Massive Congratulations Able Cadet Ellie

Able Cadet Ellie, on being awarded the Bideford and District Sea Cadets ‘Cadet of the Year’ award 2024. It was with great pleasure that our Mayor, Councillor Niki Tait, was asked by the Sea Cadets to attend their award ceremony personally to present this award, though she did not know, until the actual event, that Ellie was the winner.

Cllr Tait congratulated Ellie, explaining that selecting a cadet from all the young people within the Northam Wards is not an easy job. In Councillor Tait’s words:

‘I was looking for several attributes. They need to be a shining example of the youth in this area, and someone who will do credit to the council and our community. If they had an affiliation to my Mayor’s RNLI charity and to the sea, then that would be an additional bonus. I asked around and there was one name which kept cropping up from everyone I independently asked and that was Ellie. Although too young to become a member of the crew in her own right, Ellie’s family, through her father, uncle and grandfather, have clocked up over 80 years of voluntary service with Appledore RNLI. She is an Able Cadet with Bideford and District Sea Cadets with over 6 years’ service already. On approaching the Sea Cadets to gain permissions for her to become the Mayor’s cadet, the citation from her Commanding Officer Chief Meleady was outstanding, to say superlative even’.

To be awarded Cadet of the Year is a wonderful accolade. Well done, Ellie.'