Menheniot 5 November 2011 -Joint Meeting with 1805 Club
Thirty people attended on this day - 5th November, being the anniversary of the date when the news of Trafalgar reached Plymouth, after Lt. Lapenotiere's landfall at Falmouth. As would be expected, about half the attendees were retired RN types, starting with an Admiral, down to mere Lt. Cdrs.! We met to celebrate the life and achievements of Lapenotiere who is buried in the churchyard at Menheniot.
207 years ago he was making his way to London at breakneck speed to let the Admiralty know the glad and sad news of Trafalgar.
Surgeon Admiral Sir George Milton-Thompson of the '1805 Club', who lives in the village was instrumental in the re-furbishment of Lt. Laponetiere's grave. He met attendees at the village churchyard and set the scene, answering questions. The meeting then adjourned to the village pub for 'roast beef of old England' . Martin Hazell sang period songs and the story teller was Mr Clive Fairweather from near Totnes. He is a well known storyteller throughout the South West of England, and indeed further afield.
Thanks are due to Stephen Green of both SWMHS and the 1805 Club, and Martin Hazell who organised this event.
Reported by Jonathan Seagrave
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