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The purpose of the event was to commemorate the restoration of the painting of Boy Seaman Jack Cornwell VC. The painting was completed in 1916 by Frank Salisbury.?  On arrival at the RN Base at 1530hrs on Thursday, armed guards and a barrage of questions to check my authenticity confronted me.? After check-in I was escorted by a Steward to be quartered in Officers` accommodation.? Hastening to the Wardroom?Lounge I was greeted by Lieutenant Commander David Griffiths whose role in Scout terms is the Inspector of Sea Scout Troops in the UK for RN Recognition. He appears in my book Milestones of Hertfordshire Scouting in 2006.? Enjoying coffee, we were soon joined by other Scouting colleagues, Roy Masini (who is the Scout historian on Jack Cornwell and is writing The History of Sea Scouting due to be published in their centenary year 2010), Michael Nadin MBE, (ACC Water Activities for GLN County, former CC of Central London County & National Adviser for Sea Scouting) & Wayne Bulpitt (Chief Commissioner of England (South).? The RN organiser of the event, Anglican Chaplain, The Rev Scott Lamb briefed us about the next 24hrs and we hurried off to re-polish our shoes, change into lounge suits and await in reception for escorted transport to the HMS Sutherland? Realistic Working Environment where we had a six course dinner expertly prepared by trainee RN chefs in a mock up of a real on-ship Wardroom.? We were guests of Captain J Woodcock OBE RN. Officer in command of HMS Raleigh.? Also seated were a number of other Naval personnel and wives.? The chief guest was Brigadier Alistair Deas MBE (Commandant Defence College of Logistics and Personnel Administration).
 Breakfast at 0730 next morning was very adequate and following this we cleared our rooms and now feeling more comfortable in Scout uniform for the day, assembled in reception before a larger than life painting of Sir Walter Raleigh.? Our guide for the tour of the base was Lieutenant Nic Dodd (Commandant Defence Maritime Logistics School at HMS RALEIGH). He is also an Explorer Scout Leader!? Following a bracing walk in the keen Cornwall air through the sprawling complex, we entered one of the self-contained training establishments where up to 90 recruits are housed and trained during their nine-week course.? Many had University Degrees, a few whose manners left a little to be desired would get a shock, as they had to be turned into disciplined young men and women ready to be drafted to areas of conflict anywhere in the world.? We viewed with interest an audio-visual presentation given to recruits on their first day that detailed the course of work through each of the nine weeks.? (There are eight such establishments on site and every Monday morning a new batch of up to 90 people arrived aged between 16
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Heritage & History