thought members would like to read the letter your chairman wrote to the local newspaper afterwards, since I believe it not only helps to demonstrate the support that the Club gets from the Royal Navy, but also the continuity of history that links the work that we do, and its relevance to our lives now: ‘I had the pleasure of visiting Newcastle on 14 June for the presentation of The New Trafalgar Dispatch to the Lord Lieutenants of Tyne and Wear and Northumberland and to the Mayors of Gateshead, Newcastle and Morpeth. The new dispatch was inspired by the original written by Tyneside’s Trafalgar hero Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood, which reported the victory and the death of Lord Nelson. The ceremony took place at two of Newcastle’s most important maritime locations: Trinity House and HMS Calliope. The young men and women based at HMS Calliope and on parade for the occasion were a credit to the Royal Navy and to Newcastle and Gateshead and I feel that their commitment and dedication deserves congratulation. Admiral Sir Alan West, former First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, reminded everyone present that while much may have changed in the 200 years since Trafalgar, the Royal Navy remains as relevant as ever and in the final analysis in our uncertain world, ‘it is on the Navy under the good providence of God that our wealth, prosperity and peace depend’. It is often overlooked that as an island nation 95 per cent of our trade is carried by sea and that the Royal Navy is there to protect the free movement of this shipping, as much as it is to project the nation’s influence worldwide and to carry out humanitarian relief and counter drug operations. It therefore struck me how very fortunate is Newcastle and Gateshead in having a flourishing naval establishment of the high calibre of HMS Calliope at the heart of its community. HMS Calliope reinforces the community’s links with the real world, is an important focus for the training of young people, and is a reminder of the historic links Newcastle and Gateshead have with the sea. Recent operations in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq have demonstrated the vital role of the Royal Naval Reserve in support of the regular forces and the success of HMS Calliope highlights for us all the importance of the partnership that exists between our great cities and the Royal Navy. Long may this partnership thrive and the White Ensign fly proudly beside the Tyne.’ In May your Council spent a whole day reflecting on the role and activities of The 1805 Club beyond the Trafalgar bicentenary. We had our first ‘Awayday’ last year at a hotel in Bath and felt that it was worthwhile repeating. This year the Naval Historical Branch at the Naval Base in Portsmouth very kindly allowed us the use of their superb new library for our meeting. It was a perfect location and a real privilege and we are indebted to Captain Christopher Page RN for arranging it. This dispatch already reveals some of our thinking! In February I highlighted the Club’s closer links with HMS Collingwood. I am now delighted to confirm that we shall be organising an international historical one-day conference at the establishment’s Maritime Warfare School, the largest naval training organisation in Western Europe, on 13 September 2008. The conference is entitled The Collingwood Years: Naval Strategy in the Mediterranean 1806-1810. Once again this highlights the relationship of our work with today’s Royal Navy as well as the intellectual dimension of the club’s activities. Turning now to more immediate club activities for members, your redoubtable events officer, Lynda Sebbage, has been battling with a serious back injury but has nevertheless arranged a cornucopia of events: a private visit to the famous Lloyd’s Nelson Collection on 17 August, a marvellous day at Buckler’s Hard in the company of Brian Lavery on 2 September, and this year’s Trafalgar Dinner at Newhouse, which magically falls on the 21 October! As if that is not enough for one year, which started with the St Paul’s Cathedral funeral service on 9 January, she and Barry Coombs organised a wonderful weekend on 10-11 June in ‘Nelson’s Monmouth’, which included a private view at the Nelson Museum, the Naval Temple on the Kymin, the Nelson monument in Hereford and rare and intimate visits to the homes of vice president Anna Tribe and Clive Richards (see article on p.10). Thanks to Alison Henderson, the local press coverage of our visit was excellent. 10 June was also a record for the Club. It held two events on the same day in different parts of the country! While some members were enjoying Monmouth, Charles Davis and Peter Sims, of the new and flourishing South West Group, were taking another group around Devonport naval base (report on page 7). And what of remembering Britannia’s God of War? Apart from his totem spirit, which permeates the continuing naval story of the Napoleonic Wars, the Club is preparing for the 250th anniversary of his birth in September 2008… What day more fit the birth to solemnize Of the greatest Hero you can surmise? With good wishes to you all, Peter Warwick P.S. Chris Gray has just secured another £1,000, from the Idlewild Trust for the Trafalgar Captains Memorial project. Bravo Zulu! 3
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