Visiting Sea Cadets on an international exchange celebrated the 402nd anniversary of the The Plough’s arrival in Bermuda.

Cadets from the UK, US, and Canada crewed the dinghy Lady Stockton in a mini pageant held in St George, with Chief Petty Officer Tyler Free, from Kitchener, Ontario, portraying a “Spanish spy” that was found by local settlers.

Clad in a 17th Century Spanish helmet loaned from the Fort St Catherine museum, CPO Free said: “As our dinghy approached Towne Square and I saw all the tourists near the ducking stool, I thought they were all waiting to ‘dunk’ me for being a spy.”

Lt Amanda Mouland, from Newfoundland, played a female colonist in the dinghy, saying: “I thoroughly enjoyed being part of the culture and history of the Island.”

Petty Officer Andrew Stephenson, from UK, and Ensign Rory Sturm, from the US, agreed.

“Coming to Bermuda is a once in a lifetime opportunity for myself and my cadets” said PO Stephenson. “The Island is beautiful.”

“This is my second time here” said Ensign Rory Sturm. “We love the friendliness of the people in Bermuda as well as exploring the history of the Island.”

The costumes and script for the event were organised and written by Dr Derek Tully.

“This was a great way to finish our overseas exchange,” added Lt Michael Frith, Commanding Officer of TS Admiral Somers.

The cadets returned to their units in Canada, Virginia, and UK on Sunday after a ten-day stay in Bermuda.