A WEST Cornwall village celebrated one of Britain’s most famous wartime victories, fought against the combined French and Spanish fleets in 1805.

Sailors from Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Culdrose paraded through the streets of Madron, near Penzance, on Sunday [October 19] for the Trafalgar and Nelson Thanksgiving Parade, in memory of the Battle of Trafalgar and the death of Admiral Lord Nelson.

Led by the HMS Seahawk Volunteer Band, Royal Navy Ratings were joined by members of the Sea Cadets, Royal Naval Association and the Royal British Legion. The parade made its way to St Maddern’s Church, which held the first thanksgiving service over 200 years ago, mere days after the historic sea battle.

Following the thanksgiving service, the parade filed past Landithy Hall, where RNAS Culdrose commanding officer Captain James Hall took the salute alongside other senior naval personnel and local dignitaries.

Organised by Madron Parish Council, the annual event is always held on the Sunday closest to October 21. It was on that day in 1805 that an outnumbered British fleet of ships achieved victory under the command of Nelson, who was mortally wounded during the battle.

The story goes that following the Battle of Trafalgar, the topsail schooner HMS Pickle set sail for Falmouth and along the way passed on news of the victory and Nelson’s death to fishermen in Mount’s Bay.

They promptly returned to Penzance and told mayor Thomas Giddy, who led a procession to Madron Parish Church where the Nelson Banner, hastily prepared to mourn the death of Nelson, was paraded for the first time. It is now kept in Madron Parish Church and, following the original thanksgiving service in 1946, has been displayed each year in Nelson’s ‘Immortal Memory’.

Penzance mayor Stephen Reynolds and councillor Penny Osborne joined this year’s event on behalf of Penzance Council. “It is an honour to be here to celebrate not just the life and the heroism of Nelson and our Armed Forces who serve today, but also to celebrate this lovely community right on our doorstep,” said Cllr Reynolds.

“A huge thank you to everyone from Madron Parish Council and the church who have organised this commemorative service and keep it alive for the generations to come.”

Madron Parish Council chairman Hugh Eddy added: “It’s not every day your village gets the Royal Navy from Culdrose parading through. We always get a very good turnout for this event - as well as the Trafalgar connection, I think it’s just great for the community, because you get to see the Forces up close and chat with them. A big thanks to RNAS Culdrose for being here today.”

Captain Hall said: “My thanks go to Madron Parish Council and all those involved in this parade, not least to all the Sea Cadets who marched so proudly through the village.

“Getting our people into the community at events like this and working as a team is not to be underestimated. This has also been good practice for our commitment at the upcoming remembrance parades in Helston and Truro next month.”