HUNDREDS of cadets will take part in a parade next month to mark the 70th anniversary of a Gorleston-based sea cadet unit. TS Norfolk will reach its historic milestone on April 6 and the occasion will be marked with a celebratory parade in Gorleston followed by a service at St Andrew's Church.

HUNDREDS of cadets will take part in a parade next month to mark the 70th anniversary of a Gorleston-based sea cadet unit.

TS Norfolk will reach its historic milestone on April 6 and the occasion will be marked with a celebratory parade in Gorleston followed by a service at St Andrew's Church.

Last month, the Mercury appealed for former members of the unit, formerly known as TS Wishbone and TS Yarmouth, to come forward for the celebrations.

Trevor Metcalf, of Cheltenham, still receives a copy of the Mercury and wrote a letter recalling his days in the unit.

He said: “I hope to attend the celebrations having joined TS Wishbone in 1948, first as a cadet and later after service in the Royal Navy as a chief petty officer.”

Mr Metcalf sent a photograph of the cadets' rifle team in the 1950s after winning the Winchester Cup.

On Sunday, April 6, cadets will line up at St Mary's RC School in Gorleston at 1pm for an inspection by Rear Admiral Niall Kilgour, former commanding officer of HMS Norfolk. Cadets, led by the marching band of Winterton Marine Cadets, will march via the High Street to St Andrew's Church for the service and afterwards will march back up the High Street to outside QD for a salute. About 120 cadets will take part in the event, with youngsters from Norwich, Lowestoft and Beccles involved.

The unit's Chief Petty Officer Philip Corbyn said: “We've had a really good response.”

The sea cadets unit in Yarmouth dates back to the 1850s to the early days of the Naval Lads Brigade. TS Norfolk began life in 1938 as a sea cadet corps unit first known as TS Wishbone. Its name was changed to TS Yarmouth when the unit became affiliated to HMS Yarmouth. When the ship was decommissioned in 1985, HMS Norfolk became the unit's affiliated vessel and accordingly the group's name was changed. The unit spent many years based at Koolunga House, in Gorleston, before moving to its current premises in Riverside Road in 1964. It caters for junior cadets aged 10 to 12 and senior cadets aged 12 to 18.

To take part in the celebratory event or for more information, call Mr Corbyn on 01493 308169.