Area 4 Reunion Donates to South West Sea Cadet Unit
On the evening of 3 June 2026, 43 shipmates attended the Portland Branch General Meeting to hear Lt (SCC) Rachel Harris RNR Commanding Officer of the local Sea Cadets Unit, speak about the activities and achievements of the TS Penn Cadets and staff over the past year.
Rachel thanked the Branch for inviting her and for electing Portland Sea Cadets as the branch charity. She then went on to give a brief history of the Sea Cadets which was established in 1856 and the establishment of Portland Sea Cadets in 1956 in the old Boscawen area in Castletown. In 1995 in preparation for the closure of the Royal Navy in Portland the Unit moved to the old NAAFI shop in what was then the Westcliff Married Quarters estate.
Rachel then spoke about the activities that the Cadets have access to in the Unit which included Catering, Engineering, Seamanship, Navigation and the core activity Boating; one of the Cadets had qualified as an RYA Dinghy Instructor recently and also one of the Cadets who had just turned 18 had spent a week on TS Royalist and had returned saying it was the best week of her Cadet career ever.
The Unit was also active within the local community supporting local civic events which in the last 12 months had included the 85th anniversary of the Foylebank tragedy, VJ Day 80 commemoration service, HMS Illustrious memorial service, November Ceremonies with parade and service at Portland Cenotaph, Weymouth Armed Forces Veterans Parade, Mayors Civic Carol Service and performing Ceremonial Sunset for the Royal Navy Sailing Association Annual CTP!
The Unit also undertook a three day visit to Ypres in Belgium where 14 Cadets and 5 staff joined with Weymouth and Yeovil Sea Cadet Units and proudly represented Sea Cadets at one of the daily Remembrance Services held at the Menin Gate where one Able Cadet said the Exhortation and another said the Kohima Epitaph, both Cadets being from Portland Unit, an experience never to be forgotten.
Competitions were also a strong point for the Unit with Cadets wining through to Area and National level Sailing, Windsurfing and Powerboat Handling competitions, indeed had the National Powerboat Handling Competition not been cancelled due to high winds last year the Unit stood a very good chance of lifting the trophy.
Duke of Edinburgh is also a strong point with 3 Bronze awards, 5 Silver Awards and 3 Gold Awards being achieved in the last 12 months. Cadets can also be awarded a BTEC Level 1 Certificate in Teamwork, Personal Skills and Citizenship when they reach the rate of Ordinary Cadet. Additionally, six Cadets had achieved the BTEC Level 2 Teamwork and Personal Development in the Community award in the last 12 months.
Also working in the background is the Unit Management Team without whom the Unit would not be able to operate. They ensure the Unit has the right facilities, equipment and undertake the fundraising activities to keep the ship afloat. The Units now has a new Galley, new Heads and Shower facilities which include disabled access which enables the Unit to conduct residential training activities. Planned later for this year is the roofing over of the yard and building of three new training rooms which will more than double the availability of training spaces.
Following her presentation, Branch Chairman Shipmate Dusty Miller thanked Lt Harris for her engaging talk.
Treasurer and Area Deputy National Council Member, Shipmate Pete Shoesmith, then said that in March 2026, Area 4 of the Royal Naval Association had held its annual reunion in Bideford and 18 members of the branch had attended. Throughout the weekend, shipmates took part in a range of fundraising activities and raffles, all contributing to the reunion charity fund.
Branches were invited to nominate charities for the 2026 donations, and the following organisations were selected:
• National Coastwatch Institute, Portland Bill — £1,000, proposed by Dorchester Branch
• Combat Stress – Mental Health Services for Veterans — £1,000, proposed by Frome Branch
• Devon Air Ambulance — £1,000, proposed by Helston Branch
• TS Penn (Portland Sea Cadet Unit) — £500, requested and matched by Portland Branch
S/m Pete then invited Branch President and Area Deputy Chairman, Shipmate Ben Cartwright, to present a cheque for £500 to Lt Harris. Rachel expressed her surprise and delight at the donation, noting that the funds would be put to excellent use in supporting the Unit’s forthcoming classroom building development project.
