| Tue 27th January 2026 14.00 |
Trinity House, Newcastle upon Tyne |
The Society’s Chairman, Capt. Stephen Healy, opens the 2026 programme with a look at ‘Nelson’s Band of Brothers’ and how that description encompassed different groups of Officers over time and who was using it. |
| Thu 19th February 2026 14.00 |
Trinity House, Newcastle upon Tyne |
A regular speaker to the Society, for this talk Terry Walton takes us to one of the lesser known shipyards, ‘Buckler’s Hard’ and examines some of the the ships it produced, including Nelson’s favourite, HMS AGAMEMNON. |
| Tue 10th March 2026 19.30 |
The Miller Theatre, the Newcastle upon Tyne Royal Grammar School |
Military Historian John Sadler, together with Bev Palin his partner in the Living History Interpretation Team ‘Time Bandits’, brings a live demonstration of the ‘Small Arms and Ordnance of the Georgian Navy’ to the stage. Cutlasses, pistols, muskets, daggers, maybe even the odd swivel gun… This is not a lecture, but an engaging experience of personal combat when ship met ship, or a landing party ventured forth. |
| Thu 9th April 2026 19.30 |
Trinity House, Newcastle upon Tyne |
Another Society member, Pauline Piddington, follows up from her successful debut in 2025 with ‘Napoleon’s Admirals’ to this time feature the equivalent ‘Spanish Admirals’ from the same period. |
| Tue 21st May 2026 19.30 |
Trinity House, Newcastle upon Tyne |
Society Secretary, John Flynn, examines the 1794 ‘Battle of the Glorious First of June’, one of the major sea battles prior to Trafalgar. Lord Howe’s Channel Squadron attempted to intercept a French convoy and its escort to prevent much needed grain reaching France. The battle remains a notable event in naval history, illustrating the strategic importance of naval power during the revolutionary period in Europe. |
| Sat 20th June 2026 11.00 |
Hartlepool’s Museum of the Royal Navy: the Historic Quay and HMS TRINCOMALEE |
This year’s Summer Outing sees us return to Hartlepool’s Historic Quay and HMS TRINCOMALEE, now part of the Museum of the Royal Navy. The Society last visited in 2015, prior to the attraction’s integration into the Museum of the Royal Navy stable, so it will be interesting to see how the museum has evolved. Buffet lunch included. Further details to follow. |
| Thu 17th September 2026 19.30 |
Corn Exchange, Town Hall, Morpeth |
Our annual visit for Morpeth’s (free) Heritage Event, this year sees Capt. Stephen Healy look at the professional and personal relationships between Admirals and friends ‘Nelson and Collingwood’. |
| Tue 6th October 2026 19.30 |
Trinity House, Newcastle upon Tyne |
Continuing with our stable of in-house speakers, Tim Gittins addresses one of the more controversial incidents in naval history – the court-martial for cowardice and subsequent execution of Admiral John Byng on the quarterdeck of his own flagship in 1757. The talk draws its title from the log book entry of HMS MONARCH – ‘At 12, Mt Byng was shot’. Sure to be a fascinating analysis! |
| Sun 18th October – Wed 21st October 2026 |
various |
The usual local annual commemorative events will be happening on and around Trafalgar Day, including those at St Nicholas’ Cathedral in Newcastle; the Collingwood Monument at Tynemouth; Morpeth Town Centre; Trafalgar Square Sunderland and St. Mary’s Churchyard, Gateshead. These in addition to the service in the Crypt of St Paul’s Cathedral in London, at which we are always represented. Details to follow once confirmed. |
| Thu 12th November 2026 19.30 |
Trinity House, Newcastle upon Tyne |
George Cansino presents ‘The Battle of Camperdown’, featuring mercurial Admiral Adam Duncan and Sunderland’s Boy Seaman Jack Crawford, in the decisive action against the Dutch (Batavian) fleet in the North Sea, during the uncertain days following the Nore and Spithead mutinies. |
| Thu 10th December 2026 13.00 / 14.00 |
Trinity House, Newcastle upon Tyne |
Society AGM 13.00 Completing the programme for 2026, Dr. Tony delivers a biographical talk on ‘Wilfred Collingwood’, younger brother of our Admiral and fellow Royal Navy Officer. An original journal, maintained by Wilfred, formed part of the research for this talk. |
