Bells ring out for Nelson

If you can't get to Britain to celebrate the anniversary of the great admiral's triumph and death then our Nelson is the next best thing.

A peal of bells celebrating Horatio Nelson's great victory at the Battle of Trafalgar - a victory which changed the course of history - will ring out at the New Zealand city named after him at noon on October 21 and echo around the world.

The antipodean Nelson will also celebrate the 200th anniversary of the battle with a flotilla of ships in the harbour, an admiral in full dress uniform landing on the beach, the officers and men of the Navy parading through the streets to receive the freedom of the city ... and a special brew of Nelson's Victory Ale on sale in local pubs.

If you can't get to Britain to celebrate the anniversary of the great admiral's triumph and death then our Nelson is the next best thing.

Indeed, it being the first Nelsonian city to see the sun, the big day will in a sense begin there.

It will certainly lead off the around-the-world peal of bells in 2000 towns and cities named for Trafalgar or its participants.

The peal will start at Nelson Cathedral, 30 minutes later bells in Australia will take over the task, and from there it will roll gradually around the globe.

Nelson cathedral bellringer Triona Rawley says that while it is an honour to start off the event, it will also be quite a challenge because 30 minutes is a long time to ring a peal.

"We are used to ringing only 10 minutes at a time so we will need more than one bellringer. Fortunately we trained new ringers earlier this year. Even so a former colleague is coming home to Nelson to be part of this special event."

New Zealand's Nelson has had close links with the great admiral since the settlement was founded in 1842.

The choice of name was probably suggested by Captain Arthur Wakefield, who led the expedition to what was the New Zealand Company's second colony, since his service in the Royal Navy included a stint under Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy, captain of Nelson's flagship at Trafalgar, the Victory.

Hardy is, of course, mainly famous as the recipient of Nelson's deathbed comment, "Kiss me [or was it kismet?] Hardy."

But he is further remembered in one of Nelson's oldest streets, Hardy St, also named by Wakefield.

Other Nelsonian streets nearby are Nile, after the battle where Nelson destroyed the French fleet; Vanguard, the name of his flagship at Nile; Collingwood, after Admiral Lord Cutherbert Collingwood, his second-in-command at Trafalgar; St Vincent, after Cape St Vincent, the battle where Nelson first made his name; and of course Trafalgar.

In addition, Collingwood's name is further recalled in the Golden Bay town just over the Takaka hill.

With all those connections it's hardly surprising that Nelson is marking the anniversary of the great naval victory with every bit as much gusto as his homeland on the other side of the globe.

To get the city into the spirit the great man himself has already made frequent appearances around the city - in the person of local actor Justin Keeling - doing a bit of fishing, enjoying fish and chips and inspecting the cathedral bells in full naval dress uniform from 200 years ago.

The city certainly seems to have responded enthusiastically.

The annual Nelson Arts Festival is being held in conjunction with the battle festivities so there's a very full programme of activities.

For instance, the official launch of Trafalgar 200 on October 14 will feature the Nelson Arts Festival Masked Parade.

Events will acquire a real nautical flavour from October 20 when seven Royal New Zealand Navy ships - it may surprise you to know we have so many - and three Royal Australian Navy ships arrive for the commemorations.

That evening the Haydn Nelson Mass will be performed by local choirs, and Cafe in the Vineyard will hold what is described as "a traditional Trafalgar dinner" featuring local wines.

The next day they're having a Trafalgar Ball with music provided by the Navy band.

On Saturday, which is the actual anniversary, the celebrations reach their climax. First the streets will be filled with an estimated 200 pipers getting together for their annual gathering.

Then the modern naval tars will march through the streets on their way to receive the freedom of Nelson. In the evening the Navy will stage the beating of the retreat to the accompaniment of a fireworks display.

Nelson Provincial Museum's Trafalgar Exhibition will also be officially opened.

The festival programme includes dozens more events, not least the town of Collingwood celebrating its namesake with the landing of a life-sized effigy of the admiral, and the unveiling of several panels recording the town's history.

In fact it seems as though everyone is getting in on the Nelson theme.

Local glassblower Anthony Genet is producing a range of Trafalgar artworks modelled on cannonballs, swords and traditional port decanters.

The Lighthouse Brewery will be offering a limited edition Nelson's Victory Ale.

And the city has even discovered a personal connection to the dead hero: the secretary of the Nelson Heritage Advisory Board, Sarah Holman, went to the same school, Paston Grammar in Norfolk ... . although not at the same time.