MVS celebrates the "Nelson touch"

The occasion was the annual Trafalgar night dinner of the East Sussex Sovereign Harbour Mess (formerly the Bexhill Mess) of the Maritime Volunteer Service Cinque Ports Division at Bexhill Sailing Club last Friday.

The MVS was founded following the disbandment of the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service to ensure that the nation has a core of people trained in seamanship in time of need.

The key toast to The Immortal Memory was proposed by guest of honour. Lt Cdr. Tom Boeckx, RN, commander of HMS Puncher and the London University Unit - "probably the best job in the Navy'¦"

Weapons and tactics had advanced tremendously in the intervening 202 years. "But the mastery of those by Naval officers is still an absolute requirement.

"But importantly, today's Navy needs to be governed by people who have a sound understanding of policy and politics and international relations."

As Nelson's navy had done, it had to work under financial constraints . "But, importantly, there is also a need to publicise ourselves because we recruit from the population of this country.

"Though after 200 years the methods we use may have changed the basic tenets remain the same."

He wrote innumerable letters and well understood the importance of political support.

"We don't have the technological and numerological advantages that we used to have but nonetheless I strongly believe that the Royal Navy is still the best navy in the world.

"We punch massively above our weight and we are held in extremely high regard by most other navies."

He added: "It doesn't matter how good you are or how good you are thought to be by our allies and by our potential enemies across the world. We cannot achieve anything if we do have the support of the British public who give us the mandate to act and the financial support to continue and from who we recruit our sailors and airmen.

"And that is where your organisation and my organisation and others represented here today come into play."

Britain remained wholly dependent today on its overseas trade and therefore on its ability to maintain the freedom of the seas.

Contrasting state spending on defence with that on other sectors, he added: "It is that message that we need to get across..."

The Union Flag, the White Ensign and the flags of the Maritime Volunteer Service, Coastguard and RNLI lined the walls of Bexhill Sailing Club for the occasion.

Members and guests were greeted at the door with a tot of rum. Under Master of Ceremonies Chief Volunteer Ray Craig, the proceedings had begun with the reading by Leading Volunteer Keith Johnson, of Nelson's prayer, written on the eve of battle, and the Naval Grace, given by Able Volunteer Lisa Cruse.

The Loyal Toast had been proposed by Volunteer Lt. Tom Bloor.

The welcome to the guests was given by Chief Volunteer Greg Darby and the Appreciation by the Vice Commodore of Bexhill Sailing Club, Geoff Furlong.

The Naval Prayer was led by Volunteer Lt. Eddie Oades.

Following tradition, the evening concluded with the singing of sea shanties.