WHSB's CCF Royal Navy Cadets visited Kelvedon Hatch this term to take part in the Nuclear High Ropes Outdoor Activity Centre’s climbing and zip wire activities, and to visit a secret nuclear bunker! Cadets climbed and adventured their way through Essex's biggest high ropes course with three levels, over 70 aerial obstacles, and an exhilarating 40-metre zipwire finish. Not only did it provide them with the opportunity to brush up on their rope work, but also their communication, team working, and physical skills.

After an eventful morning high up in the trees, the cadets made their way to the Secret Nuclear Bunker, the biggest and deepest Cold War bunker open to the public, in the southeast of England. Built between 1952 and 1953 as part of ROTOR, a programme to improve and strengthen Britain's air defence network, the bunker was a Sector Operations Centre (SOC) for RAF Fighter Command. It was designed for up to 600 military and civilian personnel, possibly even the Prime Minister, their collective task being to organise the survival of the population in the aftermath of a nuclear war. Since being decommissioned in 1992, this once top-secret bunker is now a museum, providing an immersive and educational experience likened to a time capsule, where our cadets learnt about Cold War history and the stark reality of a nuclear threat in the latter half of the Twentieth Century.

With our thanks to Captain Allard, SLt Sell and Lt Hadley for facilitating this exciting trip.