SALISBURY played host to a historic figure from the past on Saturday when a re-enactment took place of the granting of the Freedom of the City to Admiral Lord Nelson.

The event was part of The Nelson Society’s Trafalgar weekend, held for the first time in Salisbury, and saw more than 100 members, from as far afield as the United States, gather at the Guildhall.

Event organiser Ray Aldis said: "It was on December 20, 1800 that Nelson arrived in the city to be made a Freeman.

"Of the 22 towns and cities that made Nelson a Freeman, Salisbury was one of the very few places that he visited in person to collect the award.

"The event began with the arrival of Lord Nelson, played by professional Nelson actor Alex Naylor, resplendent in his admiral’s uniform, and his mistress Lady Hamilton, played by Finni Golden.

"As they entered the Guildhall they were met by the mayor."

Mr Aldis unearthed the original report of the event printed by the Salisbury Journal which included a verbatim record of the speech given by the mayor of the time, and which today’s Mayor, Cllr Andrew Roberts, was able to use for the ceremony.

He said: “My Lord, with great pleasure I congratulate you on your arrival in this city. "It affords great happiness to the Members of the Corporation, that they can personally assure your Lordship of the high estimation in which they hold the brilliant services you have rendered to your country, particularly in the glorious victory obtained off the mouth of the Nile; and I am deputed to present to your Lordship the Freedom of the City, unanimously voted by us, in testimony of those sentiments.”

In accordance with the Journal’s original report: “After receiving the scroll, the noble Admiral viewed it with evident satisfaction, and made a short animated reply to the Mayor, expressing the great happiness he felt in hearing that his efforts against the common enemy met the approbation of his countrymen and particularly in that testimony of it by which he was enrolled among the freemen of Salisbury”.

Mr Aldis said: "After the original ceremony the Admiral had a light luncheon before departing for Fonthill where he was to be a guest of William Beckford, but on this occasion, 210 years later, he, along with the Mayor and Mayoress, stayed for a sumptuous banquet as guests of The Nelson Society.

"Also attending the dinner were two direct descendants of Nelson and Emma Hamilton’s daughter Horatia. "Brother and sister, Raglan Tribe and Mary Arthur,said they were 'extremely pleased to meet their great, great, great, great grandfather at last'."

The three-day event, based at the Mercure White Hart Hotel, also included talks by Dr Amy Frost of The Bath Preservation Trust and the well-known local sailor, author and TV presenter, Tom Cunliffe, as well as a visit to Arundells.

As a finale, the society which was formed in 1981, attended the Sunday morning service at the cathedral.