MILFORD HAVEN CELEBRATES NELSON AND THE SEA

Milford Haven will be awash with activity at the end of this month (May) when a week-long celebration of the Trafalgar bicentenary gets under way, with special events, concerts and performances at various locations around Milford Haven between 27 May and 4 June.

The week will be Milford Haven’s contribution to Sea Britain 2005, a year-long festival of events, exhibitions and celebrations around the UK coastline, waterways and islands. The inspiration for SeaBritain 2005 is the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar and the death in action of Admiral Lord Nelson, so the year will be a special one for celebrating Britain's rich maritime heritage and its links with the sea which have shaped its history and culture.

Nelson Week has been organised as part of the Maritime Heritage Project, a European INTERREG-funded project which links Pembrokeshire with the Waterford area of South East Ireland.

Supported by Milford Haven Port Authority and a range of partner organisations, the project aims to capitalise on interest in maritime heritage and promote the area through events and activities.

The programme for the week includes a visit by the tall ship Tenacious, one of two specially-designed tall ships operated by the Jubilee Sailing Trust, which aims to promote the integration of able-bodied and physically disabled people through adventure tall ship sailing holidays.

Other highlights include offshore racing and dinghy sailing, displays of classic and historic boats such as the Pembrokeshire gig, Two Sisters, Quest, Undine and General Picton, free workshops and painting demonstrations in Pembrokeshire College Marine Technology Centre, events which pay tribute to the life and career of Lord Nelson, concerts and a dockside French market selling a wide range of goods including fresh bread, charcuterie, cheese, olives and wine.