The following has been brought to the attention of the Society and may be of interest to members

“Pardon me for the intrusion but I thought there might be a Society member or two who might be interested in acquiring Lord Olivier’s naval officer’s costume worn as Horatio Nelson in the film THAT HAMILTON WOMAN.
It is up for auction on December 16th at the major Hollywood memorabilia company: Profiles in History.  Bidding is by phone, over the internet, or in person in Beverly Hills California.

The main information site is www.profilesinhistory.com and the specific auction links are as follows:

http://bid.profilesinhistory.com/Laurence-Olivier-Lord-Horatio-Nelson-3-piece-Royal-Naval-costume-from-That-Hamilton-Woman_i11537075

http://bid.profilesinhistory.com/Henry-Wilcoxon-and-Miles-Mander-Royal-Naval-long-jackets-from-That-Hamilton-Woman_i11537077 ”

The Society has been informed of the following appeal:

“Campaign to buy Nelson’s Ship in a Bottle for National Maritime Museum

The Art Fund has just launched a campaign to buy Nelson’s Ship in a Bottle for permanent display at the National Maritime Museum. The scale model of HMS Victory risks being lost to the British public if it’s sold on the open market, so we’re very keen to give it a permanent home on public display.
While the Art Fund has donated £50,000 to the cost, we’re relying on a public appeal to raise the rest of the money needed to buy the sculpture. It would be a huge help if you could run a story about the campaign on the Nelson Society’s website – details about the appeal can be found at http://www.artfund.org/ship/, and people can donate £5 by calling 0844 415 4004 or texting ‘SHIP’ to 70555.

Best wishes,
Steve Hopkinson
The Art Fund”

On November 30^th 2011 there is a National Strike and so it is best to avoid Trafalgar Square in the circumstances and I have rearranged the day.

We will now meet for morning coffee at the Royal Exchange at Bank (follow  Royal Exchange exit from the tube at Bank) from 10.00am. It is also a short walk from Liverpool St station or Moorgate. After coffee we will cross the road to visit The Bank of England Museum. It is a very interesting Museum to visit for the Nelson Society given that it was established to supply loans for our Government to maintain the Royal Navy and the Army in our constant struggles with the French. We will see the terms that established The Bank of England and the Charter granted by William 111 in 1694. Lord Nelson held an account with The Bank of England and we will see documents connected with Lord Nelson and other memorabilia of the period and much, much more. The Bank of England staff are delighted we will be visiting them.

There is new exhibition just opening this week on Matthew Boulton and James Watt, which will interest many after the recent Soho House visit in Birmingham. I think that we will all enjoy the visit in place of Nelson’s Ship in a Bottle.

We will have lunch afterwards nearby, so that we are easily able to be at Carpenters’ Hall in Throgmorton Avenue for 2.30pm for the tour and see Ian Brennan’s carving of HMS Victory, ending with light refreshments at 4.00pm.

I am sorry about the changes but in the circumstances hope that this is an acceptable compromise. The £15.00 includes Morning Coffee and Carpenters Hall, The Bank of England visit and audio guide there but not lunch, if you have already booked ignore below.

I wish to book _________ tickets at £15.00      Total _________

Name    ____________________________________________
Address____________________________________________

Phone No ___________________  Mobile ________________

Email______________________________________________

Nelson Society Membership No_________ Signed__________

Please send the booking form to GenevieveSt George,Flat 13,

40 Mellish St, London E14 8NS

The Nelson Society accepts no responsibility for accidents or losses

We have received the following email which members may find of interest:

“Christie’s sale 3136

I am writing with regards to our upcoming Fine Arms, Armour and Collectors Firearms sale, due to be held at Christie’s South Kensington at 10.30 am on Wednesday 23 November. I wished to make the Society and its members aware of the sale we have and In particular,  to draw  attention to Lots 27 & 28. Both items Linked to Lord Nelson himself through his friend and prize agent Alexander Davison. I hope these items may be of interest.

I have taken the opportunity of attaching a link to our online e-catalogue for the sale.

http://www.christies.com/eCatalogues/index.aspx?id=9F6B1864BA6F68BB852577820048C380

Should you have any questions regarding the sale, please do not hesitate to contact me either by email or by telephone on +44 (0)20 7752 3011.

With kind regards,

Edward

CHRISTIE’S
Edward Woodley Jones
Graduate Intern
Christie’s Arms and Armour, South Kensington
Tel  +44 (0) 207 752 3011
Fax +44 (0) 207 752 3355
Email: ewoodleyjones@christies.com“

On the evening of Monday 14 November 2011 the Chairman of the Nelson Society Dr Nick Slope will be giving an illustrated talk entitled Rescuing Nelson’s Heroes: Excavations at the Nile Battlefield to the Rotary Club of Amesbury.

The Rotary Club of Amesbury have kindly allowed any local Society members to attend provided they inform Colin Heggie in advance (by Friday 11 November 2011)

Details are:

Venue Antrobus Arms Hotel, Amesbury

Timings 7.00 for 7.30pm

Dress Smart casual

Cost (for supper) £12/head – cash on the night or cheque to Rotary Club of Amesbury

Contact Colin Heggie, Tel: 01980 622443, E-mail: colinaheggie@yahoo.com

We have been invited to visit the Carpenters’ Hall on 30 November 2011 at 2.30 pm, which we have combined with a morning visit to see HMS Victory Ship in a Bottle in Trafalgar Square and lunch at St Martin-in-the-Fields church.

