Whitehaven Sea Cadets - TS BEE

On the 12th August 2007 a group of three Whitehaven cadets accompanied by our very own CPO (SCC) Maureen McEuan flew out from Heathrow airport to visit our affiliated unit in Prince Edward Island. Here's a very brief diary from our three intrepid travellers...

Saturday 26th August

Our travellers had a (reasonably) relaxing last day in PEI yesterday - milking cows! That's about all they will tell us, but no doubt the full story will come out... eventually!

Tuesday 21st August

BBC Radio Cumbria's Paul Braithwaite.

From PEI to a radio near you... Our travellers this evening had a call from back home in Cumbria. No, it wasn't me, it was BBC Radio Cumbria's Paul Braithwaite on his late night programme. Catching the group in the middle of watching a baseball game, Paul first spoke with Lise Perry, who with her husband Martin is very much involved with the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps on PEI. He then spent about 15 minutes talking to Kaylie, Katie and Adam before rounding off the call by chatting with Maureen.

The cadets told Paul a little bit about the sailing and various other activities in which they had taken part, including the meeting with the Premier. Looking forward to the rest of the week, it seems that our cadets are even having a go at deep-sea fishing. That certainly wasn't in the original schedule!!

Monday 20th August

Adam, Maureen, Katie and Kaylie during their tour of Province House.

Everyone on best behaviour and in No 1 uniform for a busy day, which started with a tour of Historic Province House in Charlottetown before visiting City Hall and a meeting with His Worship Clifford Lee, the City's Mayor.

Then after lunch, Katie, Kaylie, Adam and Maureen had about 20 minutes with the Premier of Prince Edward Island, Robert Ghiz. This was followed by a visit to Government House where the four of them toured the house and gardens and met the Province's Lieutenant Governor, Hon. Barbara Hagerman.

To mark the occasion, both the Lt.Governor and the Premier were presented with framed limited-edition prints of the Marine Society and Sea Cadets flagship TS Royalist passing Greenwich, while the Mayor was presented with an illustrated book about Cumbria.

For a larger photograph and to see how the PEI Guardian reported the visit, please click here.

Friday 17th August

Our cadets have had a superb time in Halifax and at HMCS (Her Majesty's Canadian Ship) Acadia, Nova Scotia.

Accommodated in Canadian Forces Base Shearwater, the first couple of days were spent at looking around the City of Halifax, taking in the 21st International Halifax Busker Festival and visiting various other sites and museums. Naturally, a visit to the Naval Base and an extended visit on board a Canadian warship was included. Then it was on to the Canadian Cadet Summer Training Camp at HMCS Acadia.

Adam, Katie and Kaylie (and Maureen, of course) have "been treated like Royalty". In a packed few days they have been canoeing, sailing, power boating, shooting and making LOTS of new friends. Yesterday (Thursday) evening they were in full uniform for the final Passing Out Parade of the season - and apparently, Adam's Marine uniform created quite a stir! Maureen was initially seated with our cadets but was pulled out and invited to join the Commodore and other dignitaries on the stand for the review.

Our intrepid travellers have now arrived on Prince Edward Island where they should have a quiet, relaxed evening. Well, that's the theory. Tomorrow they are scheduled to go sailing at the Charlottetown Sail Centre with Island cadets before an evening barbeque at HMCS Queen Charlotte.

Sunday 12th August

A fairly early start for breakfast at TS Oberon and then it was off to Heathrow's Terminal 3 to check in for the 1200 flight to Halifax. This time, everything went smoothly. Dee Atkins, to whom we extend grateful thanks, drove our cadets to the airport in good time and their flight departed pretty much on schedule. A little over six and a half hours later, they landed safely and were met by our Canadian liaison, Lt Cdr 'Kip' Holloway CD.

Saturday 11th August

Katie, Adam and Kaylie outside our HQ a couple of days before leaving for Canada.

A small group of cadets joined family and friends at Whitehaven railway station to see off Katie, Adam and Kaylie on the first leg of their journey to Canada. Unfortunately, it didn't all run as smoothly as we might have hoped and it proved to be a very long and tiring day.

Their train arrived late in Carlisle which caused tem to miss the connecting train down to London. The next train was so full that they ended up having to stand almost all the way. But that was not the end of it. In London they were misdirected and ended up travelling away from Feltham where they were to spend the night with our friends at Feltham and Hounslow unit, TS OBERON. However, a couple of phone calls soon sorted things out - TS Oberon's CO, Lt (SCC) Dee Atkins RNR put them on the right track (no pun intended) for Hampton Court where she met them and drove them back to the unit for a warm welcome, hot meal and a good night's sleep!