The Barnet Eye Advent Calendar - 17th December

Here we are at the 17th day of Advent. There is a saying that the Devil makes work for idle hands. We look at both sides of that coin today. Today the Barnet Eye Tardis takes us back to Cricklewood Railway Depot in 1969.

So you think things used to be so much better than they are today? It's a myth we all sometimes subscribe to. We say "The kids today are so much worse than we were". Well when you actually research the truth, it is not always so cut and dried.

Check out this video, filmed in Cricklewood Train depot in 1969


For many of us, football hooliganism was something predominantly of the mid 1970's but as you can see, it was alive and well in the swinging 60's. The video refers to the "Home secretary and British Rail wanting to do something about it". Well the problem of football special trains was comprehensively stopped by the Conservative government of the mid 1990's who abolished British Rail and with it football specials. I only ever once travelled on a Football Special. That was in 1975, with some friends who were Spurs fans, to watch them play my team, Manchester City at Maine Road. Spurs lost 5-1 and were relegated. The bar on the train was ransacked and missiles were thrown at unsuspecting passengers on the platforms as the train sped through. I was 13 at the time and found it all a bit scary. I doubt I'd let my 13 year old son go on such an excursion on his own today. How times have changed.

Of course, such acts have always been carried out by a tiny minority. We hear about the bad things they do, but we rarely hear of the good things and the hard work for the community carried out by many.

 

One organisation that does sterling work and we are only too keen to promote is TS Broadsword, based at the Welsh Harp, which offers young people the chance to experience many forms of naval an water based training -  http://www.seacadet.org/index.html

Their website says

THE CORPS AND IT'S AIMS

The Sea Training Corps is a voluntary youth organisation for Boys and Girls. It aims to develop qualities of self-discipline and leadership, and provides a service to the community. We believe this is an important function in today's multicultural and multi-faith society, and that we are helping to develop good citizens for the future. Our organisation is run on Naval routines and traditions.

Broadsword is a Self Help/Self Financing Group, and has a long wish list needed for it to progress, expand, continue and to develop further in order to support the vitally important work it carries out voluntarily for Youth and the Community. To this end any Donation, however small or large, would be very gratefully received and formally acknowledged. Donors kind enough to donate for running costs will be sent a set of Professionally Audited signed Annual Accounts. Donors kind enough to donate for a specific project or items of equipment etc. will be sent receipts and invited to inspect any purchases. All donors will be welcome to visit T.S. Broadsword either officially or un-announced.

They are currently looking for volunteers and helpers, so if you are interested in helping CLICK HERE or you can check out their FACEBOOK page CLICK HERE

The Barnet Eye is a long term supporter of TS Broadsword, it's aims and its activities. If you have children who are interested in experiencing something more challenging than watching X Factor, I'd heartily recommend getting them to have a look at TS Broadsword.  

Best in Barnet - Focus on the Training Ship Broadsword Sea Cadet Corps

About a month ago, I got chatting to a group from TS Broadsword Sea Training corps at a meeting of Barnet Council Cabinet. They were mistakenly under the impression that the future of the Welsh Harp was being discussed. As they are based onsite, they wanted to make their voices heard. As I'd checked the agenda and knew that no such discussion was taking place, I was determined to ensure that their trip wasn't wasted. Although I may not agree with him about One Barnet, I have always found the Deputy Leader of the Council, Daniel Thomas to be a reasonable chap and so during the break I introduced the group to him and suggested that a dialog was set up to try and resolve an issue about access to the waterfront at the Welsh Harp for the group. As I expected, Councillor Thomas was amenable to the idea.

I subsequently received an email thanking me for my efforts and asking me to visit. One of the missions of this blog is to promote community organisations and I already know of the great work done by the Sea Cadets and the Sea Training Corps. I duly took up the offer and made my way to their base just off Cool Oak Lane on the Welsh Harp. I was greeted by the CO, Commander G. Beck MBE. For the next hour I was given a guided tour of the building and told how it was built entirely by volunteers. In fact most of the materials were recovered from skips or donated. Walls would go up 100 bricks at a time as funds trickled in.

The are three age groups. Sea Pirates ar 7-9, Juniors are 9-11 and Cadets are 12-19. The organisation is an independent body, founded in 1942. Each year, the organisation provides a Mayors Cadet, who assists at various civic functions. The group was adopted by the London Borough of Barnet in 2003. The organisation is fully inclusive, welcoming people from all communities and all abilities. I spoke to one cadet, who requires a wheelchair, who explained how the Cadets had changed his life and he is on a mission to set up his own "wheelchair" unit. The Unit also boasts a band, which I had the pleasure of watching rehearse. The group sets high standards, it is uniformed and members are expected to attend. There is no upper limit on age.

The organisation are seeking funds to install a wheelchair lift, to ensure that the full facilities are available to all members.

And what about the activities? The members have a full program. As pictures speak louder than words, here are a few

Sea Pirates on parade

Sea Pirates on the climbing wall

The Band on the march

"Its about getting our and having fun"

It has its highs and lows !

On the Water activities

Fencing for all

It can be character building !

And you might get wet !

The Band practice

They say the devil makes work for idle hands. We hear so much negative press about young people, but I was highly impressed with everything I saw at TS Broadsword. The young people were polite and friendly and a credit to the unit and their parent.

Anyone wishing to join or find out more information, should email broadsword@seacadet.org or check the website www.seacadet.org for more details. As I mentioned earlier, they are also raising funds to improve access for members who use wheelchairs and have other issues with mobility. Please consider a donation