The plan is to meet at St Martin-in-the-Fields for morning coffee at about 10.30 am, so we will be at Trafalgar Square at about 11.15 am to view the HMS Victory Ship in a Bottle on the 4^th plinth, made by Yinka Shonibare.(See the article in The Nelson Dispatch of July 2010 pages 413-418). We will return to St Martin-in-the-Fields for lunch, leaving there at about 1.30 pm to make our way to the Carpenters’ Hall at Throgmorton Avenue in the City of London by bus or tube.

We are to have a guided tour of the Hall of the Worshipful Company of Carpenters, when we will see Ian Brennan’s carving of HMS Victory  (see article by Jeanette Ryder in The Nelson Dispatch of October 2010 pages 503&504). The earliest mention of a carpenter in the City of London records is in 1271, and by 1333 they submitted their book of Ordinances, so it is one of the older London Guilds. The Hall was bombed in WWII but has since been rebuilt. The building itself is fascinating and there are many interesting artefacts and wooden craft pieces to see there as well as Ian Brennan’s Victory. The tour will end after light refreshments in the Hall at about 4.00pm.

We are limited to a maximum of 25 persons at the Carpenters’ Hall, so early booking is advisable.

The cost is £15.00 to include morning coffee and the visit to the Carpenters’ Hall and refreshments there. (Lunch at St Martin-in-the-Fields is not included).

I wish to book …………… tickets at £15.00 each       Total…………………

Name …………………………………………………………………………

Address……………………………………………………………………….

Phone No………………………………. Mobile……………………………

Email …………………………………………………………………………

Nelson Society Membership No……………………Signed………………………….

Please send booking form and cheque to Genevieve St George, Flat 13, 40 Mellish St London  E12 8NS

The Nelson Society accepts no responsibility for accidents or losses

As part of Open House London on Saturday September 17th 2011 one can see the model of HMS Victory made by craftsman Ian Brennan from timber from HMS Victory at The Carpenters Guild, Throgmorton Avenue, City of London EC2 2JJ from 10.00 to 3.30pm. The nearest stations are Bank and Moorgate. For more information see Jeanette Yardley’s letter in The Nelson Dispatch of 0ctober 2010 Page 503.

The Battle of Cape St Vincent Luncheon 

12.30 pm Friday, 17^th February 2012. 

At The Naval Club, 

38 Hill Street, London W1J 5NS 

The Battle of Cape St Vincent on Valentine’s Day 1797 marked Nelson’s first great naval victory over a Spanish fleet which included the Santísima Trinidad, the largest ship afloat at the time. As a Junior Commander he famously boarded and captured two Spanish ships – an unprecedented feat – and was largely responsible for what was to become a famous victory.

Make a note in your diary and join us for this very popular event: a Celebration Luncheon in Mayfair’s prestigious Naval Club, followed by a Presentation by Nelson Society Member

Ian G Brennan 

Sculptor and Woodcarver to the

British Royal Household

Ian has several claims to fame as well as being appointed in 1989 ‘Sculptor to the Most Noble Order of the Garter and Most honourable Order of the Bath’ three years later he was asked to help with some important restoration work on board HMS Victory. As a ‘thank you’ from the Crew, he was given some original oak beams from Victory’s lower gun deck which were deemed unsuitable for restoration and during the past twenty years has carved from them some extra-ordinary works of art.

A link to the Battle of Trafalgar: a Marine John Brennan was killed at Trafalgar onboard HMS Victory who was almost certainly an ancestor of Ian’s. Although his father was born in Glasgow and a proud Scot, many of his ancestors originated from the same part of Southern Ireland as the Trafalgar Brennan. It has also been somewhat of a tradition for members of his family to serve in the Royal Marines including his own father who served for 22 years.

Ian is in great demand as a speaker and we are delighted to have him on board for our first major event of the year. Tickets are just £27 and numbers are limited, so first come first served.

12.30 for 13.00 on Friday 17^th February 2012 at

The Naval Club, 38 Hill Street, London W1J 5NS 

Tel 020 7493 7672  www.navalclub.co.uk 

Dress: Jacket and Tie

To commemorate Nelson’s first great victory at Cape St Vincent in 1797, The Nelson Society is returning to The Naval Club for its third annual St Vincent Lecture and annual Buffet Luncheon. Any member wanting to attend should complete the attached form and return it with a cheque and Stamped Addressed Envelope.

The lecture is ‘The restoration of Lord Nelson’s Flagship ~ creating a scale replica of HMS Victory from her original oak timbers and selected Royal Commissions.’

The Buffet will be at 12.30 for 13.00 followed by the lecture.

The Naval Club is a classic 18^th Century Mayfair Town House with a unique maritime atmosphere. The nearest tube station is Green Park on the Jubilee, Piccadilly & Victoria lines, a ten minute walk away. There is limited parking in Audley Square, South Audley Street: close by, but expensive.

As the numbers are limited, please return the form as soon as possible if you would like to attend this very popular event.

Paul Ganjou. The Nelson Society.