SEA Scouts and Explorer Scouts from the 1st Watchet Sea Scout Group were invited on board HMS Severn at the Portsmouth Naval Dockyard in Hampshire.

Crew member Sub Lieutenant Jake Ellis is also one of the Scout Group’s assistant scout leaders and while back in port was able to accommodate 18 of the young people split into three smaller groups for a visit on board a Royal Navy Batch offshore patrol ship.

The scouts were given a tour of the ship and learnt about its role, the fighting and defence capability with the ship’s 20mm cannon and two machine guns as well as seeing the bridge from where the ship is commanded from.

Whilst on board three brand new Sea Scouts were invested into scouting by making their scout promise with Assistant Scout Leader and Sub Lieutenant Jake Ellis welcoming them.

The Sea Scouts then visited the historic dockyard and went on board the oldest commissioned war ship in the world and the flag ship of the Royal Navy, HMS Victory, made famous by Admiral Lord Nelson during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

They were able to see where Nelson fell during the battle and experience what life on the ship would have been like at the time.

The Sea Scouts were hosted ashore at HMS Excellent on Whale Island where they had an evening meal before they returned to Watchet late on the evening.

The 1st Watchet Sea Scout Group is proud to be able to visit the Royal Navy bases and ships as a Royal Navy recognised Sea Scout group - one of a limited number of sea scout groups to hold such recognition.

Anyone interested in becoming a member of the sea scout group in Watchet can make contact via email on [email protected] and register their interest.