THIS year the Royal Navy will be preparing to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the battle of Trafalgar on October 21, 1805.

England, as an island nation, has always had and, indeed, needed a powerful maritime force.

Over the past 200 years, the Royal Navy has proved its superiority over our country's foes, but sadly not without paying the price. Her sailors and marines have fought and died and are buried on land and at sea in all corners of the world.

After fighting two major wars, the government of the day has allowed our Navy to be dramatically reduced. We still possess the finest ships manned by the finest sailors in the world, and in their travels they are our most important ambassadors. But they are still at a dangerously low level of manpower.

This shortage is made evident by the vastly reduced membership in the Royal Naval Associations around the country.

In June this year, the York branch will turn out again to support the Alexander Rose charity. It is sad but true that as the associations decrease, so will the finances of the smaller charities.

In 2005, and with the anniversary of Trafalgar, we need more Royal Navy and Royal Marine members to join the ever declining veterans to keep alive the traditions of our "Men of the Sea".

Bernard Hallas,

York RN Association,

Hawthorn Avenue,

Haxby, York.

Updated: 10:17 Tuesday, February 22, 2005