August 7, 2024
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Officer Cadets from East of Scotland University Royal Naval Unit (URNU) enjoyed a fantastic range of activities last term. They now head off for the summer break.
Some of the key highlights included:
The Officer Cadets (OCs) took part in a sailing expedition on the South Coast which provided qualifications such as Competent Crew and Day Skipper. Adventurous Training (AT) took place at Halton Camp in Lancaster which provided the OCs with multiple opportunities including mountain biking and rock climbing.
There was also a fantastic visit to HMS Queen Elizabeth in Rosyth, supported by 30 OCs. The Unit continues to maintain close liaison and friendship with one of its affiliated ships and hopes to embark again later in the year, a pinnacle for any OC coming through the URNU.
OCs undertook visits to Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth to support their Officer-training exercises. The Unit will also have OCs travel down for the Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta later in August.
Officer Cadets at HMS Caledonia.
A Scotland and Northern Ireland Sports Weekend saw forty OCs from East Scotland, Belfast and Glasgow URNUs descend on HMS Caledonia for some competitive inter-URNU activity.
Officer Cadets in Belfast with HMS Caroline in the background.
On the water during one of the interactive battlefield tours.
The OCs took part in interactive battlefield-style tours of Northern Ireland, taking in the history of the ‘Troubles’, and Orkney, taking in the history of WW1 and WW2 (main image at top of page). The OCs presented at various ‘stances’, providing excellent educational opportunities and promoting the URNU and wider Royal Navy in the Scotland and Northern Ireland region.
At the helm of a P2000 during a trip from Faslane to the Western Isles.
There were various opportunities on Royal Navy P2000 Patrol Boats. This included deploying from the UK to the Baltic where some lucky OCs got their first ever foreign ‘run-ashore’ in Copenhagen, and another from Faslane out and around the Western Isles which proved to be another fantastic experience.
Officer cadets hiking in the Cairngorms.
Paddle boarding in the Cairngorms.
Officer Cadets visited the Cairngorms National Park this term, experiencing activity from hiking to paddle-boarding to curling to zip-lining, as well as taking in local military sites around Spean Commando Memorial, Fort George, and Culloden Battlefield.
Acting Officer Cadet Will Lewis, a fourth-year engineering student at the University of Edinburgh, said: “For my first experience with URNU, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I’m incredibly glad I went. Paddle boarding on Loch Insh and go-karting in Aviemore were both amazing, even with the rain.”
Acting Officer Cadet Keping Li, a second-year medical student at the University of Edinburgh, added: “Despite the shorter trip, we made the most of it. Paddle boarding, hiking, and go-karting were all brilliant experiences.”
On the bridge of Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Stirling Castle.
There were opportunities for the OCs to meet royalty at Stonehaven Sea Cadets, which was opened by HRH The Princess Royal, and at the RFA Stirling Castle rededication in Leith, which was attended by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. The latter experience also opened another superb embarkation opportunity for several of the OCs to transit from Leith to Liverpool.
Cleaning up at Cramond Beach.
The OCs continue to think of new initiatives which this term included a beach clean in Cramond and they have continued their support to the Edinburgh-based charity, Fresh Start, raising over £1000 through various enterprises including themed-quiz nights and the Edinburgh Marathon.
Many thanks to URNU East Scotland Commanding Officer Lieutenant Commander Nick Bates for providing us with updates on Unit activities. Best of luck from all at Highland RFCA as he moves on to pastures new.
The Unit’s Drill Nights in Edinburgh and Dundee, connected via video link, are every Tuesday during term time. Anyone interested in joining will be made very welcome.
