Waterlooville Branch

Pickle Night.

 The first 'Pickle Night'  took place in the W.O's and C.P.O's Mess at HMS Nelson in 1974 as a means for Senior Rates to celebrate the Battle of Trafalgar along  similar lines as 'Trafalgar Night' held by Officers in the Wardroom. Pickle Night is currently held at Naval Establishments and Clubs throughout the world.

A number of members of the RNA Waterlooville Branch, for several years attended the annual Pickle Night held at HMS Dryad, which held their final Pickle Night in 2003 and closed shortly afterwards. It was decided by the RNA Waterlooville members  to continue the tradition and hold our own Pickle Night which has happened every year since 2004.

Pickle Night celebrates the return of HMS Pickle from the Battle of Trafalgar to England bearing news of the victory and the death of Lord Nelson.

RNA Waterlooville Branch 'Pickle Night' is held in the function room of our Club Premises in Aston Road, Waterlooville generally on the first Thursday following the 4th November. The function room is ‘dressed’ as a Gun Deck for the event. A number of traditions are observed which include the following:  a very generous tot when we Up Spirits, only a single bowl and spoon is supplied for the 3 course meal (bread is supplied to clean between courses), Readings which are taken from extracts of the Times dated 7th November 1805, An enthusiastic sing-song of stirring naval songs which are backed by our generous  musicians (Courtesy of The Blendworth BrassBand).

The evening culminates with ‘Defaulters’ when the miscreants of the evening are punished for breaches of ‘Pickle Night’ Standing Orders, this normally involves most of the attendees, who have almost certainly behaved abominably and deserve the fines meted out by the Mess President and Master at Arms. This normally raises about £250 which is donated to Naval Charities and begrudged by no one.

Images can be found in the Gallery.