A Night to Remember

Fine art, wine, dining…and there’s a story to tell!

On Tuesday 21st October 2008 at 7pm , Rotary Club Gozo hosted a special gala dinner at the Cittadella Centre for Culture and the Arts, St Ursula Hall, The Citadel, Victoria, Gozo.

The 21st October was Trafalgar Day and the evening inaugurated a week-long exhibition of marine paintings by Thomas J Burnell, an international marine artist who specialises in ships, seascapes, battles (the Nelson period in particular) and historical events at sea (www.studiointheyard.com).

The exhibition was held in St John Hall. Proceeds from the dinner and commissions on all sales will go to the four chosen charities of the Gozo Rotary Club, namely: The Friends of the Sick and Elderly in Gozo (www.fsegozo.com), Wirt Ghawdex (www.wirtghawdex.org), OASI (www.oasi.org.mt) and Happy Moments Kenya (tba).

The dinner formally recognised the anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar (21st October 1805) and celebrated the 250th anniversary year of Nelson’s birth. It consisted of five courses, with a different wine at every stage culminating in the tradition of toasting with port.

Tom gave a talk on “Nelson – his life and his Final Battle” and there will be Mr Bernard Muscat from Marsovin Wines spoke on “The Wines from the House of Marsovin”.

The Exhibition containing Tom’s work showed stunning, powerful seas and skies, breathtaking battles of bravery and daring and classic ships of all shapes and sizes. All are accurately researched from the archives and then transformed into historical “snapshots of the past”.

Everything came together under the roof of the historic Citadel in Victoria. It was within its fortifications that the French garrison was blockaded by the Gozitans during September and October 1798. On 24 October, Rear-Admiral Horatio Nelson arrived on the Vanguard off Mġarr Harbour and there he met Archpriest Saverio Cassar, Head of the Matrice (Cathedral), Superintendent of the Island, and leader of the blockade, to draw the articles of surrender of the French. The draft document is preserved at the National Archives, Gozo Section, in Victoria.

Good Food, Fine Wines, Great Art and Exceptional Company - all in all, an evening to remember!

This issue is available at: 0908.