SHE was the ship which returned to Britain with the tragic news that Lord Nelson had been killed at the Battle of Trafalgar.

HMS Pickle was commanded by Captain John Richards Lapenotière, who had previously served as master’s mate on a vessel which had been rebuilt at Buckler’s Hard in 1793.

Now a full-size replica of Pickle is set to visit the village this weekend <July 13-14>.

Visitors will be able to tour the ship and chat to members of the crew.

The replica was built in St Petersburg in 1996 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Russian navy by Peter the Great.

She was launched as the schooner Alevtina Tuy and converted for ceremonies marking the bi-centennial of the Battle of Trafalgar, which was fought in 1805.

A Beaulieu Estate spokesman said: “The schooner will sail along the Beaulieu River to moor at Buckler’s Hard, giving a taste of life in Nelson’s Navy.

“Inside the Maritime Museum visitors can see one of only two scale models of HMS Pickle – the second was presented to the Queen in 1958 as a gift for the young Prince Charles.

“Both models were built by a Royal Navy serviceman.”

On the second day of the festival Portsmouth Model Boat Display Team will salute Pickle by staging a display featuring pyrotechnics and remote-controlled boats on the river.

Buckler’s Hard was a major shipbuilding centre in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Vessels launched there included HMS Euryalus, HMS Swiftsure and Nelson’s favourite ship - HMS Agamemnon - all of which fought at the Battle of Trafalgar.

Pickle was the first ship to return to Britain with the news of Nelson’s victory - and death.

Vice Admiral Collingwood, who had assumed command after the Admiral was killed by a sniper, chose Pickle to carry his dispatches describing the battle.

Pickle was at the battle but was too small to take part in the fighting. She sank three years later after running aground of Cadiz.

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