Royal Navy selling HMS Victory?

HMS Victory

It has been reported today that HMS Victory, the ship famous for the most historic battle of the Royal Navy, could be sold by the Royal Navy in an effort to save money.  The ship, which became the flag ship of Lord Horatio Nelson is reportedly costs 1.5 Million Pounds every year to maintain and the Royal Navy fear that its just too costly.  Having successfully defeated the combined French and Spanish fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar on 21st October 1805, the ship returned to Britain where it was decommissioned in 1809 and put into dry dock in Portsmouth in 1922.  Since then it has become a popular tourist attraction boasting 400,000 visitors each year.  High ranking officers of the Royal Navy, including Sir Julian Oswald, Former First Sea Lord of the Royal Navy, have shown their dismay at the decision to sell the ship, by saying “The Victory is a national treasure. Talk of selling her or anything of that sort, is absolutely daft. “

Rugby Sea Cadets have visited HMS Victory in dry dock on a number of occasions.

Source: Daily Mail Website

Rugby Sea Cadet Unit to host Warwickshire District Trafalgar Parade 2008

Lord Horatio Nelson

Sunday October 19th 2008 will be an extremely important day for the Rugby Sea Cadet Unit, when they host the Warwickshire District Sea Cadet Trafalgar Parade 2008.  This event, which takes place annually, commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar and celebrates the victory or Vice-Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson’s British Fleet over the combined French and Spanish Fleets on October 21st 1805. Although an annual event, Rugby Sea Cadet Unit only get to host the parade once every 10 years, the last being of course in 1998.  This year over 200 Sea Cadets, a Guard of Honour and Massed Sea Cadet Band from across Warwickshire will descend on Rugby for the parade through the streets of Rugby and service at St Andrews Church in Church Street Rugby.  More information on the planning of the parade coming soon . . .