Nelson & His World

I see in today's Sunday Times that the traditional cocktail parties that have been hosted in foreign ports by the Royal Navy, are to be scrapped due to defence cuts. Another disgraceful act on the part of this British Government and all this what with their expenses scandal.
Nelson would have been a very sad and lonely figure in todays world!

I posted the link to the newspaper report 'Inside Nelson's World' but have copied it here:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/u ... 061362.ece

Did Nelson really host 'Cocktail parties' in foreign ports? A bit of Googling reveals that it was an American invention that didn't reach europe until the end of the 19th century. Nelson's invitations to dinner were always frequent and generous, and he enjoyed a glass of champagne, so I suppose this counts as the exercise of 'soft power'.

MY impression is that these 'cocktail parties' and occasions when an RN ship visited a foreign port, also did much to foster good relations and other ties. Much of this was probably behind the scenes, or at least not known about, by the general public many of whom think therefore that it was just a chance for those taking part to either 'let their hair down' or have a 'knees up'! The government seem to be under the same impression!

However, I have heard that the Britannia (which I believe did much to foster British relations in many parts of the world, irrespective of any Royal involvement) is to be put back into commission. Has anyone heard anything more on that?

As for Nelson hosting either a cocktail or any other kind of party, I'm sure for most of the time he was rather too busy!

It would be good to see her back at sea again. I well remember that emotional departure of Chris Patten aboard her when leaving Hong Kong.

I have never been aboard the Britannia but when I was on a British cruise a couple of years ago, we were docked near her with just HMS Largs Bay between us.

Many of us will remember the outbreak of violence in Yemen in 1986 when foreign nationals were desperate to find a way to leave and were scrambling on anything they could find to escape. It so happened that Britannia was in the area, and with the Queen's permission, she evacuated nearly 1000 people of many nationalities, in, it has to be said, great style. The fact that many other nationals, not only British, were rescued by Britannia engendered much goodwill. I saw her only once - this would be about 30 years ago - and I have never seen a ship gleam so brilliantly!

Here is the report of the evacuation, as recorded in Hansard:

http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/comm ... n/21/yemen

Cocktail parties are the 'official' party onboard when visiting a foreign port, to invite the local dignitaries etc. I would suspect that unofficial wardroom parties will still be held - but it will mean that the officers will have to pay for it themselves, not ask the taxpayer to pay the expenses.

Britannia to return? Nice thought, but I would doubt it - she hasn't moved since 1997 and the 1950s vintage engines (steam turbines) are a mystery to many sea going engineers these days...

I believe the Royal Family hire the 'Hebridean Princess' for the summer to cruise around the Scottish isles.

see: http://www.luxuryscotland.co.uk/hebride ... /ship.html