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Clemence Dane wrote of Nelson that, ‘He feels for, he fingers your heart’. The celebration of Nelson is a remarkable phenomenon and it is hard to think of any other historical figure in our long and wonderful history who has secured such a proud and un-revised position in the pantheon of British heroes. Almost without exception those who knew him agreed that there was something special about this ‘affectionate, fascinating little fellow’, as he was described by Victory’s chaplain Alexander Scott. Nelson’s extraordinary importance to the nation was evident from the instant the bittersweet news of his death and great victory at Trafalgar reached England.
Ernle Bradford entitled his biography of Nelson, The Essential Hero, but while the dead sailor has certainly attained the equivalence of the Greek hero and an ageless military champion, his significance in 2005 reaches far beyond the martial. This year, Nelson and his achivements are the hook for matters and concerns that not only commemorate his victory and celebrate his life, but also pay homage to the 50,000 people on both sides who took part in Trafalgar – a battle fought on a square mile of ocean that influenced the course of global history.
