Fishguard Sea Cadets- Best in Britain 1959

The Unit in 1959

The races and results for the Senior Crew

The races and results for the Junior Crew

The Senior Crew

The official welcome home outside The Town Hall

Both crews with Commanding Officer Lt. Cmd P.J.Morgan

The Senior Crew

The Junior Crew

The Original programme

To celebrate the success, the whole Unit was entertained in St. Mary's Church Hall.

Extracts from the local paper

Extracts from the local paper.

Cadets from 1959 to 1961 attending the reunion.

50th Anniversary evening at The Royal Oak.

Davies family collection

Fishguard Sea Cadets made history on 19th September 1959 when they won every major event at the Sea Cadets Corps National Regatta at Raven’s Ait Island, Surrey. Although Fishguard were the smallest unit competing, they trounced teams from large Corps from all over Great Britain.

In the main event of the day the senior boat pulling for the ‘Hornblower’ Trophy crossed the line four lengths ahead of Hartlepool, while in the junior event the youngsters from Fishguard beat a Sutton Coldfield crew by eight lengths to claim victory in the ‘Ridgewell’ trophy. The ‘Dawson’ Cup also made it’s way back to West Wales with the jubilant teams and their supporters.

In charge of the cadets was their Commanding Officer ‘Jeff” who was much admired by all for his genuine interest in the cadets and TS Skirmisher. Officially he was Lt.Commander P J  Morgan R.N.R., Headmaster of the local Church in Wales School. For 10 years he’d travelled for the competition but had never won both Senior and Junior Cups.

The Fishguard cadets competing were:

Senior crew – Terry Evans (cox), Michael O’Leary, Richard Fowles, Gordon Lewis, Ken Harries, Lionel Griffiths. Reserve : Keith Bean.

Junior crew – Ieuan Bateman (cox), David Lewis, Gwyn Phillips, Bertram Evans, Philip Davies, Ian Williams. Reserve : Tony Phillips.

Welcome home !

On arriving back in Fishguard Square about 11pm on the Sunday evening , hundreds of people had gathered to give the cadets a terrific welcome. Arranged by the Town Council, there were spotlights, flags and a platform for speeches . The crews mingled in the crowd showing their medals and talking to everyone, including the vicar Rev Geraint Richards and the Headmaster Mr Eddie Nicholas.

Mr Norman Williams , chairman of the Fishguard Chamber of Trade told the cadets they were a credit to Fishguard and all the long hours spent practising were now rewarded.

Replying , Lieut-Cmdr P J Morgan said, ” I doubt if Mr Kruschev received a better welcome in America!”

On the 19th September 2009, Perys Worth ( nee Morgan) together with Ian and Joy Williams organised a 50th Reunion at The Royal Oak, Fishguard which was a tremendous evening.

The history of the Cadet’s victories was carefully put together by the late Mr Philip G Davies in his book ‘Fishguard Sea Cadets 1959 50th Anniversary’ published in October 2009.