November 1, 2024
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Fraserburgh Sea Cadets celebrated its 80th anniversary with a parade in the town.
The unit – Fraserburgh Training Ship (TS) Gowanlea – and its Royal Marines Cadets Detachment, founded in 2017, was joined at the 7 September event by cadets from Sea Cadets Peterhead, Sea Cadets Aberdeen and Army Cadets from 2nd Battalion The Highlanders Army Cadet Force (ACF), led by colour bearers Cadet Corporal Craft and Cadet Lance Corporal Bruce.
The Lord-Lieutenant of Banffshire, Andrew Simpson, took the salute from a dais by the town’s Market Cross. Fittingly, his Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadet is Petty Officer Cadet Finnlay Murray, a member of TS Gowanlea. Other VIPs in attendance included Jim Buchan, Deputy Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire, and 2nd Battalion The Highlanders ACF Commandant Colonel Sean Fraser.
Chief Petty Officer Pat Davidson (right), Commanding Officer Fraserburgh Sea Cadets, accompanies the Lord-Lieutenant of Banffshire during the parade inspection.
Led by the Fraserburgh Royal British Legion (RBL) Pipe Band, the contingent marched from School Street via the saluting dais to Fraserburgh and District Parish Church for a commemoration service led by Rhoda MacDonald. During the service, a Junior Sea Cadet, a Sea Cadet Petty Officer and a Royal Marines Cadet of the unit spoke to the congregation about their cadet experiences.
Following the service, the parade contingent marched to the RBL where the Lord-Lieutenant congratulated the cadets and Adult Volunteers for their excellent turnout.
The cadets then staffed display stands on School Street and within the RBL Building. Councillor Judy Whyte, Provost of Aberdeenshire, Commander Gary Farmer, Area Officer Northern Area Sea Cadets and Mrs Donna Gemmell, Chair of Fraserburgh Sea Cadets gave further addresses. A Sea Cadet assisted the Provost with the cutting of the anniversary cake.
The Lord-Lieutenant addresses the parade flanked by the Provost of Aberdeenshire.
In the evening, members of TS Gowanlea reassembled at Fraserburgh Leisure Centre for a dinner dance, together with family and community members.
Whilst the event celebrated the eighty-year history of the unit, the past twelve years in particular have witnessed some remarkable developments. The unit had been temporarily closed before reopening in 2012. Acting Sub-Lieutenant (now Lieutenant Commander) (Sea Cadet Corps) Craig Trail, who had joined Fraserburgh Sea Cadets at the age of 10, took command. Within three years the unit had been recognised for having the most boating hours per cadet in the Northern Area. In 2021 the unit was forced at short notice to seek a new home and, following a successful fundraising campaign, moved to Grampian House.
The unit currently trains on Tuesdays and Thursdays at its new shore base as well as running a very active and wide-ranging boating training programme at Sandhaven. Petty Officer Cadet Wesley attended His Majesty The King’s Coronation parade, in his capacity as Northern Area First Sea Lord Cadet. Lieutenant Commander Trail also had the honour of attending. In the same year Chief Petty Officer (SCC) Pat Davidson took over command of the unit from Lieutenant Commander Trail who was promoted to Deputy District Officer.
Petty Officer Cadet Wesley receives the Coronation Medal from the Lord-Lieutenant.
Chief Petty Officer Davidson said the support the unit receives from all volunteers, the Unit Management Team and cadets alike is immense, and they are all proud to be part of one of the strongest units in the Northern Area. She also paid tribute to the local communities of Fraserburgh and Sandhaven for their continuing support. Ongoing fundraising efforts are now aimed at building a new main deck at the rear of Grampian House allowing the unit to reduce its waiting list and to continue the growth of TS Gowanlea.
Petty Officer Cadet Finnlay Murray, the Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadet for Banffshire.
◼︎ Fraserburgh unit (No 419) was formed in 1944. Its commissioning name, TS Gowanlea, commemorates the 87-foot wooden fishing drifter Gowanlea. Built in Fraserburgh, it was commandeered by The Admiralty in 1915 for wartime service as an anti-submarine net vessel fitted with six-pounder guns with a nine-man crew. Its commander, Skipper Joseph Watt RNR VC (1887-1955), was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 15 May 1917 against a much larger and heavily-armed enemy warship in the Adriatic. He was born in Gardenstown, Banffshire and is buried in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire.
Lt Cdr (SSC) Craig Trail chats to cadets from 2nd Battalion The Highlanders ACF.
