3 TRAFALGAR NIGHT DINNER -continued from page 1 Dr Moses also emphasised Nelson’s humanity and how this endeared him to those he led, concluding with the story of the 48 sailors from Victory, who, during the funeral, instead of neatly folding up the battle-worn ensign that covered his coffin during the committal to the crypt, conspired together, tearing up the flag to keep for themselves as a souvenir. “It was a gesture that was unscripted, loyal, affectionate, vulgar and totally appropriate,” he said. It was therefore welcome and appropriate that he used the revised form of the Immortal Memory re-introduced last year: “To the Immortal Memory of Admiral Lord Nelson and those who fell with him”. Prior to the dinner, the Club’s other guest, Max Adams, whose critically acclaimed biography Admiral Collingwood: Nelson’s Own Hero is now out in paperback, gave an enthralling lecture which moved the focus of the evening to what happened after Trafalgar, when political machinations in the Mediterranean – many of them involving Napoléon Bonaparte – reached new complexities. Max believed that it was Collingwood’s “guile, subtlety and insouciance” which made him so valuable in that theatre and also a favourite. A prime example of this was how following Dos de Mayo in 1808, when Madrid rose against the French occupation, his offer of help to the Spanish at Cadiz witnessed the adulation of 40,000 Spanish all crying Viva Collingwood! They had not forgotten his courtesy and humanity to them during the days immediately after Trafalgar. Max argued that because of his achievements both before and after Trafalgar, Collingwood deserved equal status to Nelson as a naval hero. He also explored the many facets of his character - as a strict disciplinarian who despised flogging; an excellent gunner and seaman; and as an admiral who was very dismissive of the capabilities of his flag captain Edward Rotheram in Royal Sovereign at Trafalgar. Max talked about some of Collingwood’s less well-known relationships, among them with his beloved dog Bounce, his sole companion at sea, and Mary Moutray, wife of the dockyard commissioner in Antigua, who beguiled both Collingwood and Nelson when they were young officers. He also marvelled at Collingwood’s literary ability, which he felt produced dispatches and letters “that at times are positively Churchillian!” Max’s splendid and at times amusing lecture was followed by a champagne reception in the hall and library, and a firework display saluting Nelson’s four great battles. At the dinner, the Rev Lawrence Marsh gave The 1805 Club Grace and Surgeon Vice Admiral Sir Godfrey MiltonThompson KBE proposed the Loyal Toast. Dr Colin White, the Club’s newest vice-president, proposed the toast to the Royal Navy, reminding all of those currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Dr Nick Slope, The Nelson Society’s Chairman, gave the toast to The 1805 Club and amused everyone when he remarked that he was sitting at a table with one who buried heroes (Dr John Moses) and two who dug them up again (himself and Max Adams)! He also paid tribute to Peter Warwick for his friendship to the Nelson Society and endeavours for a close and harmonious relationship. Reviving a tradition from previous years, a raffle was held during the evening in which the star prize was a large piece of timber from Victory, donated by the Royal Naval Museum Trading Company. Over £600 was raised which will go towards conservation of the tomb of Sir Edward Berry at Walcot, Bath, one of the seven tombs identified by the Club’s Trafalgar Captains Memorial Project as being most at risk. Peter extended the Club’s sincere gratitude to George and June Jeffreys for once again allowing the Club to use their historic home for its Trafalgar Dinner and looked forward to returning on 27 October 2007. Contributed by Alison Henderson - 1805 Club Hon. Press Officer photographed at Newhouse - right. For more pictures see page 14 NEW YORK PICKLE NIGHT DINNER New York Yacht Club, 3 November 2006 On Friday evening, 3 November, 81 guests gathered in the Model Room of the New York Yacht Club (NYYC) in midtown Manhattan for a formal and most enjoyable dinner to commemorate the 201st anniversary of the arrival of HMS Pickle at Falmouth. Pickle, the smallest British ship at Trafalgar, overcame high winds and seas to carry home the news of the great victory, and the death during the battle of Lord Nelson. The club, home to the America’s Cup, provided a dramatic nautical setting for this fourth in a series of annual dinners. Featured guests were: Dr. Colin White, Commodore Alan Bennett, DSC RN, and Acting British Consul-General Jon Benjamin. • Dr. White earned his MA in War Studies at Kings College, London University, and was awarded an honorary degree as Doctor of Letters in 2004 from the University of Portsmouth in recognition of his Nelson scholarship. He joined the Royal Naval Museum in Portsmouth in 1975 as a research assistant, rose to the Chief Curator at the Museum in 1986, and became Deputy Director and Head of Museum Service in 1995. He was seconded to the National Maritime Museum to serve as Director of Trafalgar 200 and was guest-curator of its hugely successful Nelson and Napoléon exhibition in 2005. He was appointed Director of the Royal Naval Museum earlier this year. He is the author of The Nelson Companion, 1797: Nelson’s Year of Destiny, The Nelson Encyclopaedia, Nelson: The New Letters, and most recently Nelson the Admiral. • Commodore Bennett has had major commands ashore and at sea, and extensive operational experience in frigates and aviation. He was commanding officer of HMS Alacrity and Combat Airgroup Commander in the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious. He earned +Britain’s Distinguished Service Cross during the Falklands War. He has had major staff assignments
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