Trafalgar Dinner 2023

After a year’s absence due to covid and the school kitchen redevelopment, it was lovely for the contingent to be able to host another Trafalgar Dinner on 17 October 2023.

93 senior cadets, officers and guests enjoyed an excellent traditional roast beef dinner in the Donald Brooks Auditorium, decked out with pennants, ensigns, model sailing ships and the portrait of Nelson himself.

After grace, dinner, port and the requisite toasts, our guest speaker, Commander Bob Laverty RN, delivered the key element of the evening, his speech. Bob started with the customary tactical overview of the Battle of Trafalgar, but went on to explore Nelson’s career and character in more depth, concluding that Nelson was “unorthodox, energetic, original, inclusive, imaginative, charismatic, daring, authentic, complex, flawed … and lucky.”

Bob also drew our attention to the striking parallels between the geopolitical landscape faced by Nelson and that facing the UK and the Royal Navy today. He closed by identifying the values that Nelson represented and how his example presents the cadets with three lessons in leadership: be yourself (i.e. be authentic), look after your people and acquire professional competence. The evening finished with the lusty singing of sea shanties, enjoyed by all.

Our thanks to catering, facilities, the wind band, reprographics, the Royal Navy guard of honour and Sub Lt Lofthouse, for organising and comparing an excellent evening.

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