5 of 6 October 2023 The 1805 Dispatches #23.05 EVENTS DIARY This is a schedule of some forthcoming 1805 Club events, so please put the dates in your own diaries. The Events Committee are discussing additions to this calendar on a monthly basis. EVENT DATE EVENT TITLE EVENT DESCRIPTION CLUB LEAD 7 Oct 23 Visit HMS DeBraak Museum visit to ship at Lewes, DE Pete Stark 19 Oct 23 Trafalgar Night Dinner Maryland Club Baltimore, MD John Rodgaard Pete Stark 20 Oct 23 Trafalgar Night Dinner British Officers Club, Fairfax Country Club, Fairfax, VA Peter Pennington 21 Oct 23 Trafalgar Wreath Laying St Pauls Cathedral Barry Scrutton 21 Oct 23 Trafalgar Night Dinner Club Trafalgar Night Dinner at HMS Nelson Wardroom, Portsmouth, UK Stephen Howarth 3 Nov 23 The Salts sing shanties Falmouth Maritime Museum Kathy Brown 4 Nov 23 The Salts sing shanties Phoenix Night Club Exeter Kathy Brown 5 Nov 23 The Salts sing shanties Blandford Corn Exchange Kathy Brown 6 Nov 23 The Salts sing shanties 116 Pall Mall, London Kathy Brown 24 Nov 23 Trafalgar Way Talk Talk on TW at Blandford Forum Museum Kathy Brown 10 Feb 24 Battle of Cape St Vincent Luncheon Alexandria, VA Pete Stark 24 Feb 24 Midshipman Dale Commemoration Ceremony St. George’s, Bermuda John Rodgaard 25 May 24 Club AGM and members Day AGM and Members Day at Army and Navy Club (RAG) London Stephen Howarth 1 Jun 24 Battle of the Glorious First of June Celebration of the 230th Anniversary of the Battle at Langar Nottinghamshire Stephen Howarth 2024 Return of St. John’s Figtree Parish Register, Nevis Ceremony jointly held by The Nevis Historical and Cultural Society and The 1805 Club Richard Lupanacci Stephen Howarth John Rodgaard Pete Stark 2024 Presentation of Nelson’s captains uniform Ceremony jointly held by The Nevis Historical and Cultural Society and The 1805 Club Benedict Ryan John Rodgaard Pete Stark “SHIVER ME TIMBERS” By John Wills Every TD reader will know the saying: "Shiver me Timbers", which was once an often-used exclamation attributed in works of fiction involving pirates. Long John Silver used the phrase frequently in Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island. Indeed, it avoided the more abusive language that might be heard in contemporary speech these days. On a recent visit to the National Museum of the Royal Navy, in Portsmouth, I was very impressed by the fresh presentation of the contents that greatly enhance this magnificent collection. The curators have done a very good job of refreshing much of the former display and communicating a greater feel for the components that the Georgian shipbuilders used. But the one that struck me most of all, was to realise that the word "Shiver" actually describes a significant component of a hull's structure. The Oxford English Dictionary description of shiver, is "to break into small fragments or splinters". So, it was probably used by the sailors of that period to allude to the shock of a large wave or cannonball smashing into the ship and causing the hull to shudder or split asunder. ▻
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