MUSSELBURGH Sea Cadets & Royal Marines Cadets celebrated the unit’s 70th anniversary on Saturday.

Warrant Officer Chris Gay later said it was his “proudest moment” as Commanding Officer of the unit, TS Indefatigable.

The platinum jubilee event was marked by a parade through the town to the sound of The Bands of HM Royal Marines, led by Sergeant Chris Bray, of RM Band Scotland.

Cadets and veterans from near and far gathered to take part, and in addition to the hosts, Musselburgh Sea Cadets & Royal Marines Cadets, participants included Sea Cadets Dunbar, Sea Cadets Edinburgh Trinity, Grangemouth Sea Cadets & Royal Marines Cadets, Sea Cadets Leith, Irvine Sea Cadets, Fraserburgh Sea Cadets & Royal Marines Cadets, Perth Sea Cadets – TS Fairmaid, Bath Sea Cadets, 297 Musselburgh Squadron, RAF Air Cadets, Police Scotland volunteers, and the East Lothian Armed Forces & Veterans Breakfast Club.

A service took place at Northesk Church, conducted by parish minister the Rev Hayley Cohen and Pauline Robertson RNR, unit chaplain.

This was followed by a fun day at Ravelston House Hotel, with bouncy castles, refreshments, live music, fundraising and recruitment stalls, and the Royal Navy national STEM engagement team.

Warrant Officer Gay paid tribute to the young people, adult volunteers, parents, supporters and the local community.

He said: “As the cadets marched through Musselburgh, the community spirit was thriving. Months of planning and dedication by many came together with outstanding pride.”

He stressed: “This event would not have been possible without the support of the volunteers, parents, supporters and local community.”

Representatives from the Sea Cadets included Captain Neil Downing, Captain Sea Cadets, and Ami Haralambous, national fundraising support manager at the Sea Cadets, and also Roderick Urquhart, Lord Lieutenant of East Lothian, and Iain Clark, Deputy Lieutenant.

M&F Funeral Services Ltd provided limousines and drivers to transport the VIP guests during the event.

Warrant Officer Gay said: “The 70th parade was made even more special with the staggering sound of The Bands of HM Royal Marines, led by Sergeant Chris Bray of RM Band Scotland. The support from Chris throughout this event, from planning to the parade, was fantastic.

“Thank you also to Police Scotland East Lothian and East Lothian Council for their support in planning and executing the parade on the day.”

The Rotary Club of Musselburgh and supporters of Musselburgh Sea Cadets & Royal Marines Cadets were on hand to act as stewards and first aiders.

Warrant Officer Gay said: “TS Indefatigable has supported thousands of young people to give them a headstart in life through the fun and engaged training Sea Cadets offer.

“Through the young people’s engagement in the cadets, we don’t only give them recognised qualifications but prepare and equip them to be more adaptable, confident and better skilled in their life.

“We are a safe haven for our young people, a place where they feel at home and part of a family, a place where they can be themselves. TS Indefatigable is a beacon of hope, development, skilling up and enabling all those that come into contact with us to be the very best they can be.”

Cian Fitzgerald, chairperson of TS Indefatigable, commented: “For any organisation, business, club or institution to survive for so long is a huge achievement. But for a volunteer-led charity, enriching the lives of generation after generation of young people, and the community at large, to thrive and grow over that course of time is truly exceptional.

“None of this would have been possible were it not for so many volunteers giving up so many hours of their days and weekends, all for the benefit of our cadets.”

Musselburgh Sea Cadets was officially affiliated to the Sea Cadets on April 15, 1954.

Indefatigable was named after HMS Indefatigable, an Implacable-class aircraft carrier (R10) from the Second World War. The first unit was located and formed at Campie School, Musselburgh, with 37 cadets and four volunteers. The unit was formed mainly by families and members of the local fishing community of Fisherrow.

A few years later, in 1959, the unit moved to a cadet hut erected by the unit members and supporters at Fisherrow Harbour.

In 1965, TS Indefatigable attended and won the National Boxing Championships.

Sea Cadets were predominantly boys, until girls were welcomed into TS Indefatigable in 1993.

With the growth in cadet numbers, the unit moved to a larger building on the same site at Fisherrow Harbour. The unit remained there until 1994, when it moved into its current HQ on South Street, Musselburgh – the old wash house.

The unit underwent a “massive refurbishment” in 2021, turning it into “a modern training facility for the young people to thrive”.

In 2023, another junior section was welcomed to support growth and also a Royal Marines cadet detachment.