Posts Tagged ‘Ship In Bottle’

On Saturday February 26^th a small group attended Nelson’s Ship in Bottle Day at the National Maritime Museum. The day was excellent after morning coffee we observed the activities arranged for children about Nelson and the period before attending the Panel Debate about Nelson’s Ship in a Bottle which was very interesting after we had the chance to meet with Yinka Shonibare the artist who created it and present him with a copy of The Nelson Dispatch with the article about Nelson’s Ship in a Bottle. Our thanks to the NMM for an excellent day.

On April 13^th a group, mostly from London and SE Branch, left for a wonderful long weekend in the Isles of Scilly. We were made very welcome by several Scillonians. We had a very interesting visit to Tresco to see the restored ornate carving from Colossus there. After we went out to the wreck site – a very poignant moment for all as we floated over the wreck site listening to a poem on Colossus written by Todd Stevens who found more of the Coloossus wreck. With us as well was his wife Carmen, who found the carving and who’s forebears on Samson helped rescue survivors from the wreck.  For all of us an enjoyable and memorable weekend thanks to friends made there.

On May 5^th a small group attended the talk on Lt Hick’s uniform at the NMM that was very informative and interesting.

On June 22^nd members attended a talk at the NMM on the coat that Nelson was wearing when he was mortally wounded. Our thanks to NMM for excellent photos for Nelson Dispatch.

Then on June 23^rd Genevieve took a group for a visit to the Old Royal Naval College (ORNC), followed by an excellent lunch in the King William Restaurant. Fr Tom Pyke a Naval Chaplain was with us and said the Naval Grace – a moving touch to lunch. After we were taken on an excellent tour of the ORNC, including Admiral’s House, by Ray Lewis one of the ORNC guides. With not a note in sight he gave up the history of Greenwich over the past 2000 years – no mean feat !!Our thanks to the ORNC

On June 1^st we had an excellent day visit to The Nile Clumps where in the presence of  Edward Parslow, a descendent of Captain Ball, our Chairman Dr Slope unveiled the plaque on HMS Alexander marking its replanting.

Before Christmas we hope to have a visit to Trafalgar Sq to see Nelson’s Ship in a bottle before it is removed from the 4^th Plinth.  Also we intend to visit to the NMM to see the new Sammy Ofer  wing and to see the newly acquired sword of Capt Blackwood and the restored uniform of Lt Hicks.  Watch out  for more details later.

My thanks to members who have attended the events and special thanks to those members  who have helped make these events possible. I would also like to thank the ORNC, the NMM and Colin Heggie and Amesbury Rotary for all the have done to continue with the restoration of the Nile Clumps on a daily basis over the past two years.