Earlier this month, a Dutch Prince stood on the bastion that juts from the base of Upnor Castle into the River Medway and took the salute from a flotilla of spectacular historic sailing yachts, which had made their way from the Netherlands.

This spectacular occasion marked the start of ten days of commemoration festivities for the Battle of Medway. Some 350 years ago the Dutch launched a daring attack on Medway, setting our river ablaze at Chatham and towing away England's flagship, the Royal Charles, as a trophy – not one of the British Navy's finest moments. While it was one of the greatest defeats in our naval history, the Dutch raid heralded the start of a period of great financial investment in the English naval fleet, laying the foundation of English supremacy at sea for the next 200 years.