THE KEDGE ANCHOR AUTUMN 2024 3 EDITORIAL We are lucky to have such a wonderful set of members, who all share and enjoy our aims and efforts. In this edition of The Kedge Anchor we are even more lucky than usual, in having Des Pawson, a world authority on rope making and knots, contributing a minute part of his vast knowledge. The inspiration for the mini-theme of ropes and knots came from the announcement of the 40-year anniversary of the opening of Chatham Historic Dockyard, which is still home to a commercial rope-walk open to the public. At the time of writing this editorial I am planning to take a friend there in the very near future, as soon as life stops getting in the way of my plans. (see page 16) Elsewhere in this edition you will �ind the usual tangled mix of Club news and history, including the very delightful report by Stephen Howarth of the reinterment of Matthew Flinders’ recently discovered remains, which is a nationally important historical event that was reported across Britain. You will also �ind details of a visit to Mariners’ Museum, Virginia, comment on The Nore Mutiny, how Mount Vernon got its name, book reviews, the loss of EIC ship Kent, details of the Battle of Flamborough Head, an interesting grave in Gorlestonon-Sea, Norfolk, UK, some songs and poetry and,of course, everyone knows about the Haslar Hospital – except those who don’t. It’s also nice to see on page 4 that 1SL, Admiral Sir Ben Key, has his ear to the ground. Abie and OS are getting in a muddle again (page 37). Finally, please engage with the crossword and, more importantly, with the Club Shop on page 6. On a personal note, some of you know that I was somewhat railroaded into this job by Captain Peter Hore, who insisted that I could do it, despite my doubts. I hope you will agree that he was right – as I continue to learn how to do it, it gives me great joy and satisfaction. I am pleased to tell anyone who will listen that I am leading a life that I could not have dreamed of when I retired from engineering in 2005, in large part thanks to the friends and colleagues that I have met whilst being Editor of KA. This is the tenth edition that I have produced, and I love (nearly) every minute of it. So, thanks to all of you for being readers and to all contributors, of which there is always a need – if you all stop, I’m out of both a job and a dream. Front cover picture: Extract from Chatham Dockyard Ropery, Wash drawing by Edna Lumb 1983. Science Museum Group Object Number: 1984-202 Back cover pictures: Photos by Stephen Howarth from a private Club visit to Anglesey Abbey SECRETARY’S REPORT Stephen Howarth MA (with Distinction), FRHistS, FRGS, Cert. Ed. (Oxon) Hon. Secretary, The 1805 Club The next edition is due tobeissuedin Spring 2025. The deadline for copy will be 21 March 2025. Please submit your ideas to the Editor as soon as youcan,and actual contributions before the copy deadline whenever possible. Wilkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome! On Saturday 25 May 2024, the Club’s AGM took place in the Army & Navy Club (‘the Rag’), London, with a very happy ‘�irst’: it was chaired by Madame Natacha Abriat, who became a member of The 1805 Club in 2023. For many years now, we have alternated the meeting’s chair between British and non-British members, and between men and women, but we have never previously had the opportunity of inviting a Frenchwoman to take the role. Natacha earned her Master’s degree in naval history at the Sorbonne, focusing on the great object of her admiration – the British Royal Navy in the time of Nelson – and now works for France’s National Heritage Institute, currently as head of research in the Occitanie region. She is mentioned here because as chair of the 2023 AGM, she exempli�ied three of the principal characteristics of The 1805 Club: our internationalism, our gender equality, and our dedication to conserving the memorials of the 18th-century Royal Navy. All three are vital to our shared identity as members of The 1805 Club. We avoid nationalism. Triumphalism is anathema to us. Instead, the keys to our existence are the study of the Royal Navy (and other armed �leets and merchant navies) in the long eighteenth century, the publication of new research, the creation of related events – and, crucially, the conservation of their memorials. Organisation Following the Club’s transition from an unincorporated Charity to a CIO, or Charitable Incorporated Organisation, your Trustees are glad to have successfully �illed two new posts: Victoria Callow has become the Club’s Bookkeeper, working with our Treasurer Nicholas Ridge, and Jude Wilson has become Clerk to the Trustees, taking weight off the Secretary’s shoulders. We are very grateful for their assistance. Sadly, though, Nicholas has indicated that he needs to stand down, so this issue of the KA marks the beginning of our quest for his successor. Nicholas is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and a Chartered Tax Adviser, and tells me that whoever succeeds him as the Club’s honorary Treasurer will �ind that Victoria is an excellent assistant. Please see page 6 for contact details. Conservation and Commemorative Projects Since the of�icial foundation of the Club on Trafalgar Day 1990, our projects have been conducted to the highest possible standards. That, and the fact that the Club has always been run almost entirely by volunteers, can sometimes mean that things take longer to complete than expected – but we can truthfully say that the results are worth the wait, because they will endure well beyond the lifetimes of most of us. Conservation of the Nevis register, recording Nelson’s wedding, took years to achieve (not least because of our conservator’s serious personal injury) Continued on page 4
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