Gala Event to honour Lord Horatio Nelson on 21st October 2025

Some 80 ‘swashbucklers’ enjoyed a spectacular celebration to the Immortal Memory of Lord Horatio Nelson at the Royal Naval Association Torrevieja Branch (RNATB) Trafalgar Night Dinner on the 21st October 2025 at Hotel Lodomar, San Pedro del Pinatar, Murcia. This exceptional and successful annual event on the anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar and the passing of our hero, Admiral Lord Viscount Nelson, is filled with pomp, ceremony & fun, and got underway with a CAVA & Canapé Reception where the RNATB Shipmates (S/M’s), their families and guests were proud and privileged to meet the guest of honour, the recently appointed Defence Attaché | British Embassy Madrid, Captain Antony Crabb Royal Navy (RN) and his wife Caroline Tuckett. The S/M’s were also able to ‘swing the lamp’ (tell sea stories – tell a yarn or two) with the other top table official guests of Pastor Phil Molloy and her guest from Holland, Ineke Konings, Commodore Keith Estlin RN Retd, his wife Penny Estlin and her daughter Jane Chalmers and S/M Collin Holloway, who will have been a RNATB member for 20 years in January 2026. All taking place to the backdrop of the sound of British Naval music while having their photo taken by professional photographer Tom Crawford of KSC Photography, who is also Ex RN. Among this merry band of ‘matelots’ were our ‘oppos’ (comrades) representing the Merchant Navy, RAF & Army and among the contingent of families, friends and civilians were representatives from the RBL Nerja Branch (near Malaga). The whole ensemble moved on to the dining room and whilst stood at their respective dining tables were treated to the amazing spectacle of Bagpiper, Gordon McKenzie of the Torrevieja Pipes & Drums playing the tune of Heart of Oak and marching in the six Standards being paraded by, S/M Bryan Dalton (Branch Standard), S/M Syd Avery (Union Jack), S/M Tom Patterson (Spanish Flag), S/M Mike Cockman (White Ensign), S/M Steve Hemingfield (Levante Submarine Association) and a guest Chairman of the RBL Nerja Branch, Eddie Bowe, (RBL Nerja Branch Standard), which were all ceremonially received by S/M Peter Sloggett. Following the superb three course meal and much flowing of wine, was the tradition of ‘passing the port‘ where the glasses are charged in readiness for the toast to “Su Majestad Rey (King) Felipe VI of Spain and Queen Letizia of Spain” (which was made standing) and “His Majesty King Charles III and Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom” (which were made seated in the traditional Royal Navy style), then prior to the final toast to the “Immortal memory of Admiral Lord Viscount Nelson”, the audience were treated to an enlightening and amusing account of the life of Lord Horatio Nelson by Captain Antony Crabb RN. The triumph of this event is in part due to the planning, organising and execution and therefore rightly so, tributes were made to all those that contributed to staging the event, including: Raffaella and Ainhoa of the hotel corporate management team, the Chef, Paco and all his staff for creating and cooking delicious reception canapés and meal, the Maître d’ Joshep and all his staff for creatively laying out the CAVA Reception area and main dining room, as well as their diligent and professional service and to the front desk team, housekeeping team and maintenance team, who all diligent and cheerful contributed to the warm, welcoming and positive service. The RNATB team of S/M who contributed to the ‘rigging out’ of the flags & bunting and ‘decking out’ of the tables with all the special paraphernalia all received an enthusiastic round of applause. The magnificent evening was rounded off with the penultimate spectacular Raffle and then with much ‘frolicking on the dance floor’ to the harmonious sound of Rae Daniel and the ‘swashbucklers’ happy chants of “looking forward to next year”. Tony Jenkins, RNATB Chairman.