Trafalgar news reaches London - again

September 11, 2005: An epic journey to London, by a messenger bringing news of Nelson's victory at Trafalgar has been re-enacted to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the event.

Lieutenant John Richards Lapenotiere was ordered by Vice-Admiral Collingwood to sail to England from Trafalgar to deliver news of the battle and death of Admiral Lord Nelson following the British victory on October 21, 1805.

Despite high winds and heavy seas, Lapenotiere completed the 1,000-mile sea voyage from Cadiz to England in just over eight days. On his arrival at Falmouth, he hired a horse-drawn carriage before departing immediately to complete the final 265 miles of his journey to London. He completed the final cross-country stage of the journey in just 37 hours - an amazing feat considering the journey took nearly a week at the time .

Alex Price, dressed as Lapenotiere, rode into King Street, Hammersmith in a fast carriage like the one Lapenotiere used. He emulated the historic messenger by taking his news into the Salutation pub. It came near the end of a series of events marking the route the dispatch took from Falmouth to Whitehall.

The mayor of Hammersmith and Fulham, Cllr Charlie Treloggan, said: "It is important that people today remember the importance of the victory over the Spanish and French at Trafalgar. The Royal Navy stopped Napoleon in his tracks and in many ways Nelson's victory paved the way for British history as we know it."

A plaque was unveiled to mark the spot where Lieutenant Lapenotiere stopped back in 1805 and mark the borough's place on the Trafalgar Way.

Anthony Fuller, chairman of Fuller's Brewery, said: "The Salutation is a great Fuller's pub and we are delighted to see it take its place in the history books. The traditional British pub has been around for hundreds of years, and events such as this recreation remind us just how much they are a part of the social fabric of our country.

"I'd like to think that Lieutenant Lapenotiere would still stop at the Salutation if he was coming from Falmouth to London today. I expect the food is better now!"

Bunting, flags and flowers dressed historic King Street, which was closed to traffic as nearly a thousand visitors saw the horse drawn carriage arrive.

The mayor added: "In the run up to the 200th anniversary of the battle of Trafalgar it is only appropriate that we mark Hammersmith and Fulham's place on the Trafalgar Way and remember the sailors from the borough who fought so bravely."