Sunday 21 October will see the launch of a ‘Trafalgar Day Service’ held to commemorate the death of Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson, Britain’s greatest naval hero.

The service will be held at Nelson's Monument, or the ‘Norfolk Naval Pillar’, which was built on the South Denes in 1819 to commemorate Nelson's death at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. At the time, the South Denes was an empty sand spit and the monument stood right in the centre of it.

The Monument stands at 144 feet tall and is only slightly shorter than its counterpart in London. It has 217 steps with breathtaking views out to sea and across the Borough of Great Yarmouth.

Cannon Michael Woods will take the service which will commence at 12.00 noon.  The celebration will commence with a procession from South Beach Parade to the monument and will be led by the band of TS Warrior of the Naval Cadet Core, who will be playing ‘The Last Post’ and ‘Reveille’, during the wreath laying.   Joining TS Warrior will be the East Norfolk Militia.

The Deputy Leader of the Borough Council, Councillor Barry Stone, will be representing the Mayor at the service and will be laying a wreath on behalf of the Borough.  “The significance of Admiral Lord Nelson on the history of the Borough cannot be over estimated and I am very pleased that this service is set to become an annual event. Our rich heritage and close relationship with the sea has helped shape Great Yarmouth’s past and is still an important part of our present and future regeneration projects. I hope the event will be a great success and become an important date in the civic calendar,” said Councillor Stone.

Faith Carpenter, Curator of the Norfolk Nelson Museum, will be proposing a toast to the ‘son of Norfolk’ who died so honourably for his country.  Faith said: “It is only right that we commemorate Nelson’s sacrifice, as well as that of those who died and were injured alongside him at the battle. I hope that the people of the town will join us at the service, after which we will drink a toast to his immortal memory.”

At 1.15 pm the East Norfolk Militia will be firing a ‘single gun shot’ to replicate the one that the caused Nelson to fall to his death at the battle of Trafalgar, dying several hours later at 4.30pm.

A ‘rum punch toast’ will be served immediately afterwards and a marquee will be at the event in case of poor weather.

For further information contact Faith Carpenter, Curator of the Norfolk Nelson Museum on 01493 850698 or Laura Goodman, Mayoral and Civic Events organiser on 01493 846125 or email lauragoodman@great-yarmouth.gov.uk.