Trafalgar 200th Anniversary Weekend
Over the weekend of 21st-23rd October, the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar was celebrated with events ranging from formal dinners to private barbecues across the country. Many of the 1,000 regisered beacons and bonfires were organised by RABI supporters and an estimated £30,000 was raised for RABI funds.
At The Farmers Club Trafalgar Lunch, in the Butcher's Hall in the City of London, attended by many RABI representatives and supporters, a collection for RABI, RSABI and the Seafarers charities raised £1,500.
Among the numerous beacons in the north of the country was one organised by the Lancashire RABI committee on the Duke of Westminster's estate at Abbeyfield. Lancashire also had a Folk Night and Northumberland ran a Trafalgar barbecue, while 150 guests enjoyed North Yorkshire's black tie Trafalgar Dinner, held at Harrogate Ladies College, thanks to the college bursar, John Hart.
A sophisticated masked ball at Willington Hall, Cheshire where elaborate masks were displayed by both ladies and gentlemen, raised a total of £1,370.
In the east of England the weekend's celebrations described as 'fantastic with beacons being lit and parties held around the region', included a very successful dinner held on the East of England Showground.
In the south-east, the West Sussex committee held a Trafalgar Dinner at Petworth for 140 guests, enjoying locally produced food served by YFC members. Despite fierce weather conditions several beacons were lit across the region, one in Arundel Park by kind permission of the Duke of Norfolk. In Kent, Ricahrd Beaugie used 200 year-old logs to light a beacon in 50-70mph winds, on Cheriton Hill, overlooking the Channel Tunnel terminal, as well as holding a private dinner for 75, which raised over £800. Alison Brown, a member of the newly formed Berkshire committee organised a beacon and event for 40 guests, while on the Isle of Wight the RABI beacon was accompanied by a hog raost.
In the south-west the Trafalgar dinner, organised by RABI chairman Rosemary Nash, at Powderham Castle, attracted a prestigious list of 90 people and raised some £2,500. At Taunton Market there was a mammoth auction of livestock, local produce, fodder, horticultural equipment and plants, all going under the hammer to raise funds for RABI.
In Wales 111 people attended the Carmarthenshire dinner at the Half Way Inn, following the lighting of a beacon at Nantgaredig, while Brecon & Radnor held a dinner for 82 guests on the Royal Welsh Showground. the two events will have raised about £3,000 in total.
Many thanks to everyone who celebrated this event and supported RABI.
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