Sailors from RNAS Culdrose marched through the streets of Madron, near Penzance, on Sunday (19 October) for their annual Trafalgar and Lord Nelson Thanksgiving Parade.
Led by the HMS Seahawk Volunteer Band, the colour party, guard and platoon of sailors were joined by members of the Royal Naval Association and local Sea Cadets. The event was organised by Madron Parish Council.
Taking the salute was the commanding officer of RNAS Culdrose, Captain James Hall, alongside other senior naval personnel and dignitaries from Madron and Penzance.
A service was held at St Maddern’s Church, the same parish church that held the first thanksgiving service after the historic battle 220 years ago.
The story goes that in 1805, HMS Pickle, returning to Britian with news of the battle of Trafalgar and the death of Lord Admiral Nelson, met fishermen in Mount’s Bay. They spread the news and when the fishermen returned to Penzance, the town mayor organised a service of thanksgiving and mourning for Lord Admiral Nelson. The parish church at the time was St Maddern’s Church in Madron.
The idea of holding a parade and displaying the Nelson Banner, which was made in 1805 and used at the original thanksgiving service, was created in 1946.
