C.C.F. Notes

clearly destined for Zeal-of-the-Land Busy (James Brockbank). However, he did declare that "long hair is an ensign and a banner, and the world is full of these banners, very full of these banners" and won sympathy from some of the audience with that.

Younger players sometimes stop acting when they are not speaking, and though Justice Overdo (Peter Brooker) was a little flat-voiced, if audible, he did maintain his character throughout. Full marks too to the wardrobe—even all the extras were very gay in their blues and reds and slashed sleeves, and breeches. We should be all right for "The Mikado" now: I wonder whether those yellow tights will fit Koko? P.M.N.

First we must thank the Regular Services for two special additions to the Contingent. Our parent Royal Navy establishment, HMS Caledonia, provided the Diesel motor boat that has proved so valuable and popular as a training aid. The Royal Engineers at Hessay, who had already supplied us with two rubber dinghies with outboard motors, undertook to make us a new naval mast which was raised shortly before the Annual Inspection.

The Inspection was on June 7th, and while there was alertness and vigour in the day's programme, we must note that three separate references were made to hair-cuts in the Inspection Report. "Hair-cuts were modern" was one euphemistic phrase; "shoulder-length hair" was noted on a senior Associate member; and "dreary hair-styles" were referred to by the Inspecting Officer. So we should let it be known that a few members of this voluntary contingent are continuing to let it down. Of course these hair styles worn by boys wearing Service uniforms cause a shudder to anyone who has connections with the Services, for they see the "style" as an insult to Service custom; and one wonders how long the Services will allow boys in Cadet Forces to wear recognisable Service uniform since they are sometimes mistaken by the public for regulars. Nevertheless, the final remarks by the Inspecting Officer, RearAdmiral J. E. Dyer-Smith, sum up his penetrating and shrewd assessment: "Altogether I was impressed with the involvement of staff and cadets in the CCF activities and consider there is much potential in the unit."

We were proud to have the CCF Centenary Banner for the Inspection Parade, carried by a very smart Guard of Honour from the Army Section. This Banner was presented to the CCF by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh in 1960, when the centenary of Cadet Forces in schools was celebrated; the Banner is kept at the Cadet Training Centre at Frimley Park, and may be borrowed by contingents for special occasions. We are grateful to RSMI Power for bringing the Banner from Oundle and returning it to Frimley Park.

Accounts of special activities follow this introduction, but there are some particular subjects to mention. Congratulations to Sergeant Hamshaw on the splendid progress of the Military Band, and our warm thanks to Mr. K. R. Pemberton and Mr. W. Riley for their instruction and 19

encouragement; congratulations to Warrant Officer Stow on being selected for an International Air Cadet Exchange visit to Israel, and to Petty Officer Craven on winning the Fernie Cup. And we would like to thank Flying Officer A. J. Riley for the trouble he takes to ensure opportunities for our cadets of all three Sections to fly on Wednesdays. It is, of course, a great advantage that F/O Riley is one of the pilots in No. 9 Air Experience Flight.

D.G.C.

ROYAL NAVY SECTION

The Summer term started with the preparations for Annual Inspectio and during the holidays our Parent Establishment, HMS Caledonia, ha sent down a 16-foot Slow Motor Boat with an 8 h.p. Enfield Diese Engine which originally could manage six knots and now it is gettin run in she can make a good eight knots. She will be named "CaHie the name by which Caledonia is known to its inmates, some time in th near future. Trips can be arranged anywhere from Naburn to Ripod. and every week a group of enthusiastic cadets take her out.

Thanks go to the Royal Engineers at 322 Engineer Park, Hessay fol two reasons this term, firstly the presentation of a brand new 30-foo: mast for the Parade Ground which was raised by the whole Continge in time for Annual Inspection and secondly for the two Recce boa which they change regularly and service for us. The two Seagull engin are making good way now and cadets are getting some good experienc in the handling of the small craft.

Annual Inspection was with us once again and this year we were inspected by Rear Admiral J. E. Dyer-Smith R.N., F.I.Mech.E., who is Director General, Aircraft (Naval). Unfortunately, due to his chasing the RAF Section, he did not see the Naval Section at full strength.

