The Master, Peter McVeigh, Senior Warden, Anthony Ginman and myself, Phil Webb, Cadet Liaison Officer, were pleased to be able to visit TS Wizard last Monday 12th February, this being the Master’s first opportunity to do so. Having collected Peter and Anthony from Wood Green tube station we drove the final leg to Wizard. Peter having travelled down from his home in Yorkshire especially and Anthony coming up from Tunbridge Wells. Mine was the easy journey, a 35-mile drive which took over two hours!

We were welcomed ‘onboard’ by WO2 (SCC) Micheal Somogyi RMR, Wizard’s new Commanding Officer, he having taken over from Lt Stuart Jackson RNR. After a brief tour through the building where we were able to see the completed repairs to the ceiling where large areas had collapsed, fresh coats of paint, new notice boards and framed pictures down the corridor, we were shown to the Ward Room to meet a few of the adult staff and for coffee and biscuits.

WO2 Somogyi gave the Master and Senior Warden a brief overview of the background of their cadet unit, the cadets and future plans and answered any questions we had. 

We were then invited onto The Deck where the cadets had formed up on parade. The ships pennants were formally raised signalling the start of training for the evening. The cadets were brought to attention and then the Master was asked by the OC to present one of the young cadets with his newly promoted lance corporal rank slides. Apparently, he was desperate to pt them on at the start of training rather than getting them at the end of the evening! Numbers were low but that is normal for a Monday evening, Thursday being Divisional training night, cadet numbers would be around 20 – 25 on parade.

Returning to the ward room, we gave the cadets time to settle in to their first training lessons of the evening before again venturing out to watch them in their classrooms. Personal hygiene in the field when out on the training areas and 24-hour ration packs were the subjects. The cadets get exactly the same as adults which includes everything needed for a 24-hour period, a few thousand calories for breakfast lunch and dinner, energy drinks, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, matches and most importantly tissues (alternative to toilet paper).!! They even get issued with a mini hexi stove to heat up their meals and drinks. A lot of it these days is cook in the bag, very similar to US GI rations. Mine always came in a tin and choices were limited. If you upset the Quarter-master you got the same menu several days running, like it or lump it!

A mid evening break for refreshments, a day early maybe, but a very welcome pancake making session by the cadets. Under the supervision of a couple of the mums we were given the opportunity to taste for ourselves … not too bad at all. Its lovely to see the parents getting involved rather than just dropping their children off and coming back later to take them home. Now back to work you lot!

Next, under the direction and control of the chaplain the cadets made a circle facing inwards, each one holding a stick! The idea being when given the order to move right or left and leaving the stick upright, grab the stick of the person alongside you before it falls to the floor! Easy maybe, but when its two right, three left or even four then sticks began to hit the deck at a rapid rate of knots. 

Once everything was packed away the cadets again formed up for final parade. The OC closed the proceedings with the lowering of the ships pennants and then the Master was asked to address the cadets with a few closing words. He thanked the OC, the cadets and all the mums for a very enjoyable and fun evening and was so pleased to see such enthusiasm from all concerned.

I look forward to arranging further visits for the Master and other livery guests when the evenings are warmer and lighter so training can also take place outside.

Liveryman Phil Webb 

Cadet Liaison Officer