Devoted cadets parade in Portsmouth to mark Volunteer Cadet Corps 125th anniversary with plaque unveiled
.jpg?width=96&crop=1:1,smart)
Young people from across the cadet forces joined together to mark the occasion
Proud armed forces cadets marched through Portsmouth to celebrate a unit’s 125th anniversary.
Armed forces volunteers in the Volunteer Cadet Core (VCC) formed up in Guildhall Square this afternoon (October 5) to showcase their pride and service. They headed to the site of a new ceremonial plaque near Portsmouth War Memorial, honouring the VCC.
HM Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Nigel Atkinson, said the small monument cements the legacy of the Portsmouth-based unit, where it will continue to serve for decades to come. He told The News: “This unit is hugely successful and has recruited so many cadets into the force, which is really great to give them some confidence and leadership.
“Portsmouth is the home of the Royal Navy and the armed forces. It’s an extension to have the cadets here as well. I had no idea where the plaque was going to be placed, and it’s a wonderful position that the city has given. Hopefully it’ll be a place where cadets can come along and feel proud to be standing beside it.”
The VCC formed at the Royal Marines Barracks in Eastney in 1901. Portsmouth is home to various cadet forces, many of them on display at today’s parade. Cadets from the British Army, Royal Marines, Police, St John’s Ambulance, and others were involved in the ceremony.
Brigadier Ged Salzano, Commander of the Royal Navy Cadet Forces, said the VCC reaching 125 years is an amazing achievement. “We have people on parade from aged nine to 82, which sets a marvellous example of the demographic of the community,” he added.
“The VCC have had some outstanding events this year, performing at the Royal Albert Hall. They’re going from strength to strength. The cadets are all about fun, friendship, adventure, and building skills for life.
“They can learn first aid, music, sailing, and we even teach them cyber safety skills. This is a celebration of what the cadets do, and the service they provide in communities.”
The government has been pushing to improve the nation’s resilience by encouraging more children to sign up to the cadet forces, accepting such recommendations in the Strategic Defence Review.
Alex Hopper, a nine-year-old Royal Marines cadet from Southsea, said she’s made lots of lovely friends since joining. “The parade was really fun,” she added. “Obviously my feet kind of hurt, but you got to listen to everyone and the plaque is really cool.
“I’ve enjoyed the cadets so much. I really like marching, and we also do bag packing and medical stuff. The Royal Marines assault course was fantastic! I’ll obviously stay in the cadets as I get older. It’s really good and the life skills we learn are really helpful, even if you don’t join the military.”
Her mum, Caroline Bell, said it has been amazing watching her grow since she joined six months ago. “Seeing how quickly she’s taking responsibility for things, and learning new skills, is fantastic,” she added.
“She sorts out her uniform and polishes her shoes, the type of stuff you might not expect a child to do, but you suddenly see what they can do at a young age. Watching her grow in confidence and doing things with the rest of the unit has been amazing.”
Councillor Steve Pitt, leader of Portsmouth City Council, said the plaque unveiling was significant as the cadet forces have played a massive role in the city for years. “I was astonished that we didn’t already have a plaque to mark their centenary,” he said.
“We’ve corrected that now with the 125th, and it’s a visible reminder of the role they have played in the city. It’s a location where they can mark future anniversaries. Cadets are an intrinsic part of civic life, and with Remembrance where they stand in the square and remember the fallen.
“They pick up so many skills and learn how to work as a team. A city is really a giant community that needs to come together, and they’re part of that.”