As a child one of my favourite things to do on a day out was to go to Scarborough to watch the Naval Warfare at Peasholm Park, Scarborough.

The Navel Warfare display is the oldest continuously simulated battle in the country. It started in 1927.

In the early days, the models were First World War battleships, called Dreadnaughts, mystery ships called Q-ships, a passenger liner called Orantes and a U-boat.

After the Second World War, the fleet was replaced with new vessels – this time the battle that was recreated was the Battle of the River Plate.

The British boats were HMS Ajax, Achilles and Exeter. The German battleship was the Graf Von Spee; the Royal Mail liner Asturias and a submarine completed the new fleet.

Around 1960, aircraft were introduced, altering the play of the ships but adding to the excitement for audiences who could not seem to get enough of the Battles!

Also in the 1960s more ships were added to the fleet – HMS Jervis Bay, British Pride and even the Ark Royal.

When the display started all the vessels were powered by men in the boats, electricity was added to some in later years. Although some of the smaller boats are steered by electricity and electricity is certainly used to power the aircraft, most of the boats in the Park, even today, are powered by Scarborough Borough Council employees! Again these are the only display boats powered my manpower.