Bursaries to two local cadets were given as part of Dover & Deal Sea Cadets' annual awards night.

P&O Ferries presented the awards in front of an audience of 200 people at Dover Town Hall.

As well as celebrating the successes of Team Lynx’s Junior Sea Cadets and Cadets, they said farewell to the unit's commanding officer Sarah Butler, who is moving to a district posting after 25 years of service.

To read about the Armed Forces and how they have served Kent and beyond, click here.

She said: “I’m very proud of every single cadet and the volunteer staff who have made Team Lynx the community unit it has become over the last years.

"I would especially like to thank P&O Ferries for their generous bursary awards again this year”.

Alongside the excitement, highlights from the evening included a performance from the Dover & Deal Sea Cadets Band, with both music and marching. There was also a film screening showcasing the cadets' activities in 2018/19.

The P&O Ferries bursary awards were presented by Noelle Downer, Lifeboat Press Officer at the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

2019 Cadet of the Year was won by Petty Officer Nathan Clark. Remarkably, the 17 year old is also the youngest volunteer crewman at Dover RNLI.

2019 Most Improved Cadet was won by Cadet James McCann, aged 13.

These awards involve a monetary benefit of £275 to each winner. This will cover a week’s offshore training within one of three Sea Cadet sailing brigs, where they will learn new skills.

The Sea Cadets have 35 Cadets in each unit.

Organisers welcome more young people who are keen to join.

They will learn skills, explore new territories, meet people and enrich themselves with differing perspectives.

The ethos directly aligns with P&O Ferries’ drive to support young people’s development within vocational roles and to give a platform for their future successes.

For more information, visit sea-cadets.org or poferries.com.