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Our Military Affiliations

NEWS FROM HMS LANCASTER

This year’s report from our Royal Navy Affiliate, HMS Lancaster is somewhat shorter than
usual and is by way of both an au revoir and a look to the future.
At the beginning of 2016 HMS Lancaster returned from her very successful deployment
overseas and prepared to go into a state of reduced readiness (or in non-naval speak – temporary
dormancy). As such the crew depart and the ship temporarily loses her “cap tally”. So, from
September 2016 HMS Lancaster entered an extended refit period in Devonport, Plymouth, from
which she is planned to re-emerge in early 2018. Prior to that (probably in summer 2017) a new
ship’s company will move on board. Lt Cdr James Thomson, the outgoing Senior Naval Officer, has
written to the Master to reiterate that whilst HMS Lancaster’s relationship with the Company may be
“on hold”, the Company will certainly not be forgotten, and the new ship’s company will renew the
contact and regenerate the affiliation. He went on to say that whilst “We are coming to the end of an
era, the Ship has achieved so much in her 23 years, and is due some well-earned R&R.” However, he
looked forward to her emergence from refit ready to tackle a new deployment and regenerate the
affiliation with the Worshipful Company of Constructors.
NEWS FROM 14 Company, South West London Army Cadet Force

Major Ed Sokolowski has written to say “The Army Cadet Force is the oldest national youth
organisation dating back to 1859. The ACF Charter provides developmental, challenging and
adventurous training to teenagers where other organisations cannot. We at 14 Company, in the
Croydon area, aim to fulfil the ACF Charter as best we can with the diverse membership that we
have. There are 217 Cadets that are currently managed by 20 Staff.
Detachments are located at Shirley, Croydon, New Addington, Coulsdon and Mertsham. 14 Company
headquarters consists of a Staff Officer Captain and Company Sergeant Major. Needless to stay all
14-Company staff work hard and give up so much of their own time for the benefit of others.
As for the Cadets! This is a long ongoing story and not without its trials and
tribulations. But, we have achieved much in the Company, holding several
successful shooting weekends at Pirbright and Ash Ranges and qualifying
some 80 Cadets at 2 Star shooting level with the L98A2 5.56mm Cadet
General Purpose Rifle.
Cadets have also attended Expeditions around the Crowborough area and
some even took part in the Arnhem March (Wandeltocht) in Oosterbeek in Holland to commemorate
the battle. All Cadets love Fieldcraft – after all, what’s wrong with crawling around in the mud with
some camouflage on your face trying to get close to an enemy position without them hearing you?
Conducting Exercises and training leaders to make firm positive decisions under pressure is all part
of our process.
Detachments have also been involved in collections for Help for Heroes and the British Legion Poppy
appeal. One or two have small community projects they work on throughout the year. Senior Cadets
also enjoyed an afternoon trip to the National Arboretum and were duly moved by what they saw.
For one cadet it was more emotional when she saw her father’s name on the Iraq section, as he was
killed in action out there. Each Detachment also participated in Remembrance Sunday Parades
around the Croydon area and I would like to add that with the kind support of the Worshipful
Company of Constructors Livery Company we will be able to achieve that little bit more in changing
lives”.

34 | Autumn 2016 | The Journal of the Worshipful Company of Constructors