Aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal’s visit to London was a major shot in the arm for the country’s Sea cadet units at the start of a major campaign to raise the organisation’s profile.

Sea Cadets from units around the country were on board the warship when she sailed up the Thames and through the Barrier to Greenwich – and the carrier then acted as the venue for a three-day programme of events which included visits by the Princess Royal, First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Alan West and the Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Robert Finch.

The carrier’s progress upriver was watched by crowds along the banks as she eased her way to her mooring on the Meridian line at Greenwich, close to the historic Cutty Sark tea clipper.

Cadet contingents from among the country’s 400 units joined the crew for the trip from Portsmouth and along the South Coast, and during the visit played host to official guests and the volunteers who form the backbone of the Corps.

The event, which was made possible by generous private support, signalled the start of a two-year programme to re-launch the Sea Cadet Corps and their parent charity, The Sea Cadet Association, to expand the movement, and to provide wider opportunities and better facilities for more youngsters.

One highlight of the visit was the award of the Canada Trophy, which is presented annually to the unit which achieves the highest standard of all-round efficiency during the previous year.

The Lord Mayor of London presented the trophy to the Sutton Coldfield Unit (South West Area), who took the honours after a hard-fought contest.

The Commanding Officer of the unit, Lt Gary Truelove, and his team received the trophy during a ceremony on the carrier.

The other five short-listed finalists were Greenock (Northern Area), Scarborough (Eastern Area), Tameside (North West Area) and City of London (London Area).

Commodore Roger Parker, Commodore Sea Cadets, said: “Sutton Coldfield fully deserved to win, but all six finalists are also winners in their own right.

“They have all won their Stephenson Trophy as best units in their Area, and that in itself is a tremendous achievement.”

Runners up Tameside received the Thomas Gray Memorial Trophy, and the Medway Towns Unit was presented with the Commodore’s Trophy.

The Canada Trophy was presented by the Navy League of Canada in 1947 to commemorate the first post-World War II visit by Canadian Sea Cadets to the UK, and to reflect the close relationship between the two Services during World War II.