WATCH: Everything ‘ship-shape’ at TS Jersey

Saturday 16 June 2018

Jersey’s Royal Marine cadets based at T.S. (Training Ship) Jersey at Fort Regent are the best in the British Isles.

In an annual competition that has been running since just after the war they beat off 25 other units in the Southern Area Conference, before battling it out with the five regional winners.

The Gibraltar Cup - the highest accolade any unit can be awarded - recognises the training and achievements of the cadets during the previous year.

This year’s competition though was slightly different from previous years. Normally the regional winners go head-to-head at a competition at the Commando Training Centre near Exeter, but that wasn’t possible because of snow. Instead in May inspectors visited each of the shortlisted units. A team of eight cadets had to demonstrate their skills and tackle a number of challenges posed to them.

Pictured: The Jersey Unit with the Gibraltar Cup.

The Captain Sea Cadets, Captain Phil Russell, who announced the winner, said: “All of the detachments displayed the highest standards of commitment, determination and motivation, and the cadets should be proud of their successes over the past year… Congratulations to Jersey, they are the deserved winners of a closely-contested competition.”

Lt (SCC) Andre Bonjour, Commanding Officer for the Jersey Sea Cadets, said: “We are delighted to have received this award, which is testament to all the hard work put in by our cadets and volunteers, who should all be very proud of this achievement. To be selected as the Area and Company nominee was special and to go on and be chosen as the best Royal Marine Cadet Detachment across the British Isles really is an honour.

“Sea Cadets offers so many opportunities to both adults and young people. It is important to remember that we are an independent charity that relies on volunteers in the local community to help make a positive different to the lives of so many young people in Jersey.”

Pictured: Lt Andre Bonjour MBE explains how the competition works.

The win comes hot on the heels of the announcement last week that Lt Bonjour had been awarded an MBE. He’s been involved with the unit for almost half a century. He says volunteers are desperately needed to keep the unit afloat, and says the unit would also welcome new cadets.

Jersey Sea Cadets, which is part of national charity Sea Cadets, gives young people a new perspective. It aims to broaden horizons and create possibilities. Working across the British Isles with 14,000 young people between 10 and 18, it aims to help them see the world with confidence, gained through the challenge of nautical adventure and a Royal Navy ethos. Its aim is to help more young people to see the future that they want – and make that future happen.

The Jersey unit parades on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings from 7pm to 9pm or 10am to 12pm and meets at the T.S. Jersey Unit at Fort Regent.