Gloucester Royal Marines Cadets, alongside Worcester Royal Marines Cadets, have made history at the National Drill and Piping Competition at HMS Raleigh last Saturday — seizing Best Arena Display and Best Drill in a stunning demonstration of teamwork, discipline, and determination!
The cadets worked tirelessly, putting in countless hours of extra training to win both their Troop and Area competitions — achievements that earned them the honour of representing the South West Area on the national stage for the very first time.
They proved that true grit, trust, and hard work can achieve incredible things. Their dedication to building a strong, united team shone through at every stage and culminated in a performance that captivated both judges and spectators — demonstrating what can be achieved when young people are given the chance to aim high and dream big.
As if that were not enough, Guard Commander Cdt Cpl Gurung also secured third place in the hotly contested Guard Commander category — a fantastic individual achievement that highlights the outstanding leadership within the squad.
The Royal Marines Cadets are part of the national Sea Cadets organisation, which offers young people opportunities to challenge themselves, develop life skills, and embrace values such as courage, resilience, and loyalty — all of which were clearly on display at HMS Raleigh this weekend.
CPO (SCC) Mitzi Watkins, Officer-in-Charge of Gloucester Sea Cadets and Royal Marines Cadets Corps, said: “Our Marines Cadets have been absolutely outstanding — their commitment, teamwork, and spirit have been second to none.
The leadership from Cpl Gurung, the dedication from staff, and the brilliant support from parents and guardians have all played their part in making this happen.
It’s been a real community effort, and an unforgettable achievement for everyone involved. A brilliant example of the Sea Cadets community coming together to help our young people thrive and succeed.”
Capt (SCC) Liam Cooper RMR, Gloucester Royal Marines Cadet Detachment Commander and Team Manager, added: “The hard work and dedication from our cadets has paid dividends with a hard-earned success. This win would not have been possible without the support of the parents, other volunteers, and most importantly, the cadets themselves.
A win at this level shows how being part of the organisation enables our young people and volunteers to thrive and contribute positively to our community.”
Out of almost 120 Royal Marines Cadet Detachments across the country, Gloucester and Worcester cadets came first. Every one of them consistently gave 100% effort, and it is their grit, determination, spirit, and teamwork that have brought them to this incredible achievement.
From training on freezing days — when they had to scrape snow from the drill square before they could even begin — to giving up weekends for extra practice, these cadets have shown remarkable commitment throughout.
Other staff members who gave up their time to help train the cadets include Sgt (SCC) Morgan, P/Sgt (SCC) Nigh, CSgt (SCC) Peachy, and CSgt (SCC) Evemy, to name but a few. Without their support, none of this would have been possible.
Huge congratulations to the Gloucester cadets:
Cdt Cpl Gurung, Cdt L/Cpl Huckson, Cdt L/Cpl Nigh, Cdt MC Pugh-Bodman, Cdt MC Ellis, Cdt MC Nigh, and the three Worcester cadets.
Want to Be Part of Something Amazing?
If your young person would like to experience adventure, teamwork, and skills for life — or if you would like to help make a difference by supporting young people to reach their full potential — we would love to hear from you!
Please get in touch: oic-tsglos@outlook.com
• Junior Cadets – ages 10–12
• Sea Cadets – ages 12–18
• Royal Marines Cadets – ages 13–18
Gloucester Sea and Royal Marines Cadets are holding a taster session on 15th May — why not book a place for your young person to come and give it a try?
To reserve a spot, please email: oic-tsglos@outlook.com.