A Message from the Area Officer

I wish to take the opportunity to thank everyone right across Southern Area for all of your tremendous hard work, dedication and commitment to the Sea Cadet Corps during 2009.
The year seems to have passed very quickly and it is hard to believe that 11 months have gone by since we commissioned TS Southsea, held the Area Conference and started the annual programme of RNPs at Poole. However, it has been a fast paced, challenging and successful year, during which a huge amount of training and activities have been conducted in a safe and positive environment. I have personally travelled around the Area to Units, Camps, Competitions and Courses and have been extremely impressed by the organisation, willingness and ‘can do’ attitude of everyone involved.
The highlights have been many – being at Lympstone as we won the Gibraltar Cup, presenting many awards at the end of a glorious boat work week at SABS, spending 2 days in Snowdonia white water rafting and swinging through the trees, to hearing that we had won the much coveted Peter Riley Trophy.
The pinnacle of the year came in June though when we had over 200 cadets and 40 staff at the Armed Forces Day in Chatham, performing a variety of action and static displays, and culminating in the Guard and Colour Party performing a ceremonial sunset in front of Commander-in-Chief Fleet and 5,000 VIPs – The enthusiasm and smartness of the cadets, coupled with the teamwork and camaraderie displayed by the adult members of staff, typified what the Southern Area is all about.

I hope you all enjoy a restful and peaceful Christmas and New Year with your families and I look forward to meeting up with you again in 2010 which, with the Cadet 150 celebrations, is already shaping up to be a busy and interesting 12 months.

Regards to all

A R GILES
Cdr RN
AO(S)