Burnham Thorpe's Horatio Nelson celebrations marking Trafalgar Day anniversary

This weekend marks the anniversary of the battle of Trafalgar, with Trafalgar Day itself on Friday, October 21.

The village of Burnham Thorpe, where Horatio Nelson was born and spent his early years, is no stranger to celebrations marking this anniversary.

This year however, following the addition of the very popular chainsaw carving on the village playing field, the celebrations will be a bit more special.

The Nelson Society are coming to Norfolk for Trafalgar weekend visiting the village on Trafalgar day itself, holding its annual meeting in the Nelson Memorial Hall and attending a Trafalgar Dinner in The Lord Nelson Pub.

"The Chainsaw Carving has attracted a lot of people to the village. We didn’t previously have much focus other than the Church. Now that our pub has reopened, there are lots of reasons people are now coming to visit Burnham Thorpe," says local resident, Holly Smith.

A new 'Experience Nelson’ exhibition at the Lord Nelson pub is now another reason to visit.

It is also being launched on Trafalgar Day and is a joint venture between Woodforde’s Brewery and The Royal Navy.

Other celebrations will include a village gathering on Saturday, October 22 in the Nelson Memorial Hall, where for over 100 years Burnham Thorpe has had its own Nelson related celebrations; and on Sunday, October 23, there will be a special commemorative church service at All Saints’ Church, where Nelson's father was rector and young Horatio Nelson was baptised.

As is usual, All Saint’s Church will be flying its pre-1801 white ensign.

This is a replica of the flag flown at the Battle of the Nile and was gifted to the parish of Burnham Thorpe by the admiralty in memory of Nelson.

• Any readers wanting further information: email Graham Capel, chairman of The Nelson Society treasurer.nelsonsociety@gmail.com