Page 23 - Real Rochdale Issue 13 Spring 2022

Lieutenant commander MAN OF

lawrence scholes ROCHDALE

ommander Lieutenant Scholes, 81, of progressed over the years to eventually become n 1955, we went on the British Continental
Milnrow, was named the Man of Rochdale CO in 1978. working our passage and we sailed from
winner at the annual Springhill Hospice Liverpool. As soon as we got out of Liverpool
Cmen’s luncheon. I particularly enjoyed adventure training, so I went IBay we turned, and I was sick.
and got my mountain leader certificate and in doing
Known for his involvement with registered charity so, changed position and took charge of all When we went to shore in Holland, we had to go in
Sea Cadets, Lawrence has helped raise in excess of adventure training in the North West. I did that for our Navy uniform - bear in mind this was just ten
£300,000 to keep the Rochdale group running. about 15 years before retiring in 2000. years after the war, and we were big 15-year-old
lads - so we finished up not paying for anything.
Starting with the group himself at just 12-years-old, Keeping the unit afloat takes around £10,000
Lawrence progressed through the ranks to become a every year, how have you raised this? When we got on the bus they wouldn’t take our
commanding officer (CO), treasurer and more money, and we went in a café, and somebody had
recently Rochdale Sea Cadets Life President. After retirement I eventually joined the bought the meal for us. All because we were in
management committee whose responsibility is, uniform. That happened two or three times.
For the past 68 years he has been giving up two in a nutshell, to raise funds to keep cadets open.
nights a week - and most weekends - to help Technically we weren’t old enough to drink but we
children across the borough, with more than 4,000 I spent most my life then applying for grants and went to a bar one night and didn’t buy a single
youngsters passing through his unit. trying to get people to give us money - some you win drink either.
some you lose.
Katie Davies spoke to Mr Scholes about his win and We went camping at Millcroft many times,
his involvement with the local cadets. A single teddy bear stall or jumble sale could raise as organising assault courses with different training You learn teamwork, respect, loyalty, commitment,
much as £300-£400. We’d also arrange bucket exercises like commando crawl. It’s something the self-discipline.
How did you become involved with Rochdale collections in places like Middleton Shopping kids really used to love. They let us use the land for
Sea Cadets? Centre or the Arndale Centre in Manchester, or free. Millcroft Tea Rooms is still there. At Rochdale you can also gain qualifications that you
instead of flower donations at funerals people might can take with you once you leave.
I joined in 1953 just as a cadet. I really enjoyed it; it say ‘donations to Sea Cadets’. Why should young people join?
did me a power of good. I could never understand How do you feel to be named Man of Rochdale?
why other youngsters didn’t join because I got to do You’d be surprised how much has been raised just A cadet could join when they were 13 and it wouldn’t
things that I would never, ever have got to do. through little things over a long period of time. be to everyone’s liking; some would leave after a cou- I had no idea that I was in mind for it.
People were always sympathetic to the cause, which ple of months, but some would stay until they’re 18.
When I was 14, we went down to HMS Osprey [an was nice. Goodwill is the lifeline. An awful lot of my life has been involved with
anti-submarine training establishment] at What is good there, from my perspective, is to see cadets, and I don’t regret one minute of it.
Weymouth and went out to sea in a submarine and We received a Covid grant too of £10,000, which how they’ve changed to be the best version of
on the hydroplanes. came in handy as we’d just spent money that we themselves, with self-confidence and drive. Cadets It’s very nice to have recognition.
didn’t have on making sure all new rules and puts you in charge, which all helps later.
Later on that year, down at Portland, we went up in regulations were met like having certain fire doors. Behind every good man is a very good woman, and
helicopters. It was brilliant. I think making some good friends was the reason my wife Margaret has supported me in everything
What are your favourite memories from Cadets? I stuck with it for so long. that I have done over the years. If Margaret hadn’t
I signed on with the British and Continental had been backing me up, there’s no way I could have
Steamship Company when I was 15 and worked my There are so many. I was talking to a man who said, You can do virtually anything from cooking to done it. I owe it all to her.
‘passage’ from Liverpool to Rotterdam and ‘you’ve got to enjoy it because you couldn’t have engineering, sailing and outdoor adventures,
Amsterdam over 18 days. Another lad and I from the done it for so many years if you didn’t’, and that’s very providing you’ve got the staff. Rochdale Sea Cadets meet at Training Ship
unit worked on the ship in the mornings. true. If I was to write a book about things that have Frobisher (named after HMS Frobisher, adopted by
happened, or if you were to see it on television, you The evenings consist of the theoretical side; you’ll do Rochdale) on Greenbank Road, Rochdale, OL12 0EN
When you’re 18 you either left cadets or stayed would say ‘that’s going too far!’ rope work, Morse Code, arms drill, something like every Tuesday and Friday evening, 8.30pm - 9.30pm,
on and became an instructor, so I stayed and that. At the side of the unit, we have a firing range so plus some weekends. A junior group is available for ages
you can even do shooting. 9-12, or you can join Sea Cadets from 13-years-old.