The Wellington Trust is pleased to announce that Professor Dominic Tweddle FSA FSA Scot has been appointed as a Trustee to the Board of The Wellington Trust. The Trust owns and maintains the former HMS WELLINGTON, based on the River Thames at Temple Stairs, Victoria Embankment, London WC2.

Professor Tweddle has recently retired as Founder and Director General at the National Museum of the Royal Navy (the NMRN) which is based in Portsmouth’s historic Dockyard and was created by bringing together a number of smaller Naval museums.

During his tenure, Professor Tweddle led his team in rescuing or further restoring several warships and other vessels for the nation including Admiral Lord Nelson’s Flagship HMS VICTORY, the first ironclad warship HMS WARRIOR (1860) in Portsmouth, the First World War light cruiser HMS CAROLINE in Belfast, HMS TRINCOMALEE in Hartlepool, a tank landing craft built for D-Day and a WW II rescue launch.

The former HMS WELLINGTON is a heritage vessel of national and international historical significance. Built in Devonport as a 1200 ton Grimsby Class Sloop in 1934, she is the last surviving convoy escort vessel in Britain from the Battle of the Atlantic (1939-45) and has been a well-known riverscape icon on the Thames since her arrival there in December 1948.

The Wellington Trust was established in 2005 with both a conservational and educational role for the former HMS WELLINGTON. Professor Tweddle has joined the Board at a critical moment in the ship’s life. Commenting on his appointment, he said:

“Very few historic warships now survive outside national collections and of them, WELLINGTON is by far the most important. She is the last survivor of a very elegant ship type and is magnificently located in the Nations’s capital.

It is vital that WELLINGTON survives for future generations to enjoy and learn from. I am, therefore, thrilled to be joining WELLINGTON’s Board of Trustees and look forward to playing my part in ensuring her future.”

Chairman of the Board of Trustees, the Wellington Trust, Alastair Chapman, he said:

“In these days of massive financial and HR challenge for so many charities, it is imperative to preserve this ship for today’s and tomorrow’s generations, not least as a living memorial to those who perished in or survived, a crucial period in our nation’s maritime story.

Dominic Tweddle has written: “Once WELLINGTON is gone, she is gone forever.” In his role, as DG of the NMRN, he has been steadfast in his valuable support and advice offered to the Trust, particularly during the past difficult year for WELLINGTON.

I welcome greatly the benefit and strength of Dominic’s extensive heritage ship conservation experience, and wisdom he will bring to the Board of Trustees, as we strive to meet this challenge.”