“On the weekend of 19-20 March, nine cadets, accompanied by Captain John, Lt van der Werff and Mrs Crossland. On Saturday, they spent the morning at HMS Collingwood at the Royal Navy Leadership Training centre, and took part in PLTs (Practical Leadership Tasks), and took on the gruelling and challenging assault course in the afternoon. They did brilliantly well, and were praised by the instructors for their progress in the morning, being told that they were the best school to cope with the assault course in the afternoon.

On Sunday, twelve cadets spent the day at the Historic Royal Dockyard in Portsmouth. While they were there, they saw all the major sights: including the Mary Rose, the Victory and a WWI minesweeper. They then enjoyed a harbour tour and a visit to the conservation shed before finishing on HMS Warrior, where they were treated to a small arms display by a Marine Midshipman, and were given the compliment by the Captain that if they wanted to apply to join his crew they would be very welcome!

It was a busy and positive weekend, which everyone enjoyed. Enormous thanks go to Captain John for all his work in putting it together. It was really good to get the section back to trips after Covid stopped them two years ago.”

Lt Tanya van der Werff