NEWHAVEN FORT, JUNE 2008

Beating the Retreat

Added by Jackie Blackwell

Dame Vera Lynn was among the VIP guests who enjoyed watching the Beating Retreat ceremony at Newhaven Fort on Friday 20th June. The event was organised by the Newhaven and Seaford Sea Cadets to help raise money for a new HQ. The cadets have set themselves a £1 million target for more suitable surroundings.

Dame Vera Lynn takes central place at the Fort

Tony Mould

Almost 500 people saw the Band of HM Royal Marines, Portsmouth, perform Beating Retreat with the finale featuring Sunset and the Lowering of the Colours. There was also a field gun display by the cadets, a performance by the National Sea Cadet Band champions, TS Vigilant of Whitstable, followed by a physical training display featuring cutlasses and the hornpipe by the Sea Cadet National PT Team.

Band of HM Royal Marines, Portsmouth, Beating the Retreat

Tony Mould

Other guests at the event included the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, Phyllida Stewart Roberts, 96-year-old Dieppe Raid veteran General 'Tiny' Haughton, Commander Gary Bushell, the Southern Area Sea Cadet Officer and his deputy, Major Andy Henderson. Also there were the Vice-Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, Peter Field, who has agreed to be patron of the new building fund, the High Sheriff of East Sussex, Hugh Burnett, the chairman of Lewes District Council, Cllr Carla Butler and the mayors of Newhaven, Seaford and Lewes.

A field gun display by the Seaford and Newhaven Sea Cadets

Tony Mould

The full article appears in Sussex Express Series newspaper:
http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/509/GALLERY-Beating-Retreat-Newhaven-Fort.4226438.jp
To see more of Tony Mould's photographs of the event at: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/tonymould/NewhavenFort1?authkey=wtN452YGE9o