Award-winning sea cadet calls it a day (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

Walton: Award-winning sea cadet calls it a day

11:00am Thursday 7th February 2013 in News

A SEA Cadet stalwart who has spent nearly 40 years in a blue suit is retiring.

Lieutenant Commander John Garrett, of Frinton, boasts a long list of accolades for his time with the cadets.

As commanding officer he helped the Walton unit clinch the title for top unit in the country in 2002.

Down the years he has also been handed a vocational service award for service to his community, as well as being presented with the Captain Roddie Casement Sword for exceptional service to the Sea Cadets.

Mr Garrett, now 54, joined the cadets when he was 12 years-old, before leaving to become a gunner in the navy at 16.

He left the navy four years later after suffering an injury, and joined up with the Sea Cadets again straight away.

After leaving the Walton unit he became area staff officer for the whole of the London and Essex areas, and was responsible for implementing a training scheme for cadets to learn rescusitation.

He is retiring in order to devote more time to his family and his work commitments as a first aid trainer in Frinton.

Current Walton unit commander Gary Dodd said: “He has been a big part of the Walton unit for many years and has made a massive contribution to our cadets.”