1st Helston Scout groups, ‘Poldark Beaver Colony’ had a special insight into background activities of Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose during an informative visit to the Navy’s Cornish Air Base.
Lead by group leader ‘Otter’, Amanda Court, who works in Culdrose Dental department the ‘Eager-Beavers’ were keen to take advantage of this exclusive tour of 829 Naval Air Squadron, one of Culdrose’s frontline Merlin Units and the Naval Fire Station.
“One of the reasons to visit Culdrose was to get the Beavers signed off on their Air Activities badge,” said Amanda.
“To get the Air Activities Badge they needed to make a paper aeroplane, find out about a particular aircraft and discover what it is like to fly. Everyone on the Squadron and the Fire Station were really brilliant.”
The Beavers watched as the sailors from 829 NAS practiced loading a Torpedo onto the Merlin Mk 1, looked around the inside of an aircraft and chatted to the aircrew about flying.
Then it was off to the Fire Station, where the crew had laid on some with practice with a real fire extinguisher for the youngsters – attacking a real fire, as well doing what every young Beaver wants to do… sit in the driver’s seat of one of the enormous fire engines that are on stand-by to fight fires across the Airfield.
‘Otter’ (Amanda) summed up the visit:
“Both the Beavers and leaders had a really good time; it was brilliant that RNAS Culdrose laid on all this for us.
“Many of the children have parents who are employed or have a connection at the Base and it was good that they could see where they work; the experience will stay with them for a long time.”
[mappress] Press Release, October 23, 2013; Image: Royal Navy