Viscount Nelson by Johann Heinrich Schmidt, 1800. © National Maritime Museum, London.
Bells will ring out across the globe on October 21 to mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar and the death of Admiral Nelson.
Starting at 12 noon in New Zealand, bells will be rung in remembrance in Australia, South Africa, the USA, Malta and Gibraltar as well as all over the UK.
It was at 12 noon on October 21 1805 that the first shot was fired off Cape Trafalgar as Nelson’s navy took on the combined French and Spanish fleet. When news of victory and the death of a national hero finally arrived in Britain church bells rang out all over the country.
So, according to Richard Offen - the man with the unenviable job of co-ordinating the global event on behalf of the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers - it seemed that 200 years later bell-ringing would be an ideal way to mark the occasion.
"Bells ringing around the world and all over the United Kingdom for Nelson will make a fitting tribute to his immortal memory," said Richard.
The Battle of Trafalgar, 21 October 1805 by JMW Turner, 1824. © National Maritime Museum, London, Greenwich Hospital Collection.
"The first ringing of the day worldwide will take place whilst most of us are still in bed," he explained. "The bells of Nelson Cathedral, New Zealand will be rung at noon local time. This will be followed by the bells of St Mary’s Basilica, Sydney, the Swan Bells, Perth, Western Australia and bells in South Africa, Washington, Toronto and Malta."
In London the bells of St Paul’s Cathedral will be rung for approximately 20 minutes following a formal wreath laying by the Royal Navy on Nelson’s tomb at 11.00am.
Throughout the rest of the country special commemorative peels (lasting up to three hours) are planned as are quarter peels (a slightly less physically intense 40-45 minutes).
In Greenwich at St Alfege ringing will commence at 9.45 am in an attempt at the 5,200 changes of Stedman Caters, a method composed in the 18th century and probably rung at many 10 bell towers to celebrate the victory in 1805.
The Fall of Nelson, Battle of Trafalgar, 21 October 1805 (detail) by Denis Dighton, about 1825. © National Maritime Museum, London.
The bell ringing is part of an entire weekend of commemorations marking the culmination of SeaBritain 2005, a year-long celebration of the sea and the UK’s maritime heritage.
Events, exhibitions, lectures and even an international fleet review in the Solent have so far been held but Trafalgar Day is perhaps the most pertinent opportunity to remember the courage and sacrifice of 1805.
First thing in the morning, at 8.00am, Nelson's famous 'England expects...' signal will be raised on board his Trafalgar flagship, HMS Victory, at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. In the evening HM The Queen will arrive to light the national Trafalgar Weekend Beacon before dining on board.
On October 23 Trafalgar Square in London (where else!?!) will be the venue for a Trafalgar Parade by the Sea Cadets, Royal Navy, reservist personnel and the Band of HM Royal Marines.
The Trafalgar Service, attended by Their Royal Highnesses the Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales will follow at 3.00 pm at St Paul's Cathedral. While in the evening 10,000 members of the public will be treated to a theatrical celebration of 200 years of British maritime endeavour.
Funeral Procession of the late Lord Viscount Nelson, from the Admiralty to St Paul's, London, 9 January 1806 by Augustus Charles Pugin, M Merigot, James Cundee. © National Maritime Museum, London.
A more lasting tribute will be paid to Nelson and his comrades in the form of the Trafalgar Woods initiative from the Woodland Trust in which 33 new woods – one for each ship in Nelson’s fleet, plus the six supporting vessels - will be planted in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Beginning with the ceremonial planting of Victory Wood in Kent on Trafalgar Day itself, 15,000 children will help plant a total of 250,000 trees.
"Trafalgar Woods marks the important link between maritime history and our native woodland," explained Andy Beer of the Woodland Trust.
"We want to get people thinking about just how pivotal timber was – not only to the navy but in everyday life. Involving children in planting trees is a great way of giving them the chance to make a difference to their landscape whilst learning about trees and their heritage."
For full details on events all over the UK visit www.seabritain2005.com.
