People invited to attend Great Yarmouth Trafalgar Day service this weekend

The service, which will be led by Revd Canon Simon Ward, the Rector of Great Yarmouth, takes place at 1pm on Sunday, October 19, at Nelson's Monument in Monument Road in the town.

People are asked to arrive at 12.50pm and the event will start with a procession from South Beach Parade to the monument, where tots of rum or orange juice will be available to toast Lord Nelson.

Norfolk Militia will be present and will take a salute and fire a ceremonial gun shot during the service to honour the Naval hero's memory.

The Mayor of the Borough of Great Yarmouth, Councillor Carl Annison, will lay a wreath at the monument on behalf of the borough and Councillor Kerry Robinson-Payne, the Custodian of the Norfolk Naval Pillar, will read the account of the battle of Trafalgar. The service will also include hymns and prayers.

The Norfolk Naval Pillar marks Nelson's four main naval victories - at the Nile, Copenhagen, St Vincent and Trafalgar. It is topped with the figure of Britannia and the motto from Nelson's coat of arms.

Councillor Annison said: "Trafalgar Day holds a special place in our hearts. It pays tribute to the remarkable victory achieved by Admiral Lord Nelson and his brave crew at the Battle of Trafalgar. It is a day when the people of the borough come together to honour courage, unity and resilience.''

Nelson was born at Burnham Thorpe in Norfolk and visited Great Yarmouth many times during his career and was given the Freedom of the Borough.

The fleet for the Battle of Copenhagen was prepared at Great Yarmouth and landed back in the port after the victory.

Between 1794 and 1805, under Nelson's leadership, the Royal Navy proved its supremacy over the French. His most famous engagement, at Cape Trafalgar, saved Britain from the threat of invasion by Napoleon.

Before the battle on October 21, 1805, Nelson sent out the famous signal to his fleet 'England expects that every man will do his duty'. He was killed by a French sniper a few hours later while leading the attack on the French and Spanish fleet.

His body was preserved in brandy and transported back to England where he was given a state funeral.

Councillor Robinson-Payne said: ''Great Yarmouth's Naval Pillar is a tribute to the memory of one of Norfolk's greatest heroes and the service is an opportunity for us to remember those who gave their lives to defend the freedoms we treasure today.

The pillar is 144ft tall and its £7,000 cost was paid for by public donations to commemorate Nelson. It was completed in 1819 - 21 years before London's Trafalgar Square monument.