A very special dinner took place last month in the Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, to commemorate the victory of the Battle of Trafalgar and the death of Lord Nelson…
The event was hosted by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC) and the White Ensign Association (WEA), and attended by Patron of the RNRMC, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, with the BBC Security Correspondent and author, Frank Gardner, giving the immortal memory toast.
This annual commemorative event is a grand affair which included the Naval traditions of ‘Parading of the Beef’ and chocolate ’Ships of the Line’ as well as witnessing mess beatings by the Corps of Drums from the Royal Marine Band Service and the singing of sea shanties.
The dinner brought together over 330 people, made up of supporters, local Greenwich residents, industry partners, friends and supporters of the two charities and members of the Royal Navy, to recognise the the work that the Royal Navy and Royal Marines do in our names today and have done over the years.
The global footprint and demanding operational tempo of today’s Royal Navy is matched by that of the reach and help provided by both the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and The White Ensign Association.
Adrian Bell, Chief Executive of the RNRMC, said: “We are proud to have co-hosted our inaugural Trafalgar Night Dinner with the WEA in the newly restored and iconic Painted Hall. Horatio Nelson was a national hero and Trafalgar a most Britannic victory, both of which hold universal appeal to this day and 214 years on this story still resonate with serving personnel, veterans, their families and the wider public.”
Captain John Lavery, Chief Executive of the WEA, said: “The Trafalgar Night Dinner was wonderful opportunity to highlight our work and the support it provides to the naval community alongside the Royal Navy’s strategic charity on the most important day in the naval calendar in one of maritime Britain’s most iconic venues”