SEA Cadets in part of the region have moved into their first permanent base after 70 years.
Middlesbrough Sea Cadets attended an opening ceremony for their £250,000 premises at Albert Park, in the town.
The East Lodge building, which was empty and vandalised for more than ten years, has been transformed into the cadet headquarters.
Thirteen regional firms and organisations worked on the building for free or at cost.
Mayor Ray Mallon opened the centre, and retiring cadets chairwoman Liz Chambers was presented with flowers and chocolates.
She has been involved with Middlesbrough Sea Cadets since she joined as a teenager in1973. She said: "It was a lovely moment. I am going to be very much involved with the cadets as I'm still northern area deputy chairman, but it was great to pass on the chairmanship to a young, capable man -Mark Oates."
The Middlesbrough Sea Cadets have changed their name to the Erimus Middlesbrough Sea Cadets -the name it was originally known by 70 years ago. Erimus, the town's latin motto, means we will be.
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