Saturday 30th June 2012 saw TS Indomitable celebrate its 50 year anniversary at its Burgess Hill base.
Originaly formed in 1961, TS Indomitable had to postpone it's 50 year celebrations until this summer due to some much needed refurbishment with help from the local Lions, volunteers and trades people. That's not to say that the unit didn't make up for the slight delay with celebrations! Having been greeted by Officers and Cadets, I was escorted 'on deck' where photographs and memoribilia from the ships history was on display, including pictures of the original comissioning.
A number of key members from the units history and guests were also in attendance, including Frank Easton, who served onboard namesake HMS Indomitable during the Second World War. Mr. Easton told me with a smile told me that it was 'nice to be here to be able to see the 'ship', cadets and all the activities that they get up to!' Corps Commodore Dave Wright was also pleased to attend and lend his support and wish the continued success of TS Indomitable. He was very pleased with the development of the unit and all its facilties and was quick to praise the 'Hard work and dedication, given by so many to help make the unit a success. Particularly to Ann Tyrell, who has been with TS Indomitable since the very beginning!'
Indomitable has been happy to recieve the help of support of the Burgess Hill District Lions who have funded the refurbishment of the units facilities to incluse disabled access. The result of which has meant that the building will be available for children of all abilities, both in the NTC and in Burgess Hill in general. The work has already won fans and hearts. Indomitable's Chief Officer Ann Tyrell, was keen to pass on a message from one young man who had made a point of coming to say thank you, 'it means so much that I can do this for myself and not need somebody else to help me.' Lions President John Thomson expressed that it was comments such as these that made it all worth while. 'We know how this facility was and we knew the work would be benefit people and groups from across the area and open the building to local youth groups of all abilities.' Big thanks indeed are owed to the Lions, without whom the refurbishment would not have been possible,
Cadets and Corps officers were keen to present skills learnt and perfected in the NTC, including Mark Gator's impressive demonstration building fire using dry grass and flints, certainly there was no shortage of volunteers willing to give it a go. The results are most certainly effective!
The fantastic cakes made to celebrate the event also won many fans, one detailing the ships insigina, the other, a 3D representation of the building itself, although contrary to it's lifesize countapart, it was quickly 'demolished' and enjoyed.... and rightly so! Well done TS Indomitable, here's to another 50 years!
For more photos, please click
here
