Historic ship comes to Sharpness (From Gazette Series)

Historic ship comes to Sharpness

A REPLICA of the ship which bought news of Lord Nelson's death during the Battle of Trafalgar, moored at Purton last week.

HMS Pickle left Gloucester Docks on Friday afternoon en route for Portsmouth, following refurbishment at T Neilsen and Co.

The tall ship arrived in the city last July, named the Elena Maria Barbara, before being refitted as HMS Pickle.

She passed through Sharpness and docked near Purton late on Friday evening to wait for high tide before setting off around the UK as part of the bicentenary celebrations of Britain's victory at the Battle of Trafalgar.

On board were members of Gloucester Royal Naval Association.

Chairman Alan Yates said: "We thoroughly enjoyed the trip and it was very interesting to be on board. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

During the ship's UK tour, a troupe of performers will re-enact the story of Lord Nelson's death and how the news was carried to England.

On her voyages between ports, HMS Pickle will be crewed by groups of young people under the flag of the Ocean Youth Trust East.