Working in partnership with The Borthwick Institute for Archives (University of York, England), the tailors Henry Poole & Co (founders of Savile Row, London) and the Nevis Historical and Conservation Society, The 1805 Club is proud to announce the imminent presentation of two splendid gifts to the people of Nevis.
 
The first is the return of the parish register of St John’s Figtree, after its full and vital conservation. Covering the period 1729-1825, the delicate register is a wonderful record of social history, listing all the parish records of births, marriages and deaths of the period – including the wedding of Captain (later Admiral Lord) Horatio Nelson.

 
Two centuries later, the register had become badly damaged by insects and the climate. In 2018, Captain John Wills RN of The 1805 Club expressed his concern and hopes. After long and detailed international discussions, The 1805 Club was permitted to take the priceless register to the UK for conservation at the world-renowned Borthwick Institute for Archives.
 
That painstaking and very lengthy process is now finished, and the fully conserved register is about to come home to Nevis. It will be handed over at St John’s Church on Saturday March 8, together with facsimiles of the document.
 
The Borthwick Institute is world-renowned for the conservation of paper documents. The Keeper of the Archives and Special Collections, Mr Gary Brannan, will be present at the handover to give an overview of the conservation process. When asked recently for a preview photo of the conserved register, Mr Brannan politely refused:
 
“We're being very careful not to show anyone the register until the parish have seen it in person. Even our own Director only got a peep at the (marvellous) finished article this week.”

Parishioner Devon Liburd will explain the historical significance of the register. Facsimiles of the register will be presented by Mr Pete Stark, North American Secretary of The 1805 Club, and Captain John Rodgaard USN (Ret), chairman of The 1805 Club.
 
The return of the actual register itself will be done by Ms Alison Fairburn, its conservator. Her world-class expertise has ensured that the once-crumbling document will survive for many decades, even centuries, to come. It will be received and blessed by Canon Carlisle Vyphus, parish priest of St John’s.

The second gift is a magnificent hand-tailored facsimile of the uniform that Captain Nelson wore at the time of his wedding. This superb facsimile was personally made by Mr Keith Levett, a director of Henry Poole & Co. Mr Levett and Henry Poole & Co have been friends of The 1805 Club since 1997.
 
The uniform will be unveiled at Government House on Sunday March 9, and comes complete with a climate-controlled display case, commissioned by the Club from EXPLUS Inc. of northern Virginia, which fabricates a full range of custom-made museum exhibit services.
 
The ceremony will open with welcomes from the Deputy Governor General, Her Honour Mrs Hyleta Liburd, and the Premier of Nevis, the Honourable Mark Brantley.
 
After a historical overview of Nelson’s connections to Nevis, given by Christinia Bates and Phil Dunnings, the unveiling of the uniform will be performed by Captain John Rodgaard USN (Ret), chairman of The 1805 Club.
 
The 1805 Club, initiator of this major project, is a British-based naval historical charity with worldwide membership. It was established on Trafalgar Day (October 21) 1990. One of its principal objectives is the conservation of monuments, memorials, and artefacts relating to the 18th-century British Royal Navy and other fleets.

The Royal Navy recognises the special importance of this weekend’s event, and HMS Medway will be present throughout. Members of the ship’s company will be able to participate in the historic ceremonies.