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Battle of Trafalgar Bicentenary carving

Solent Guild of Woodcarvers and Sculptors
1. Carving out a niche for everyone
2. Woodcarvers show off their skills part one
3. Woodcarvers show off their skills part two
4. Woodcarvers show off their skills part three
5. Battle of Trafalgar Bicentenary carving

Back in the mists of time, the Solent Guild of Woodcarvers and Sculptors were commissioned to create a carving to celebrate the Bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar. Well OK it was 2005, but in the world of the Interweb that’s an eternity.

 

Bicentenary of Trafalgar shield wood carving by the solent guild of woodcarvers and sculptors
Full shield carved by members of the Solent Guild of Woodcarvers and Sculptors

Part one of the article about the SGW&S referred to this carving, but it’s only recently that I’ve been able to gain access to the museum to photograph it. I repeat the background below to give this entry some context.

In 2005, SGW&S were asked by The Friends of the Royal Naval Museum and HMS Victory to design and carve a carving to celebrate the Bicentenary of Trafalgar. The carving, designed by John Vardon, was based on the midship section of HMS Victory and comprised six individual carvings by some of our members Jess Jay, Ray White, Bert Cox, John Tappy, Alan Crockford and Andrew Huebler. One-half of the carving depicts the Navy in the days of Admiral Lord Nelson and the other half depicts the navy of today. The resulting carving was on display at The Royal Naval Museum but due to some refurbishment, it is currently in storage.
The old …

The Battle of Trafalgar was a decisive naval battle fought on 21 October 1805 off the cape of Trafalgar on the south coast of Spain during the Napoleonic Wars. The British fleet under Horatio Nelson defeated the combined fleets of France and Spain, which were attempting to clear the way for Napoleon’s projected invasion of Britain.

Bicentenary of Trafalgar shield wood carving detail by the solent guild of woodcarvers and sculptors
Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson

 

Bicentenary of Trafalgar shield wood carving detail by the solent guild of woodcarvers and sculptors
Detail of HMS Victory in full sail

 

Bicentenary of Trafalgar shield wood carving detail by the solent guild of woodcarvers and sculptors
Detail of sailors on the upper deck of HMS Victory

 

Bicentenaryof Trafalgar shield wood carving detail by the solent guild of woodcarvers and sculptors
Close up of sailors loading the guns aboard HMS Victory during the battle of Trafalgar
… and the new

Destroyers are part of the backbone of the Royal Navy, committed around the world 365 days a year hunting pirates, drug runners or submarines, defending the Fleet from air attack, and providing humanitarian aid after natural disasters.

Britain’s 6 Type 45 destroyers [Daring Class] are the most advanced warships the nation has ever built. Their mission is to shield the Fleet from air attack using Sea Viper missile which can knock targets out of the sky up to 70 miles away.

Bicentenary of Trafalgar shield wood carving detail by the solent guild of woodcarvers and sculptors
A modern-day Royal Navy surface ship, the T45 Destroyer

 

Bicentenary of Trafalgar shield wood carving detail by the solent guild of woodcarvers and sculptors
Detail of a Royal Navy T45 Destroyer

 

Bicentenary of Trafalgar shield wood carving detail by the solent guild of woodcarvers and sculptors
Close up of T45 Destroyer

Click here to read the background story of the Guild

Web Links and References of interest

SGWCS: Solent Guild of Woodcarvers and Sculptors
Web: www.solentguildofwoodcarvers.org.uk/

English Woodlands Timber
Web: http://www.englishwoodlandstimber.co.uk/

W.L West and Sons Ltd
Web: http://www.wlwest.co.uk/

The West Sussex Woodturners
Web: http://www.westsussexwoodturners.co.uk/

Geisler-Moroder School  [Austria]
Web: http://www.schnitzschule.com

Portland Sculpture & Quarry Trust
Web: http://learningstone.org/

Sussex Woodcraft Society
Web: http://www.sussexwoodcraft.co.uk/

Forest of Bere Woodturners
Web: http://www.forestofberewoodturners.org.uk/

Bentley Wildlife Carvers
Web: http://bentleywildlifecarvers.weebly.com/

Selsey Wood Carvers
Web: http://www.selseywoodcarvers.co.uk/

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