Clacton Freemasons Shore-up Support with £1,600 for Sea Cadets

Clacton Freemasons support for the Walton-On-The-Naze Sea Cadets with £,1600 towards much needed funds.

Clacton Freemasons at Colvin Lodge No. 5374, which meets at the Colvin Memorial Temple in Holland Road, Clacton-on-Sea, have helped shore-up support for the Walton-On-The-Naze Sea Cadets with £,1600 towards much needed funds.

The Walton Sea Cadets have to find around £40,000 per year to run the unit and maintain the equipment and buildings which has to come from fund raising and sponsorship. They meet on a Monday and Thursday unless they are training for a special event then more days are needed. Each year they attend the Lord Mayor’s Show and the National Trafalgar Day Parade on Trafalgar Square in London.

The aim of the Sea Cadet Corps is to give young people the best head start in life through nautical adventure and fun. It is a national youth charity working with 15,000 cadets aged between 10 and 18 years with 9,000 adult volunteers.

Following a similar ethos, training plan and rank structure to the Royal Navy, cadets get the opportunity to take part in overseas exchange visits such as to South Korea, Canada, Japan, The Bahamas, Australia etc., and can take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award as well as BTEC Qualifications. Being recognised by the Ministry of Defence, the Sea Cadet Corps also take part in various military activities as well as community events and train for yachting qualifications.

Colin Fisher, the Worshipful Master of Colvin Lodge, is a Sergeant in the unit’s Royal Marines Cadet detachment, he joined in 2010 and in 2011 the detachment was the best in the whole of the UK.  Colin teaches the cadets: field craft, map reading and weapon handling amongst other things.

Photo: Alan Penney (not wearing a uniform) and Colin Fisher, both from Colvin Lodge presenting a cheque for £1,600 to the Walton-On-The-Naze Sea Cadets.