During the term we have had visits from various Naval Officers including Lieutenant Commander Plummer, who is second in command of all Naval CCF in the MOD, London; from Lieutenant Commander Hall who was Staff Officer (Navy) to Rear Admiral Dyer-Smith at Inspection and he came from Caledonia, Rosyth; and from our own Liaison Officer Lieutenant Morgan. During the latter part of the term CPO Dodson attended and it was very nice to have him with us but it was a pity we did not see more of him.

During the term Leading Seaman Young left the Section having completed his three years service last Summer and having just passed his Advanced Naval Proficiency. He had worked well for the Section an his expertise will be greatly missed. Leading Seaman Craven and Leadin Seaman Bell both passed the ANP and were promoted Petty Office Nelson Division passed their Naval Proficiency Exam and Able Seame Clayburn, Harrison, Littlefield, Millikin, Pette, Richardson, Ward an Wormald were all promoted "hookies."

Finally Captain Bulcock has relinquished his "Pongo" affiliations become a "Pusser" Lieutenant.

All Cadets are encouraged to attend at least one of the many excellent camps and courses which the Royal Navy runs in the UK. (Gunnery,

shooting, sailing, diving, engineering, naval aviation and helicopter training, arduous training and sea experience with the Fleet.) We regard a cadet who does not attend such a camp as not having well used his Service in the Royal Navy Section.

Next term (Christmas '71) we hope to have liaison trips to Caledonia and we expect that every cadet will have visited the Establishment at one time during his Service. Rodney Division go on to take their Naval Proficiency and Nelson Division will attempt their Advanced Naval Pro-

ficiency and we hope they pass.

A report on the visit to HM Fleet Tender "Bembridge" at Easter and the sea experience gained on her follows.

J.A.G.C.

ROYAL NAVY CAMP, EASTER 1971 HM/FT Bembridge

In 1964 Their Lordships, as they were then known, commissioned a series of new ammunition carriers or Fleet tenders and as a result HM I FT Bembridge was built at Grimsby. The later models are larger and better equipped with Radar.

Bembridge has had a varied career; at one time she acted as a

pleasure steamer and over and above the normal crew of six, forty-four people were crammed in in those days. Now they have removed the majority of the bunks and she will hold 20 in the main ammunition hold and six for-ard, with the captain, engineer and First Lieutenant sleeping aft.

We joined the ship at "G" Moorings on HMS Excellent, the Navy Gunnery school and found ourselves organised into three watches of Red, White and Blue. Very quickly the Number One sorted out the non-matelots from matelots and made sure they were "looked after" by some of the "regulars." The joys of peeling potatoes whilst listening to the Eurovision Song Contest were experienced on the first evening.

On the Sunday morning it is customary when leaving the Royal Naval Dockyard to be dressed overall and so we saluted every passing ship and every ship we passed, such as Devonshire, Hampshire, Norfolk, Blake and many others, and at the entrance to the Dockyard we piped the two shore establishments of HMS Vernon and HMS Dolphin.

Out to sea we changed into number 8 or sea rig and looked around

"our" ship. The journey passed uneventfully and we were shown by Number One how to run out a Trident Log and how to get it back. We arrived at Weymouth that evening and leave was granted to anybody who wanted it. Because Weymouth is not a Naval port a total 24 hour watch routine had to be kept and as there were eight Leading hands they each took a two hour watch in pairs.

The next day, Monday we had instruction in Piping from Number

One and went rabbiting with the Skipper, Lieutenant-Commander Andrews. We left Weymouth and proceeded to trawl round the bay. All we succeeded in catching was a great deal of the seaweed on the bottom

21

of the bay and we also tore the nets badly. Returning to Weymouth we set to on the boat as the Liberty Boats left us. Lieutenant Maw became

ship's carpenter and started a guard rail to the aft bridge structure while Leading Seaman Slater and Leading Seaman Craven started moving the Bembridge's nameplates up after having overpainted them in preparation for a new coat of paint. Sunset was sounded, the bell and flag stowed

away and supper eaten and more people went on leave.

For the last time we slipped away from Weymouth and moved towards Poole, some of the Cadets getting sea experience at handling the boat en route. The people on the bridge found out extremely quickly that the Captain had very good eyesight, even in thick mist. Arriving off Poole the ship was dressed overall again and entered the long and winding passage between the numerous buoys marking the way into this small harbour. Eventually we arrived and made fast. A small inshore

minesweeper we had met on our way followed us in.

