First Sea Lord Celebrates First Trafalgar Day Parade with the Sea Cadets

Added: (Fri Oct 20 2006)

Pressbox (Press Release) - Today (Sunday 22 October) over 500 Sea Cadets from all over the UK are in London on Trafalgar Square for the organisation's annual Trafalgar Day commemorations. This year the parade is being inspected by First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sir Jonathon Band KCB ADC.

Although Sea Cadets have paraded on Trafalgar Square on the Sunday closest to 21 October (Trafalgar Day) for over one hundred years, it is the First Sea Lord's first Trafalgar Day since he took up post in February this year.

Remembering the 201st anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar and the death of Admiral Lord Nelson at the height of his most famous victory in 1805, the parade annually attracts hundreds of spectators. The event starts at 11am on the Square with a display of traditional hornpipe dancing
and club swinging. Then platoons of Sea Cadets and Marine Cadets will march from the Mall on to the Square, led by the national massed band of the Sea Cadet Corps.

After the inspection the First Sea Lord will be joined by The Lord Mayor of Westminster, Councillor Alexander Nicoll, and other dignitaries for a wreath-laying ceremony at the foot of Nelson's Column. In the short service that follows, 16-year-old Ciaran Conlon from Hornchurch and Upminster Unit will
read Nelson's prayer.

Admiral Band said today: "Having been able to join The Marine Society & Sea Cadets for their weekend of 250th anniversary celebrations in HMS ALBION this summer I was absolutely thrilled when the Sea Cadets invited me to join them at the first Trafalgar Day parade since I took up post. I
am very much looking forward to celebrating the greatest moment in our naval history with so many outstanding young people".

Mike Cornish, chief executive of the Sea Cadets' parent charity, The Marine Society & Sea Cadets, commented: "We are very appreciative of all the support we receive from the Royal Navy and delighted to have its most senior officer leading the most important event in the Sea Cadet
calendar."

It has been a busy time for the Sea Cadet Corps. Last year it supported the Royal Navy at numerous national events marking the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. This year the Corps' parent charity, The Marine Society & Sea Cadets, celebrated its own 250th anniversary with a series of events on board the Royal Navy's amphibious assault ship, HMS Albion, attended by the charity's Patron, Her Majesty The Queen.

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About the Sea Cadet Corps
Founded in 1899, the Sea Cadet Corps is jointly supported by the Royal Navy and its parent charity, The Marine Society & Sea Cadets. Each of the 386 units throughout the UK is an independent charity, raising funds and support in the local community. Sea Cadets offers a wide range of largely free activities for boys and girls aged 10-18. The Corps aims to encourage good
citizenship and provide worthwhile qualifications, experience and adventure for young people. It gives them the opportunity to learn life skills whilst having fun and making friends. The dedicated volunteers who staff the units are selected with care and are fully qualified to work with young people. For more information visit www.sea-cadets.org

About The Marine Society & Sea Cadets
Founded in 1756 as a response to the recruitment and trading challenges brought about by the Seven Years War, the original aim of The Marine Society was to rescue destitute boys from the streets, give them a suit of clothes and train them to work on board the King's ships. Its activities
have broadened to incorporate the provision of libraries to ships, book selling and education to seafarers in both the Royal and Merchant Navies. In November 2004 it merged with the Sea Cadet Association to form The Marine Society & Sea Cadets, bringing the management of the Sea Cadet
Corps into the charity's remit. For more information visit www.ms-sc.org

Editorial contact for more information, photographic and interview opportunities: Melanie Bowran, tel
07885 222755, email mbowran@ms-sc.org

Rosemary Vaux at Ravenstone PR, tel 020 8943 5343,
mob 07792 726241, email rvaux@ravenstonepr.co.uk