Let There be Light!

Poole Sea Cadets held their AGM and Prize Giving recently and were able to reflect upon another successful year.
The prizes were presented by the Unit’s Patron, the Mayor of Poole, Councillor Tony Trent accompanied by the Sheriff of Poole, Councillor Mike Brooke. Our President, Rear Admiral Nick Lambert, RN (Retd), was also on hand to help guide proceedings.
The evening was held with the large audience sitting under lighting which didn’t have to tap into the national grid at all.
This reflected a big success story of the year which was the successful implementation of a solar panel scheme which our cadets named “Project Liquid Sun”. This was achieved through a successful grant bid to Low Carbon Dorset and as a result solar panels were installed which provide clean energy and feed battery storage – we are now already selling electricity back to the grid.
Poole Sea Cadets is the first Sea Cadet Unit in the country – out of more than 400 – to implement such a strategy and it is likely that many of these will now follow Poole’s example.
The substantial sum of money we have saved can now be spent on the cadet experience.
Achievements of all sorts including musical, sporting, seamanship and helping support the community were all highlighted.
During the year our 60 cadets achieved no less than 492 qualifications which is a huge endorsement not only of them but of our valued band of volunteer instructors.