The Museum & National Trust co-ordinated Trafalgar 200 celebrations in the Falklands. It was felt that it was only right that such an important anniversary be commemorated in the Islands - particularly given the fact that Nelson himself said that the 1770 dispute with Spain over Port Egmont was one of his reasons for wanting to join the Navy.

2005 was the Year of the Sea, and the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar was one of the major inspirations for the year's celebrations. A range of events took place over the Trafalgar Weekend, with the Museum's Trafalgar Dinner being a major highlight. The evening featured a five-course banquet for 140 (unprecedented in the Islands), with all the traditional pomp and ceremony expected of a Trafalgar Dinner, and was followed by dancing.

Guests were welcomed to the Defence Force Drill Hall with a complimentary shot of Grog - Pusser's Rum and Pusser's Grog Mix (the mix having been kindly given to the Museum by Pusser's Rum UK) and were then treated to a very special surprise…Six letters written by Admiral Lord Nelson himself were displayed in the hall - the first showing of this special display which had been kept a close secret at the Museum. The original letters were very generously loaned to the Museum & National Trust by the noted Nelsonian collector, Mr. P.C. Laskaridis of the Lavinia Corporation. Mr. Laskaridis had agreed to sponsor the evening and then, to the amazement and delight of all at the Museum, offered the letters on loan - even allowing the letters to remain on display at the Museum for several months.

The Falklands Brasserie closed from the night, relocated their entire kitchen to the FIDF Hall, with trained extra staff to help wait tables and gathered tableware from all over Stanley. Their outstanding effort and dedication was rewarded - the meal was heralded as a great success and proved that banqueting can be achieved in the Falklands.

The parading of the Baron of Beef (with a Sea Cadet Guard of Honour) and Ships of the Line (all produced by the Falklands Brasserie chefs) stirred the gathering to massive applause and were certainly highlights of the evening. The Museum were exceptionally fortunate in that Commodore Michael Clapp, who was in the Islands for the military event, agreed to attend as Guest of Honour and made a very interesting speech after dinner.

Three items had been donated for auction - a seascape on canvas, a painting of the William Scoresby by Gerald Roberts and a beautiful Trafalgar Bicentenary limited edition decanter (very generously donated by Pusser's Rum). The auction raised £760, with the decanter creating most excitement and finally going for £350.

The Museum & National Trust are indebted to the following individuals for their open-handed generosity, support and hard work:

Mr. P.C. Laskaridis - an outstanding sponsor

H.E. The Governor, Mr. Howard Pearce for providing wine and port

Pusser's Rum for the donation of the Decanter and Grog mix

Alex Olmedo and the team from the Falklands Brasserie for an amazing banquet

Mr. Gerald Roberts and Mrs. Hulda Stewart for their auction items

The Falkland Islands Defence Force for allowing us to use their hall and Club Room

And many other organisations and individuals who contributed to the event.

Trafalgar Day Ringing - 21st October 2005.
The five bells of Christ Church Cathedral, Stanley, Falkland Islands, joined with other cathedrals, churches and Her Majesty's ships around the world at 12 noon on 21st October in celebrating the bi-centenary of the victory of Admiral Lord Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar.

The team of seven ringers: Keith and Kathy Biles; Rebecca, Hannah and Daphne Arthur-Almond; Louise Taylor; and a visiting tourist from UK, an experienced bell ringer: Abigail Cook, rung a total of 504 changes lasting 20 minutes. The bells of the Cathedral, cast at Whitechapel, London in 1904, range in weight from the heaviest at over 9 cwt. (1,017 lbs) to the lightest at 3.5 cwt (401 lbs). The methods used were: Double Bob, Single Court, and Saint Nicholas.

The bells of the church at Grytviken, South Georgia were also rung at noon their time. This was probably the most remote of all the sites around the world that were celebrating the anniversary. Tim and Pauline Carr reported: "The bells were harmonizing somewhat with the calls of the sooty albatrosses ...."