“Con was Royal Navy through and through” – RNA Pendleton branch pay tribute to late President

The Pendleton branch of the Royal Naval Association have paid tribute to their late President, Con Wright, who died at the age of 92.

Mr Wright served as a sea cadet during the second world war then as Royal Navy aircraft handler, serving at RNAS Blackcap in Stretton and on board the HMS Illustrious.

Whilst serving on the HMS Illustrious, he was a survivor of the picket boat disaster at Portland harbour in 1948. He then returned to Salford to serve as Sea Cadet instructor.

John Coxon, secretary of the RNA Pendleton branch, paid tribute to Mr Wright. He said: “Con was Royal Navy through and through. He was our figurehead, He’s dedicated his whole life to the promotion of the sea cadets and the Royal Navy.”

‘We met 28 years ago, when he had come to the age where he had finished his time as Commanding Officer of Salford sea cadets. I met him at the Salford unit, when I had left the navy and I just started as a Civilian Instructor there and I met Con because he visited the unit.

“A year or so later he asked me to go the city of Salford Unit, he wheeled me into becoming CO there. He was, at that time, chairman of the committee.

“After he finished his active association with the sea cadets, I kept in touch with him. He joined the Royal Naval association along with me and a few other blokes and girls.”

Con Wright was President of the Royal Naval Pendleton Branch for five years until his death.