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In November 2016, the Club was awarded a substantial grant by the Chancellor of the Exchequer under the LIBOR scheme for six significant Naval History projects.
The preservation of the parish register containing Lord Nelson’s marriage certificate on the Island of Nevis in the West Indies.
The restoration of the Chapel in the Old Royal Naval Hospital in Menorca, the oldest Royal Naval Hospital in the world, built in 1707.
Now featured on this website are a number of important online research archival datasets, saved and purchased with Libor funds. These unique datasets enable detailed biographical research on all those who served in the Royal Navy 1793-1815.
The Wooden World Workshops. We are extending our successful ‘Wooden World’ programme of workshops into schools for Key Stage 2 and 3 students. We anticipate that it will also appeal to Sea Cadet Units across the country.
In the largest project, we are reinvigorating The Trafalgar Way, which The 1805 Club established in 2005 as a legacy of the Trafalgar bicentenary. This witnessed the recreation of the delivery by Lieutenant Lapenotiere of the original Trafalgar Dispatch to the Admiralty from Falmouth. In 2005, for the maritime leg of Laponeotiere’s journey, STS Lord Nelson (Jubilee Sailing Trust) sailed to Cape Trafalgar with the New Dispatch, which was presented to the Armada España at Cadiz, after which she sailed to Falmouth. A replica post chaise was built for the overland journey from Falmouth. This followed Lapenotiere's 271-mile route, now known as The Trafalgar Way, and commemorative plaques were erected at the 21 locations where he changed horses. Since 2005 a further 17 plaques have been erected at intermediate locations along the route by local communities wishing to be associated with the commemoration of the battle and the death of Admiral Lord Nelson.
During the next three years we aim to run a wide range of activities along The Trafalgar Way and have appointed an Executive Director, Kathy Brown, for the purpose. There will be an emphasis on local events along or near the route and we anticipate competitions, fairs, musical events, lectures, films and sporting activities, with Sea Cadet Units and Royal Naval Associations also being involved. The Ride the Trafalgar Way cycle challenge already takes place in July every year.
This grant of funds represents a huge step forward for The 1805 Club and how it now pursues its aims and activities. It is the most significant development since it became a charity and it is a fantastic way to open the chapter on the Club’s next thirty years. It is also a genuine recognition of the Club’s status as a member of the naval heritage family and significantly raises in this community and beyond.
Note: The Libor Fund was created from the criminal fines imposed on banks for a series of fraudulent actions connected to their manipulation of the London Interbank Offered Rate, the average interest rate calculated through submissions of interests rates by major banks across the world. The fines amounted to hundred of millions of pounds and in 2012 the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that the proceeds from Libor fines should be used to support those that represent the best of values, in particular military and emergency services charities and other related good causes.