THE KEDGE ANCHOR SPRING 2022 3 EDITORIAL Welcome to the Spring 2022 editionof The Kedge Anchor (KA), where we �ind ourselves still in the grip of COVID, even if that grip is easing a little in some areas. But, we are not downhearted, despite the fact that it has affected Club activities and the consequence that this magazine has not yet been able to return to its former glory of reporting on major, or even many minor, events. This means we have continued to take the opportunity to �ill the pages with articles of a more general nature, which it is hoped you will �ind interesting. I am delighted to be able to include an optimistic Events Diary (see page 4) this time, thanks to the Events Commitee, and will continue with that in future editions, together with the stories of those events as they happen – either inKAor in the bimonthly digital editions of The 1805 Dispatches. The theme for this edition of KAis ‘Feeding The Navy’, and we are privileged to lead that theme with a major article by the expert on the subject, Professor Janet Macdonald. However, feeding the Navy does not only refer to comestibles, so Club member Jennifer Newbold has given us an article about ordnance, in particular the projectiles used in the Georgian Navy. Peter Hore has reminded us about the care taken by Nelson to ensure the proper feeding, and so good health, of his crews, and we have one or two other relevant snippets, as you will see. This theme is too large to be con�ined to just one edition of KA, so look out in future editions. On a personal note, this is the �ifth edition of KA for which I have been the Editor. Hardly a key event, but I am beginning to think that I might be learning how to get away with it, as some people have said nice things about KAlately. Long may it continue! One of the reasons the magazine is successful is that we have good copy sent in by members, and the inestimable help of Stephen Howarth, who does lots more than I could ask. This time I have had help from Jenny Newbold, too. It’s good to know they ‘have my back’. Needless to say, I challenge myself to outwit them both whenever I can, as you will see by any mistakes that you spot. Please note the next edition is due in Autumn 2022. The deadline for copy will be 21 September 2022. Please submit your ideas to the Editor as soon as you can, and actual contributions before the copy deadline whenever possible. Cover Picture – Detail from ‘Irene’s Wave’ 2019© by Matthew Cusick. Inlaid maps on panel. 35 x 56 inches. Courtesy of the artist and Holly Johnson Gallery, 1845 Levee St. Dallas, Texas https://hollyjohnsongallery.com SECRETARY’S REPORT By Stephen Howarth, MA (with Distinction), FRHistS, FRGS Hon. Secretary, The 1805 Club COUNCIL Changes in Council membership at the allZoom AGM of May 2021 were signi�icant, with three of the four principal of�icers standing down after very long service. Following Bill White’s retirement from the Chairmanship and his unanimous appointment as one of our Vice Presidents, Captain John Rodgaard USN (Retd) was elected as our new Chairman. John Curtis stood down after a monumental 17 years as Secretary and was replaced by Gillian Knight, but sadly in August ill health forced her to stand down too. Lindy Mackie, having been Treasurer since 2008, also stood down at the AGM for health reasons, but continues to provide off-Council support to her successor Nicholas Ridge. This is the �irst time we have elected a non-Brit as chairman – another landmark for The 1805 Club. John’s replacement as US Secretary is Harold “Pete” Stark, and the new post of Canadian Secretary is �illed by Mark Billings. Emphasising our commitment to internationalism, these elections do not detract from our published focal interest on naval matters in the Georgian era: on the contrary, it expands to �irmly include those beyond British shores. This has always been the case, and for several years past it has been our privilege to sponsor three speakers at the prestigious biennial McMullen conference, whose papers are now published in our annual journal, the Trafalgar Chronicle. EVENTS Over the two Covid years, Council took a cautious view of offering live events. Informal feedback from a sample of members made it clear that, well into the second year, ‘out-of-town’ members were reluctant to visit the capital and expose themselves to the risks of travel on public transport. We respected those views. We did not wish any Club event to become a ‘super-spreader’, and we regarded ourselves as having a duty of care to members. Council discussed the pros and cons of every proposed live event, up to and including Trafalgar Night dinners. It was hard to have to abandon those, especially given that 2020 marked the 30th anniversary of the Club’s foundation, for which a very special celebration had been planned. Even the 2020 wreath-laying in St Paul’s was almost a token event. Tentative steps towards normality evolved in 2021. Now, it is a huge pleasure to announce a developing programme of exciting UK and US social events, up to▻
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