Wednesday came to be associated with the cry "Manoverboard" and a steep lurching of the ship to one side or the other as every attempt was made to rescue the unfortunate lifebuoy! The Skipper made up teams to try our skill at getting the lifebuoy back inboard.

We returned quite early to Poole where we again had to keep night watches. On Thursday we returned to Pompey and refuelled Ivi oil and victuals. "Buffer" explained to anybody who would listen t

story about the HMS Excellent Gun-Carriage which is used for Stat Funerals and which has been pulled by ratings of the Gunnery Scho since the Funeral of Queen Victoria. People were duly impressed by th famous drill ground at Excellent, and on Thursday afternoon the un heard of luxury of a shower became a reality when the Ramehead, a floating lump of metal which will never move again since it returned from HK, opened up its facilities for us. Captain Bulcock had a few words with an engineer and the showers became hot ones instead of the ice cold they were when we came in. Beards which were just beginning,

to flourish were shaved off by quite a few of the Ship's Company.

British Rail, despite its loud threats of disruption throughout the country, turned up trumps and Leading Seamen Craven and Bell went their own ways leaving the majority of the party to make their way back to York.

Our thanks as always to Captain Bulcock, Lieutenant Maw, Lieutenant-Commander Andrews and Number One, not forgetting of course "Buffer".

J.A.G.C.

ARMY SECTION

The small numbers in the Section have made it difficult to give

adequate instructional opportunities to the NCOs, who have been manifestly keen and smart; Sergeants Balls and Cass, and Corporal Ray formed an outstanding Colour Party for the CCF Banner at the Inspection, and Sergeant Major Elsworth maintained a quietly efficient control of the Section. In his Inspection Report, the Army Staff Officer said 'the standard of turnout was good and the boys had an obvious pride in all being smartly dressed in No 2 dress'. 22

Army Section training is perhaps less obviously attractive than that of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force Sections, but the Apex training scheme offers a wide variety and it is beginning to work well; Army Section cadets should remember, too, that they are part of a Combined Cadet Force, and can join in the activities of the other Sections.

During the Easter holidays Adventurous Training was carried out from Sennybridge, near Brecon as a base. Captain Oxley, who has taken over command of the Section, has a happy relationship with the CCF of St. Edward's, Oxford, where he taught before coming to St. Peter's, and our party joined in some of their schemes. We are very grateful to the Commanding Officer of St. Edward's CCF for extending to us many of the benefits of his administrative arrangements.

Early in the Summer Term a party joined the inter-schools training week-end at Welbeck College, splendidly organised by their Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Harland. The programme included competitive orienteering, shooting and watermanship, and our team did very well, with top score in shooting.

The uniform for Army Sections from next term will be a jersey with combat trousers, but No 2 dress will continue to be worn for special occasions.

A.S.C.

R.A.F. NOTES

During the Summer Term the section was led by W.O. Stow assisted by Cpl. Ramsden (2 i/c), Cpls. Scott, Cameron and Shepherd, P. M., and J/Cpls. Short, Shepherd, A. M. and Hall.

With a change in the training programme imminent, the last of the old style Proficiency examinations was held on June 22nd. Cadets Chester, Jones, P. J. T., Long, Moxon and Smith, C. J. are to be congratulated on passing, in view of the very limited instructional time which had been available.

Junior NCOs organised two exercises : one in the vicinity of York early in the term, and the other in the Strensall training area on the occasion of the General Inspection.

The annual camp was held at R.A.F. Hereford from March 31st— April 7th. A variety of activities included shooting, swimming, miscellaneous sports and a map reading exercise. A special feature of the camp was a two night stay under canvas near the Black Mountains. Cadets were responsible for erecting their own tents and for clearing up the site before leaving. Food was cooked by apprentices from R.A.F. Hereford and tents were kept warm by paraffin stoves. Each cadet had an hour's fire watching on one of the two nights involved.

No flying was available at Hereford but there were several occasions during the Summer Term when air experience flying was possible at R.A.F. Church Fenton. Several members of the section took advantage of these facilities and a number had as many as 3 flights, each of one hour duration.