A MEMBER of the Clydebank Sea Cadets has been presented with a prestigious award

Jill Young MBE visited the unit last week to meet the cadets and, in particular, Able Cadet Joanne Durnan - who became her Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet on June 26, Armed Forces Day.

Joanne, a pupil from St Peter the Apostle High School, was awarded her Lord Lieutenant’s Badge and certificate by Mrs Young, and will assist her at royal visits and other high profile occasions.

During her visit to the cadets, Mrs Young was given a demonstration of the youngsters’ training in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) – a vital technique which can save the life of someone who has suffered a cardiac arrest.

Mrs Young said: “I had no hesitation in choosing Joanne.

“Her list of qualifications and achievements was very impressive, and she is clearly a young person who is enthusiastic and going places.

“I was also impressed by the other cadets, especially their display of CPR - nursing is my profession and it was one of the best that I have seen.”

Joanne is a keen sailor who joined the Clydebank Sea Cadets as a 10-year-old, and who now has her sights set on joining the Royal Navy as a marine engineer.

She added: “I love being in the Sea Cadets. It is fun and there are so many things to do.

“I have taken part in competitions from sailing to swimming to football to first aid, and I have made friends along the way as well as grown in confidence.

“It is a real honour to now become the Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet, and Mrs Young is very much a role model.”

In 2018, Joanne was chosen by Clydebank artist Tom McKendrick to be included in his exhibition marking a century since the end of World War One. Joanne was painted in her Sea Cadets uniform capturing her duty and service.

Mrs Young, a former chief executive of the Golden Jubilee Foundation, led the design, build and opening of the NHS Louisa Jordan hospital in the early months of the pandemic last year.

She took over from Rear Admiral Michael Gregory OBE as Lord Lieutenant of Dunbartonshire last year, and is the first female and first non-military holder of the office.