North West Area Sea Cadets

Welcome to the North West Area Sea Cadets Website.

Please click the link on the Area Admin page to access the Westminster Admin Website which has handy hints how to navigate Project Westminster....

We are constantly updating this site and would welcome any news or views you would like to see here. There are already Norwesters, the 2007-2008 Training Programme available to download and much more to add over the coming few weeks so please check in regularly for further updates.

New to the site is the Courses Information page which will advertise upcoming courses, this is located on the Area Training Link...

Also please look in on the T.S. Palatine page for details of Course / Unit availability

If you wish to submit content for the North West Area Website please e-mail me at:
pbarrow@ms-sc.org or call on 0151 707 3443.

Please come back soon.


CADET 150 Woodland Trust Project

Please see the attached link for information on the project

• Cadet 150 Woodland Trust Project

It has become apparent that when referring to NW Area Office location that people use HMS Eaglet, please use the following...

Naval Regional HQ

HMS Eaglet is just one of the units operating out of here along with NRC, RMR, LURNU and the SCC NW Area Office!!

We are sending some 35 cadets and only 6 staff at the moment and in the interest of our own cadets we need to make sure that we are fully represented from NW Area, please log into Westminster for Details and support the Camp.

Lessons Identified from the death of an Army Cadet in Southern Uist in Aug 2007

Many of you will be aware of the death of Army Cadet Kaylee MacIntosh beneath a capsized boat near Southern Uist in August 2009. The accident has been investigated both by the MAIB and the Sheriffdom of Grampian, Highland and Islands at Inverness. The report by Sherriff MacFadyen was published on the 27 May 2009 and is in the public domain.

It is important that we identify the lessons which have emerged from these reports and remind ourselves of the good practices that we adopt within the Sea Cadet Corps to minimise the risk of such a tragic occurrence. In particular I draw your attention to the recently updated version of “Naval Cadet Forces – Training Afloat Regulations and Safety 2009 (TARS)” which governs our waterborne activity. This is available to all on the Training and Admin website.

The main factors that came from the out of the report are as follows, with specific lessons identified from this accident included in brackets:-

1. The provision of cadet instruction and cadet adventure activities is a team operation and it should not be left to one individual to prepare and conduct all aspects. Instructors must be encouraged to consult with more senior people, and assimilate the wisdom and contribution from others in the planning process. (The qualifications and competency of the coxswain must be adequate and fit for the purpose).

2. Activities should be properly researched and planned and a key element of this planning is the assessment of the risk. From this assessment appropriate safety measures must be put in place to counter the risks identified. (There must be a proper risk assessment and it must be adhered to. The coxswain must be familiar with the handling qualities of the boat, its operational limitations and use of its equipment).

3. Rules, codes of practice and guidance should be reviewed and assimilated at the planning stage.

4. The planning process should also deal with managing emergency situations and in order to do so, records of participants, routes, communication arrangements, emergency contacts, support and action arrangements should be maintained and be available to those with a need to know. (Safety boat provided; safety officer identified; safety drills carried out; numerical or nominal roll-call taken before the journey and left on-shore; numerical or nominal roll-call after capsize or incident).

5. Suitable communication and control must be in place together with suitable supervision both in competence and numbers. (Reliable radios are needed to provide suitable communication system between each boat and on-shore; advance notification to HM Coastguard of the intended journey, route and nature of the event).

6. The evolution or activity should be suitably briefed not only to the participants but also to those who may need to form part of the emergency cover. Where necessary for the reduction of risk, outside agencies should be informed of the intended activities. (See para 5 above).

7. Equipment should be suitable, properly rigged, in good condition, used for and fit for the purpose intended. (The boat must be designed for the purpose for which it will be used; it must not be overloaded or subject to bad trim; it must be used in its design configuration and within environmental limits; equipment such as self bailing devices should be used). Personal protective equipment, including life jackets, should be suitable for the wearer, expected conditions and activity. (Assault troop lifejackets are not suitable for cadets; once inflated they prevent escape from an up-turned boat).

8. Adequate consideration should be made of all the relevant environmental conditions both existing and predicted and any information used should be either the latest available. (Weather forecast must be current).

9. Cadets have a broad band of age, maturity, capability, stamina, physical development and experience. They are not adults and can respond in unpredictable ways. This wide spectrum of variations must be embodied in the risk assessment process and activities must be adapted to this wide variation. (See paras 2 & 7 above).

Jonathan Fry

Jonathan M S Fry
Captain RN
Director Operations/Captain Sea Cadet Corps

Ladies and Gentlemen

Two weeks ago I announced that I would be leaving my post as Captain Sea Cadets in July to take up a new RN appointment in Bristol, and said that I would let you know as soon as my successor was announced. I can now tell you that last Friday, First Sea Lord gave approval for Captain Mark Windsor RN to be appointed as Captain Sea Cadets. I will be handing over to him during the week commencing 20 July 2009.

Captain Windsor is a senior RN Captain who is a meteorological and oceanographic (METOC) officer by trade, and who has held many senior appointments in his branch. He has also served as President of the Admiralty Interview Board, on the Media Staff at Fleet HQ, and has recently returned from an operational tour in Afghanistan. He lives in Purley, South London.

Captain Windsor will send out official photographs and his biography as soon as possible, and will undoubtedly want to visit Units, Training Centres, Area Offices and the Offshore Fleet during his early days in post. I am sure that you will make him very welcome.

Yours truly,

Jonathan Fry

Jonathan M S Fry
Captain RN
Director Operations/Captain Sea Cadet Corps

The number for contacting NW Area Office Staff Out Of Hours is 0151 707 3301, this number will put you through to the MOD Gaurd Service who have a detailed list of Office Staff Contact numbers for use only in case of emergency.

Major Phil Packer was injured in an incident following a rocket attack in Basra on 19th February 2008. Sadly, as a result of the accident he lost the use of his legs and is now a paraplegic with what are classed as catastrophic injuries. He was originally told he would never walk again, however there have been positive improvements and on the 26th April, a little over one year since he was injured, he started the London Marathon and will walk 2 miles each day for 13 days, finishing on the 9th May – 52,400 steps!

He continues to serve in the Army and until he returns to work, is determined to assist others and provide information on sport to the disabled community; he believes it is his responsibility to do so. He has also pledged to raise £1 million for Help for Heroes as Phil hopes to make a difference to fellow injured servicemen and women. Please see the attached document for details on how to help..

• Help our Wounded Servicemen and Women

Please follow the link to the RN Community Website which has a youth page relevant to the Cadets including such as TAR's

Please contact Chris Caroe @

Jami Q's Ltd, Abbey Road, The Wrexham Industrial Estate, Wrexham LL13 9RF.

Tel: 01978 660220
Mobile : 077582 41411
Fax : 01978 664604

for details on T-Shirts and other garments with your unit details or other motif on. Prices are special to Sea Cadets & Marine Cadets