Ready, set… boat!

After years of planning and hard work, Sea Cadets’ new Midlands Boat Station in Birmingham is now officially open for business, providing young people with fun waterborne activities and valuable qualifications.  

More than 60 cadets were on parade to mark the occasion, while others showcased the indoor spaces and demonstrated the range of boating activities on offer. They all helped to give visiting guests and supporters a glimpse of how the new facility will transform our activities in the region. 

Part of our nationwide network of eight boat stations and 38 unit boating hubs, the cutting-edge new facility will be a boating and watersports centre for Sea Cadets across the Midlands. It will offer residential training and activities, including dinghy sailing, paddlesports, rowing and powerboating, to over 1,500 sea cadets from 37 units who previously had to travel long distances. The boat station is also the new home for the Birmingham Vernon Unit, as well as being open to local schools, community groups and charities, offering a valuable resource for education and recreation.

We were honoured that the Admiral of the Sea Cadet Corps, HRH The Princess Royal, joined us to perform the opening ceremony – her first Sea Cadets event since being confirmed as the Patron of our charity. 

The Princess Royal was greeted by Midlands Boat Station Manager Howard Eeles, before being given a tour of the new building by our CEO, Martin Coles CBE. 

Birmingham Vernon Unit volunteers were delighted to be introduced to Her Royal Highness, and explained the impact the new boat station is having on the unit’s activities and community engagement. 

A number of cadets had the pleasure of meeting and talking with The Princess Royal as she toured the building’s residential accommodation, classrooms and activity spaces, before receiving a briefing on waterborne activities at the water’s edge. 

After Chaplain Pauline Weaver blessed the new building and read the Sea Cadets Prayer, Martin Coles thanked the assembled guests and explained how the new facility would be a great asset to the community – unlocking the potential of Edgbaston Reservoir for up to 340,000 young people within a 30-minute journey.

The Princess Royal then addressed the gathering, before unveiling a plaque to officially open Midlands Boat Station. The event marked a fitting finale for a project that began in 2017 and received planning permission in 2019, with work continuing throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. BZ to all the supporters, volunteers and employees who helped make it happen!

The cadet perspective

Cadet Corporal Kieran, from Wolverhampton Royal Marines Cadets Detachment, gave an excellent speech on what the new building means to cadets. 

“With the opening of this remarkable new boat station, we are taking another crucial step toward shaping the future of the next generation of cadets. The new and improved facilities will provide us with even greater opportunities to learn, train and excel. I know I am not alone in saying this will inspire more of us to get out on the water and push ourselves further. I encourage my fellow cadets to seize every opportunity that this incredible facility offers. Learn new skills, challenge yourselves, and above all, commit to everything you do with the same loyalty and dedication that brought us all here today.”

Photos: Nathaniel Rosa