30/05/2026
It is with immeasurable sadness that I announce that my dear friend and mentor, and our former Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander (SCC) Andy Searles RNR crossed the bar early this morning after a long battle with cancer.
Andy had a long and storied journey with the Sea Cadet Corps, joining as a young cadet in 1979 and rising to the rate of Petty Officer Cadet. In 1985, he came onto the staff and rose through the ratings before gaining his commission in 1994.
Andy has held the position of Unit Commanding Officer three times: the first two at Henley-on-Thames, and then his most recent and final command at Newbury & District Sea Cadets, starting shortly before COVID-19 until he handed over to me in 2023. Andy also held several district-level positions across both Ox & Bucks and Berkshire districts, the most significant being District Officer for Ox & Bucks between 2012 and 2015.
Andy was an avid mariner. He loved his time on the water from his days as a young cadet to experienced boat owner. He so enjoyed teaching and coaching, and he was always keen to share his passion with everyone.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Andy spent many hours in the unit alone or with his wife Kelly, painting, decorating, and restoring the unit. It was Andy’s dedication that helped transform the unit from the rusty, mustard-coloured, unappealing place it was, with only a few cadets on roll, to the outstanding unit for over 35 cadets it is today: regularly used by the district, other cadet forces, and the community. This will likely be Andy’s most enduring legacy: a unit, district, and area asset fit for the Sea Cadet family he so clearly loved, and where his daughters, Katie and Charley, both serve as instructors.
Funeral details will be announced on this page in due course. For now, please respect the family’s privacy and wishes to grieve. We know that Andy meant a lot to a lot of people, so we ask that any messages, beyond those posted here on Facebook, be directed to either me or SLt (SCC) Povey RNR via [email protected]
From all of us at Newbury & District Sea Cadets, we wish you fair winds and following seas, Sir.
S/Lt (SCC) Anthony Battrum RNR
Commanding Officer
