Page 20 - Cadet Review Spring 2021

SEA CADETS
LIEUTENANT
COMMANDER (SCC) R J C
TANNER MBE MCGI RNR
By Lieutenant Commander Jacqui Gorman
Lieutenant Commander Roy Tanner sadly crossed the bar in December following illness bravely fought. He leaves his wife Pam, 2 daughters, a son, 6 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
Roy joined the Corps in July 1974 as a Civilian Instructor whilst serving with North Yorkshire Police. He went into uniform in 1976 as Sub Lieutenant. He quickly rose through the ranks and was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in 1987 on his appointment as Commanding Officer. He was awarded the MBE in 1993 for services to youth and though nominated by North Yorkshire Police he wore his Sea Cadet Uniform to his investiture.
He was the Commanding Officer of York Unit for the first time from 1987 to June 1998 when he moved on to District Staff before later becoming District Officer. Whilst carrying out this role he unfortunately had to organise the closing of the unit at Whitby. He again became the Commanding Officer at York from 2012 to 2020.
He was responsible in getting York Unit back up and running following the flooding of the River Ouse on several occasions many of which were major clean ups. He was on hand 24/7 to attend the Unit when anything needed doing. His wife Pam always said that he would live there if he could. It can be said with certainty that York Unit was his pride and joy.
He was an instructor in several fields including First Aid, Adventure Training, Drill and Ceremonial and a Rowing Coach. He was also a Sea Cadet Adventure Leader (SCAL) Train the Trainer and even had a hand in mountain biking.
He was at his happiest when flying the SCC
flag around the City of York and some of the many activities he organised that the Staff and Cadets took part in were the Freedom of the City for the Ship’s Company of HMS York, Remembrance Parade, Kohima Service at York Minster, the annual Royal Gun Salute, manning a water station for the York 10k run, Armed Forces Day and helped raise much needed funds for Martin House Children’s Hospice, the Poppy Appeal and bag packing for both MIND and the Unit.
HehadahandinorganisingthefirstAreatrip
It can be said with certainty that York Unit was his pride and joy
onboard a P&O vessel from Hull to Zeebrugge and then to Bruges. He helped organise the Tri District Trafalgar Parade with some 300 cadets taking part. He also took several cadets to “The Talking Day” at the House of Lords.
He thoroughly enjoyed being a part of RFCA and was a Trustee with the Yorkshire Cadet Trust.
He attended hundreds of District and Area training weekends for both Adults and Cadets which included the annual summer camp in Portsmouth where he took on the role of Executive Officer and sorted out disciplinary issues with both staff and cadets. These weekends included training weekends for First
Aid, boating and with his Adventure Training hat on helped train cadets in preparation for the Himalaya Expedition. Whilst District Officer he also took great pride in running the Advancement Boards for both Leading and Petty Officer Cadet.
He regularly took on a post within the Command Team at various District, Area and National compe- titions including Drill, Regatta, Sailing and Football. His final main event was judging at the District Drill and Piping Competition in February 2020.
Roy’s enthusiasm for cadets was so great that the wholefamilybecameinvolved. Bothofhisdaughters
Lt Cdr Roy Tanner, on the left, attending a
Trafalgar Day Parade in Filey
20 CADET REVIEW SPRING 2021