Trafalgar Dinners?!
Trafalgar Dinners?
Where can I find the order of how a naval tafalgar dinner is run?
Answers:
The tradition of holding a Trafalgar Night Dinner started soon after the battle in 1805, and the first in Greenwich took place in 1835 at the Trafalgar Tavern. It is not known when the Old Royal Naval College held its first Trafalgar Night Dinner although it was probably soon after the Navy's arrival in 1937. The most one of note was the 150th Anniversary in 1955 when Lord Mountbatten of Burma toasted the Immortal Memory in the presence of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
TRAFALGAR NIGHT DINNERS
The Battle of Trafalgar is usually celebrated by commissioned officers of the Royal Navy by holding a Trafalgar Night dinner in the Officer's Mess. Other interested parties also hold Trafalgar Night dinners in commemoration of the battle and Lord Nelson.
There is no fixed menu for this occasion, but the following dishes can be used:
Starters: Breaking the Line - Smoked salmon and lemon with capers
Cannon Balls - Melon balls
Trafalgar Duo - Roulade of salmon and sole
Main Course: Fleet Broadside - Beef Wellington with Port wine and shallots
Mizzen Main Course - Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding
Dessert: Victory Dessert or Dessert Hamilton - Poached pears
Hardy's Finale - Cheese and biscuits
Coffee: Carribean coffee and Gibraltar mints
However, other dishes can be accommodated and named with Nelson/Trafalgar connections. It should be remembered that after the meal, port is usually drunk and passed to the left.
The Loyal Toast: Diners should stand - unless the company are naval officers who are specifically authorised to remain seated. (see our information sheet on the Loyal Toast). The toast itself, by Royal decree, is "The Queen".
The Immortal Memory toast: A Trafalgar Night speech is usually made by a guest of honour. If a speaker has not been arranged, the proposer of the toast will precede it with some Nelsonian comments, and can vary in length according to the custom of the diners. The toast itself is "The Immortal Memory" and is drunk standing in total silence. This is customary out of respect of the memory of the Admiral.
There is no fixed music for such an occasion, but probably something of a patriotic nature could be used e.g. Rule Britannia
(This fact sheet has been compiled with the kind assistance of the Nelson Society)
? Royal Naval Museum Library, 2002
Source(s):
http://www.royalnavalmuseum.org/info_she...
This should help.
http://www.royalnavalmuseum.org/info_she...
A Trafalgar dinner is an occasion for the best china, superb food and
wine - with a strong emphasis on tradition. And, of course, patriotic
music...
http://www.julianstockwin.com/newsletter...
http://www.hmswarrior.org/trafalgar_nigh...
hope this helps :)
Your local sea cadet unit or naval association should be able to help. From memory the meal comes first (main course must be roast beef). Then port is passed around the table in decanters. they are passed to the left and must not leave the table (i.e. you can tilt it but it has to stay touching the table.) Gentlemen pour for the lady to their left. the first toast is the loyal toast 'ladies & gentlemen, the queen. 'The Queen.' after that speaches and toasts including to Nelson. the final toast is 'To wives & sweethearts. May the two never meet' this should be spoke by the youngest male member of the group. No person can leave table throughout the dinner or speaches unless the master of ceremonies offers 'ease springs'