Members of an organisation which was created to promote interest in the life of Admiral Lord Nelson have visited Forres and a monument that was built in his honour.








The members of the Nelson Society came to Forres last month and visited Nelson’s Tower which was erected after his death.
The guests also visited the Tolbooth, located in the centre of Forres and Sueno’s stone.
Nelson’s Tower is looked after by the Heritage Trust who hosted the visit.
Peter Haworth, a trustee with the Forres Heritage Trust said: “The primary reason for the visit was to spend time at Nelson’s Tower but it also included a tour of the Tolbooth. It had long been on the agenda for the Society to visit the Tower which was the first monument erected to Lord Nelson after his death and the most northerly of all Britain’s Nelson monuments.”
As well as visiting the monument, Rev John Maynard from the Society gave a presentation on John Scott, Nelson’s private secretary and friend.
John Scott, was born near Spey Bay to a farming family and was educated in Fochabers. He rose from a humble start as a purser on a small RN vessel to becoming a private secretary to several senior RN officers and ultimately to his position at Admiral Nelson’s side. He died on the deck of HMS Victory during the early stages of the Battle of Trafalgar. He was held in such esteem that, although a non-commissioned officer, his family were awarded a service pension after his death.
Major General Seymour Monro, the Lord Lieutenant of Moray also attended the talk and gave a resume of his ancestor, Admiral Brisbane, which included an oil painting of him capturing the Spanish vessel Pomona, a print of the capture of Curacao and the original document demanding the surrender of Curacao.
“The talk was fascinating,” said Peter, “John Maynard presented a copy of his research into John Scott to George Alexander, Chairman of the Forres Heritage Trust which is very interesting and valuable to the Trust who have had several requests from local historians for an opportunity to view it. The Society also presented the Trust with a framed timeline of Nelson’s life and career which has now been hung in Nelson’s Tower so it can be viewed by visitors. It was a very successful visit and a lasting and supportive relationship has been formed between the two organisations.”
Chris Brett, chairman of The Nelson Society said: It was a great pleasure for us to meet with representatives from the Forres Heritage Trust and to see the Tower and the work the Trust has done in maintaining not only the building but also Nelson’s memory. We were given a very warm welcome.”