The chairman of Tenby Sea Cadet Unit, Lieutenant Commander Keith Peachey RNR, has been awarded The Captain's Medal for 50 years devoted and meritorious service as an adult instructor with the Sea Cadet Corps.

The medal was presented by the Captain of the Sea Cadet Corps, Captain Mark Windsor Royal Navy, during the South Western Area conference in Worcester. The ceremony was witnessed by Commodore J. Miller RN, the chief executive officer and trustees of the Marine Society and Sea Cadets, and the commanding officers and chairman of the units in the south-west.

Keith actually joined the Slough unit as a cadet in 1947 and progressed through the rates to become a cadet Petty Office. In 1953, he was promoted to adult Petty Officer Instructor then advanced to Chief Petty Officer in 1955. He joined the Royal Marines in 1956 and saw service with 45 Commando in Cyprus and Suez, then went on to see service in Jordan, Aden, Persian Gulf and Kuwait.

As a member of the Royal Marine detachment on HMS Loch Fyne, they were put ashore to assist the Trucial Oman Scouts fighting insurgents in Dhofar and Mirbat. Keith had also qualified as a naval diver and was a member of the salvage team sent to help rescue crew and passengers from the steamship Melika and later the tanker Gilda, in the Persian Gulf.

On completing his Royal Marine service, Keith was commissioned as a Sub. Lieutenant and became First Lieutenant with the Slough Sea Cadets. Then in 1965 he became Assistant District Officer for the 10 units in Berkshire. When his civilian employment took him and his family to Sussex, he took over as District Officer for West Sussex. In 1969, he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and was appointed as District Officer for Hampshire and Sussex.

Keith's next appointment in 1970 was Area Staff Training Officer for the Southern Area. This large area had 76 units and stretched from Chatham Marine Cadets in the east to Poole Sea Cadets in the west and his old unit Slough north of the river Thames. His Royal Marine experiences had taught him the needs for thorough training and Keith had completed his S/Lt's. courses on HMS Vanguard.

In addition to his boating, canoeing and shooting charge certificates, he qualified as a PT instructor and sports officer at HMS Temeraire and then went on to qualify as a drill instructor and ceremonial officer at HMS Excellent. He had been a keen sportsman at school and was a national champion for swimming and shooting with the Sea Cadets and Royal Marines.

In 1974, Lt. Cdr. Peachey brought his family to Wales to start a business in Tenby and the Sea Cadets appointed him as District Officer for West Wales. This position he held for 12 years and as a qualified Mountain Leader he developed training courses for both cadets and adult staff to gain experience as expedition leaders on the Brecon Beacons and Loch Ewe in Scotland.

Tenby unit was going through a difficult period in 1986, so he took over as Commanding Officer to bring the unit back to full efficiency. In 1994, a new unit, TS Warrior, was forming in Pembroke Dock and Keith was asked to become its first Commanding Officer. The unit proved very successful and within two years had gained Efficiency Pennant standard.

1998 saw Lt. Cdr. Peachey being elected chairman of Tenby Sea Cadet Unit, the position he holds today. In actual fact, with his cadet and adult time, Keith has been involved with the Sea Cadets, Royal Marines and PNR for 65 years.