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Over the weekend, Flight Sergeant Harry S of the Upper Sixth and Pilot Officer Harry Briggs, were involved in the National Trafalgar Day Parade, held in London. Organised by the Sea Cadet Corps, with invited representatives from across the Cadet Forces, the parade takes place in Trafalgar Square and commemorates Nelson’s victory at the Battle of Trafalgar on the 21st October 1805. It is the most important day in the naval calendar, defining British sailing for hundreds of years and a significant event in the Sea Cadets calendar.

Two days of intense training and rehearsals preceded the parade, with cadets and Cadet Force adult volunteers from the Sea Cadet Corps (SCC), Volunteer Cadet Corps (VCC), Combined Cadet Force (Royal Navy), Army Cadet Force (ACF) and RAF Air Cadets (RAFAC) coming together to ensure the parade was well executed. 

There were over 400 personnel on parade, led by the Massed Bands of the Sea Cadet Corps, which began on Horse Guards Parade, moved up The Mall through Admiralty Arch and onto Trafalgar Square, before marching the length of The Mall, passing Buckingham Palace, and into Wellington Barracks. The Reviewing Officer was Rear Admiral Jude Terry OBE RN, Director of People and Training for the Royal Navy, and the first female RN Officer to hold a ‘flag rank’. In her address to the cadets at Wellington Barracks, RAdm Terry conveyed how impressed she was with all involved, and commended them for their involvement with the Cadet Forces.

This is the first time a CCF(RAF) cadet has been present at the Trafalgar Day Parade – historically, it has only ever been cadets from the Air Training Corps who have represented the RAF Air Cadets.