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Schoolchildren and the Royal Navy could create history in The Trafalgar Way’s first ever short story competition
Press release: Saturday 13th October 2018
The French have La Route Napoleon, the Americans have Paul Revere’s Ride, and now the UK has The Trafalgar Way! This is the historic route between Cornwall and London taken by the messenger delivering news of The Battle of Trafalgar and the death of Admiral Lord Nelson in 1805.
A short story competition has been launched that is going to help put the Trafalgar Way on the map and into the national consciousness. Entrants aged from 7 to 21 are invited to write their own original story on the theme of “An Urgent Message”.
Kathy Brown, The Trafalgar Way’s Director says: “We have launched a story competition because we too have such a great story to tell. It is the tale of the messenger who sailed directly from Cape Trafalgar off the south west coast of Spain to Falmouth. He then made the dash to London by post-chaise (coach and horses) to deliver this urgent dispatch. This journey usually took three weeks, but he did it in 38 hours. And it was a thrilling race - he beat a second messenger by a whisker!”
There are three age categories in the competition. The £500 prize in the oldest age category, which is also open to Royal Navy personnel, Sea Cadets and Royal Marine Reserves resident anywhere in the UK, is the same amount as the messenger, Lieutenant John Richards Lapenotiere received for safely delivering the dispatch to the Admiralty on 6th November 1805.
BBC historian and TV presenter Dan Snow, who is one of the competition judges, is a fan of The Trafalgar Way, because, as he says: “This news dramatically altered the balance of power in the world.”
He is also interested in the way it brings local history to life along the route, because, as he explains: “The Tale of the Trafalgar Dispatch being rushed from Falmouth to London is like a bolt of lightning revealing a lost world of people and places.”
Adam Preston, a writer and Nelson descendant, who has been commissioned to write a short story about The Trafalgar Way, adds: “This is all about becoming a part of The Trafalgar Way story yourself - if you are a winner, you’re going to be presented with your prize on HMS Victory, Nelson’s flagship.”
Prizes include cash, publication of the winning story and, for school entries, a visit to the winner’s school by a fully functioning replica post-chaise like that used by the messenger, complete with a pair of horses and postillion. Kathy Brown points out: “This is something that young people are unlikely to ever forget!”
The competition is open to those who live in the counties and districts along The Trafalgar Way. Its route goes through Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and Surrey as well as the London boroughs of Hounslow, Hammersmith, Fulham, Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster.
Adam Preston, writer, Nelson descendant and author of An Urgent Message, a specially commissioned short story about The Trafalgar Way, email: adam@thetrafalgarway.org
