 |
| A scheme was introduced during the Second World War for local towns to raise funds for, and adopt ships for the war effort. Thus it was that in �Warship Week� of April1942 , Kettering and district raised an incredible sum of �363 120 to fund the Hunt class destroyer named after the local hunt. The ship saw active service in the war engaging at various times aircraft and German E-Boats. Plaques commemorating the association between the town and the ship, were exchanged at a town council meeting on behalf of the Royal Navy. Thankfully, the ship survived the war and continued as a training ship to the end of the 1050s before being finally decommissioned and scrapped. |
| At the same time as �Warship Week�, a vast national expansion of the Sea Cadet Corps was planned. Kettering was determined to play its part and the �Evening Telegraph� of 14th April 1942 carried the first notice announcing the formation of the local unit. It was thought appropriate to call the unit Training Ship Pytchley after the destroyer, and the name has survived to this day. |
| 1940s |
| In the war years the unit rose to its largest size parading at one time 220 cadets. A great deal of interest was taken in the unit by the local business community, and the unit prospered. The war effort resulted in TS Pytchley hosting many distinguished visitors with the First Lord of the Admiralty in May 1945, being the most famous. His visit was to present at a drumhead ceremony a Colour to the unit. This remains a rare distinction for Kettering to hold a Colour. |
| After the enthusiasm of the war years, it became obvious that the unit numbers and interest in the unit would never be quite the same again. The Sea Cadet Corps as a whole realised the role of the Corps had become a youth organisation per se, and did not limit to partly trained recruits for the Royal Navy (which it did, and still does very well). Kettering unit followed this pattern of youth activities and the future of the unit became assured. |
| 1950s |
| Another blow to recruiting was to hit the Corps at the start of the decade with the abolition of the National Service. This had encouraged a steady stream of cadets. A greater blow was to be struck by television and a changing attitude among young people. Fortunately, through the hard work of the unit staff TS Pytchley maintained its impetus through this difficult decade. After much fund raising, the long held hope of the unit was realised with the building of its purpose built headquarters in 1968. |
| 1960s |
| Continued... |