To commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, a glossy souvenir magazine has been brought out. Here the editor of the magazine LAURA-JANE FILOTRANI talks about what it has meant to her and gives a flavour of what to expect

Before beginning on this project I had difficulty in understanding why we should be celebrating a man and an occasion 200 years past.

I must admit my knowledge of this period and my understanding of the impact of the events at the time was sketchy to say the least.

Having spent a month or two researching, I feel I have only been able to scratch the surface but I have learnt enough to understand the importance of the man Horatio Nelson and to have an understanding of our history as a seafaring nation.

I can't help but feel excited by my new-found knowledge and proud in a way to be able to play a small part in keeping this history alive.

In planning the magazine I wanted to start by looking at the history, the man, the battles, the environment of the time, and then to bring the history up-to-date with contemporary stories which have links to the past.

Therefore, the magazine starts with a chronological overview of Nelson, from birth to death, and then the reader is taken through a series of topics from women in the navy to how the public was affected by the battles and victories, through to the Battle of Trafalgar itself.

Then the reader is taken into 2005 with topics which show how much our lives have been affected and shaped by the events in the past.

From The Trafalgar Trail, which looks at landmarks named and constructed in memory of the period, to an interview with Nelson's oldest living relative, I have tried to offer something of interest for everyone, for that was one of the things which made Nelson such a figure of respect.

He touched such a wide range of people, from his courage in battle to his love for Emma Hamilton, to his ability to communicate his ideas, to his sense of diplomacy a true hero of the people.

It has been a pleasure to immerse myself in a such a vibrant period. I feel my life has been enriched by my understanding of what has come before me.

This is something I haven't felt before. To get a copy of the magazine click here