Remembering the Laforey sacrifice
Youngsters from the Northampton and Wellingborough Sea Cadet Unit have commemorated the loss of HMS Laforey, which was torpedoed in the Mediterranean in 1944 with the loss of 185 lives.
Residents of Northampton raised more than 750,000 towards the 4m it cost to build HMS Laforey in 1942. The vessel helped the stricken HMS Ark Royal in 1943 and helped in Operation Pedestal, ferrying supplies to the island of Malta.
Sunday's parade and service involved more than 150 cadets from a wide area including Rushden, Kettering, Leicester and Hinckley. They were inspected by Admiral John Roberts CB who was previously the Commanding Officer of the Royal Navy's 1970s aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal. He was presented with a certificate of appreciation from the Sea Cadet unit for his support over the past 20 years.
Also there was HMS Laforey survivor Stan Brow, now aged 84, who travelled from South Australia to be at the parade.
The unit will soon be heading off for the annual Easter camp at its training centre in Thrapston where 30 cadets will train for the week in powerboating, dinghy sailing and windsurfing.
Commanding officer, Lieutenant Chris Read, said: "We have some of the finest young people that the town has to offer as Sea Cadets and they turn their hand to any task that is set them with enthusiasm and teamwork.
"The Sea Cadets is all about promoting self-determination and self-belief in our young people and our cadets always rise to the challenge."
The Sea Cadets are always looking for adult volunteers and cadets to join.
They meet on Tuesday and Friday evening from 7pm to 9.15pm at their headquarters in Nunn Mills Road.
For more details visit www.northamptonseacadets.org
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Weather for Northampton
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
