Our Convention this year was hosted by Lesley Queen of The Scarlet O'Hatters. The Friday night Dinner was held on HMS Warrior 1860

As you arrive at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, the stunning sleek, black lines of Britain’s first iron-hulled, armoured warship, take your breath away.

Warrior, launched in 1860, was the pride of Queen Victoria’s fleet.  Powered by steam and sail, she was the largest, fastest and most powerful ship of her day and had a profound effect on naval architecture. Warrior was, in her time, the ultimate deterrent. Yet within a few years she was obsolete.

Warrior’s survival was possible because of the extraordinary durability of her construction and the vision of Sir John Smith and those others who determined to save this great ship, one of the most influential warships ever built and the sole surviving 19th century capital ship in the world.

The aim of the Warrior Preservation Trust has been to restore the ship, as near as possible, to her 1860s condition and, as you step on board you enter another world – that of the Victorian sailor.

On Saturday Morning we all gathered at Gunwharf Quays for the Decorated Umbrella Parade. It was amazing to see 150 Red Hattted and Purple clad ladies with some truly amazingly decorated umbrallas. We had a HOOT. That was followed by a visit to the top of the Spinnaker Tower.

Soaring 170 metres above Portsmouth Harbour and the Solent, the Spinnaker Tower is taller than the London Eye, Blackpool Tower and Big Ben and has already established itself as a national icon for Britain. View Deck 1 boasts Europe’s largest glass floor, where visitors of all ages can dare to ‘walk on air’! View Deck 2 has self-contained multimedia ‘Time Telescope’ stations showing the history of the harbour and View Deck 3 – The Crow’s Nest – is open to the elements, enabling visitors to feel the wind in their hair.

Saturday evening we all enjoyed a meal and entertainment provided by The Norfold Broads. What a wonderful weekend it was. Brighton Belles would like to say a huge thank you to Lesley and her team for a GREAT Convention.