On the 15th of November 2016, just after 7pm, a fire gutted the boathouse at Wicksteed Park which was home to 800 Naval Air Squadron Kettering Sea Cadets. It represented 10 years of investment and effort by the unit, with equipment such as sails & rudders lost in the fire, but more importantly the Safety Boat which was worth between £8,000-£10,000
WBro David Watson, Provincial Grand Treasurer, and WBro Stuart Ogilvie recognised the invaluable work and opportunities the Sea Cadets provide and started the ball rolling, having secured a contribution from the Lodge of Perseverance 455 and with the Support of WBro Jason Brice, Charity Steward of Cytringan Lodge 4048, requested support from the other Kettering Lodges, which having been happily effected, the Provincial Grand Charity added to this making a combined total of £6,000.
On Thursday the 6th April 2017, Commodore Andrew Kyte (WBro Jeff Kyte’s son) as Kettering’s highest ranking serving member of HM Royal Navy visited the Kettering Sea Cadets on an official visit. This seemed an ideal opportunity to make the presentation on behalf of the Freemasons of Kettering.
Pictured left to right, WBro Neil Langford, Commodore Andrew Kyte (HM Royal Navy), Lieutenant Marc Pether (Sea Cadets Commanding Officer), WBro Jason Brice, WBro David Watson, WBro Barry Rogers, WBro Tom Stockley