T.S.
Broadsword was founded as Hendon Sea Cadets in 1941 by Mr. Howard Farrow and
Lt. Cdr. Louis Flateau, RNVR. The
unit paraded in Algernon Road school hall, transporting all their equipment to
and fro from local garages in a large barrow that took 6 cadets to push.
In
1966 the unit moved to new headquarters in Cool Oak Lane adjacent to the Welsh
Harp. The unit soon outgrow the building
and a programme of rebuilding and extending has continued ever since. The
headquarters building is regularly used for weekend courses with as many as 60
cadets and staff attending. It also runs
a lunch club for the local community.
In
1991 Hendon Unit left the Sea Cadet Corps and reformed as T.S. Broadsword, Sea
Training Corps, an independent youth organisation. T.S. Broadsword is a voluntary organisation
for boys and girls to teach them life skills and self-discipline, as well as
seamanship, sailing, navy history and life at sea.
All
the staff are unpaid, giving up 2 or 3 nights a weeks, plus weekends. The current C.O. and another member of staff
were cadets together in the 1958. Several
members of staff have over 20 years’ service. In 2003 the London Borough of
Barnet formally adopted T.S. Broadsword
as its youth organisation, the only such adoption in 62 years. Many of the children we are
involved with come from very troubled backgrounds and we are able to engage
with them and hopefully turn out young men and women who society can be proud
of, but more importantly these individuals can be proud of themselves. One of the most pleasurable things we see is
our able bodied cadets looking out for those less fortunate than themselves. The staff encourage cadets to take part in as
many activities, courses, and competitions as possible, so that they reach
their full potential and gain the most of the opportunities and
experiences available.
The cadets regularly attend various parades,
providing both band and Guard of Honour for civic dignitaries and events. The cadets attend camps throughout UK and abroad
and next year there will be a USA camp. On the 9th July
2016, TS Broadsword, is celebrating its 75th anniversary since
formation and 25th anniversary since becoming an independent Sea
Training Corps. There will be a fate from 11am to 4pm, everyone is most welcome. There will be demonstrations by bands from
all over the UK, shooting gallery, climbing wall, tours of the unit, BBQ, face
painting, fire engine, police car, and lots more
More About TS Broadsword
Background:
Hendon Unit aka T.S. Broadsword S.T.C. (Broadsword) has been
in existence and the London Borough of Barnet’s Unit for 75 years, since its
establishment in 1941.
The Unit has been and continues to be a completely
self-funded voluntary group and run by volunteers from within the community.
Broadsword caters for both boys and girls from the age of 7
years to 19 years, there is no upper age limit as many cadets go on to become
staff at the Unit, this is unique to our Unit.
We are open to any one irrespective of colour, creed,
ethnicity, religion, ability/disability and sexuality. Some of the children at
the unit have mental health and learning difficulties, some more severe than
others, and we have some with physical disabilities, including wheelchair bound
children and adults. A number of the children in the Unit come from deprived
backgrounds, there are also bereaved children who have lost parents and
siblings, children who live with guardians and who are under contact orders. We
support all our children and enhance their lives by instilling self-confidence, self-discipline,
resourcefulness and self-reliance. This in turns has a very positive impact on
parents and guardians and thus a number of them have joined the Unit Committee.
The aims and objectives of the Unit are to produce better
citizens who will learn respect of persons and property through the medium of
Royal Naval Routines and Traditions. In addition,
the children are taught skills necessary and desirable for full participation
in everyday life.
What ts Broadsword do:
·
Broadsword supports the London Borough of
Barnet’s Holocaust Memorial Day event each year and has done so for many years
·
Supports the Borough Armed Forces Day Parade in
strength on a yearly basis
·
Represents the Borough at the St Georges Day
Parade in Whitehall on a yearly basis
·
Has represented the Borough at extremely short
notice at the central London New Year’s Day Parade (this has been done on more
than 4 occasions), this parade is Europe’s largest New Year’s Day Parade.
Remembrance
Sunday:
for 6 weeks prior to the Boroughs Event – Broadsword
commences the training of the local
·
Brownies
·
Police Cadets
·
Air Cadets
·
We also work with a choir from the local school
in preparation of the service
·
We order the Poppy Wreaths for the local groups
and churches and distribute them all prior to Remembrance Day
·
Organisation of the Police and Permits for the event
·
Organise the Press Releases and advertising for
the community as a whole
·
Organisation and payment for the Public Address
Systems
·
Organisation of ambulance cover
·
and any other ancillary services
·
We also provide both bands from within our unit
After the Remembrance Day Ceremony Broadsword has the honour
of hosting the Borough Remembrance Sunday Memorial Dinner in the presence of
the Mayor, Mayoress, councillors, dignitaries and VIPs as well as many local
people, we have at least 100 people in attendance on a yearly basis.
Mayors, their deputies and councillors always attend our
activities and support the unit and have done so for the past 75 years, we host
St Georges Day events, Swearing in Ceremonies for the cadets, Drill Displays
and Band Displays etc
Night Exercises at
the Unit:
this is a very stimulating activity for the cadets and the
local Police are very supportive of this we also have other units which join us
for this activity.
Intercommunity Groups
Football Competition:
·
(90 children/cadets) Broadsword cadets, Police
Cadets, Air Cadets and Sea cadets.
·
Hold and host Advancement Boards/Promotion
Boards for its cadets and staff which has numerous external examiners from the
Royal Navy/MOD. We also host a semi-formal dinner for all attendees
·
The Unit hosts both local and units from around
the country for its activities, we have had units’ form Kent, Portsmouth,
Liverpool, Gloucester, Worcestershire, Essex etc.
TS Broadsword in the Community:
As well as being a Cadet Unit it is an Integral part of the
community and enhances the lives of many, the Unit is used for:
·
Daytime Training for Ambulance Personnel,
Paramedics, Ambulance Technicians and ancillary staff
·
Over 60s Lunchtime club for the local community,
a huge success with great feedback
·
Allotment users and their committee (from the
allotment opposite) use the Unit for their AGM, other meetings and get together
·
The Unit opens its doors for the local community
to take advantage of the fundraising car boot sales, it also hosts various
fairs and events
·
Local community groups have evening events such
as Race Night, Quiz night etc
Broadsword is open on a daily basis and at present is going
through an extensive building programme to make the Unit more accessible and to
enhance the facilities for both the disabled and able bodied. We are installing
a lift to make it easier for the disabled and those less mobile.
Broadsword is very much at the heart of the community,
everyone who comes to our unit is given a warm welcome, the running of the Unit
is open and transparent.
Since its inception many cadets have gone on to join the
military and serve their country in both times of peace and war.
Over the past 75 years many people/cadets have come and gone
but they always remember the grounding they received through T.S. Broadsword S.T.C.
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