raising the necessary funds for its maintenance.

The above happy picture of some of the members of the unit was taken on board the Revenge last week-end. Back row (left to right) standing are: Leading Seaman A. Davies, Sea cadet Petty Officer B. Walters (who recently achieved the distinction of passing his entrance examination R.N.V.R. List II as naval seaman second class), Able Seaman B. Pedlar, Cadet Petty Officer G. Eastman. Second row: Able Seaman K. Pedlar, Leading Seaman P. Hurrell, Leading Seaman K. Blight, Ordinary Seamen Davis, Stevens senr., Jacobs, A. Bloyce, Stevens junr. Front row sitting: Ist Lt. W.J. Chubb, Lt. T.N. Rowe (C.O.), Lt. R.O. Bridger (training officer).

Gazette article dated 9 April 1964