THERE have been Barrow Sea Cadets since 1931 and the organisation was looking forward to a getting a range of modern facilities in 1992.

The Mail, on February 5, noted: “Work on the new sailing centre for Barrow Sea Cadets was underway in earnest this week, following the turf cutting ceremony.

“The centre, due to be completed in July, will cost £215,000.

“The money has been donated by local firms and the centre will be built on the edge of Ramsden Dock.

“Head of Barrow Sea Cadets, Lt Cmdr Gordon Brayshaw, said the centre will include a boat house accommodation for cadets on weekend stays.

“The ceremony was carried out by Diane Meacock, trustee of the Sir James Fisher Foundation which donated half of the money.”

Finishing touches were being put to the building in July, ready for an official opening in September.

An article on July 21 noted: “The building will be able to accommodate about40 boys, 20 girls and 12 staff.

“The cadets, aged between 12 to 18, will be able to enjoy sailing, canoeing and power boat handling under instruction from the unit’s Royal Yacht Association qualified staff.”

On Jul y 2 in 1988 noted: “The drum and bugle band of the Training Ship Sovereign played their way to victory in the area finals of the Sea Cadet bands’ competition at Ellesmere Port recently.

“They beat four other bands in their section to take first place - and it is the first time they have ever entered the competition.”

In 1988 a group of business sponsors made sure Barrow Sea Cadets could learn the skills of traditional sailing on a ship with a 120ft tall mast.

The Mail on April 7, noted: “Thirty-five members of Barrow Sea Cadets will be able to sample life before the mast aboard the sail training ship Royalist thanks to efforts by local firms and organisations.

“Seven annual T.S Royalist scholarships have been awarded to Barrow Sea Cadet unit for each of the next five years.”

In June that year, David Woods, George Heginbottom, Stephen Royle and Stephen Bycroft were able to join the crew of TS Royalist as it sailed from Cavendish Dock at Barrow - and they needed to have good heads for height.

Ship’s captain David Norman said: “As soon as they’ve been assigned their bunk and unpacked we take them over the mast, before they’ve had time to think that they don’t want to do it. “You remove the fear before they have a chance to settle in because there is quite a lot of work to be done aloft on the ship.”