Cadets reunion to bid farewell to old home

TO celebrate 75 years of service Porthcawl Sea Cadets are holding a reunion for past and present cadets, staff and supporters.

The event on Saturday will also give people the opportunity to say goodbye to the unit’s long- standing home – TS St David – as the cadets prepare to move into a transitional building on Cosy Corner, prior to settling into their permanent home in Porthcawl Maritime Centre.

Porthcawl Sea Cadets was formed 75 years ago when the corps met at TS Seaflower – a wooden hut beside the harbour.

Membership of more than 100 was common and Sea Cadets played an important part in children’s lives.

Unfortunately a gale demolished the TS Sea- flower unit. The corps then relocated to a “temporary” concrete section building on the Eastern Breakwater, which had been built during the Second World War for use as a triaging point for airmen rescued from sea.

Volunteers rallied to the cause and a store extension was added, and the unit renamed TS St David, which has been used for the last 60 years.

Chairman Mike Clarke said: “Despite meeting in what was to be a temporary building for many years, the unit is thriving with healthy membership and notable successes in training and competition.

“We hope to see cadets old and new at the reunion to share memories and look to the future of the unit together.”

The unit building will open between 3pm to 5pm for visitors to tour the building one last time, culminating in a buffet reunion at Hi Tide Inn from 6pm.

To attend please RSVP to rachde@hotmail.co.uk or mike. clarke220@gmail.com or 07957 456651.