Keith Wheatley charts the transition of HMS Wellington from war hero to Thameside attraction
She’s not a big ship. Painted white rather than warship grey and stripped of her guns, HMS Wellington now looks stylish rather than menacing. However, this 1200-ton sloop is the last naval ship afloat to have taken part in the six perilous years of the Battle of the Atlantic.
Darkest days
In the darkest days of WW2 when Britain stood alone against Nazi Germany, only supplies of food, fuel and armaments shipped across from the USA kept the UK population afloat. Between 1939-45 HMS Wellington escorted an incredible 103 convoys across the 3,000-mile route. Somehow she survived when 2,200 other ships were sunk, mainly by U-boats.
Nowadays the ship is without her guns and depth charges but standing on the open bridge and looking down past Tower Bridge towards the sea it only takes a little imagination to see what life must have been like for the Royal Navy personnel who risked – and lost – their lives protecting merchant ships from U-boat attacks.
Saved
Saved from the near-inevitable post-war scrapyard, Wellington arrived in London in 1948 to be moored alongside the Thames Embankment opposite Temple tube station. Her role for the next 75 years was to be a floating livery hall for the Honourable Company of Master Mariners but in 2023 the HCMM departed for Greenwich and a new era began.
The Wellington Trust are now the custodians of the ship, with HRH Princess Anne as patron. The long-term aim is to raise a steady revenue stream to maintain HMS Wellington by using the ship as a unique hospitality venue. With a dining hall to seat 180 in the converted engine room and an open quarterdeck to host the same number in the summer, a snug wardroom bar and a location close to the City, the potential seems clear.
Conservation and education
“Conservation and education are at the heart of our purpose. As a Trust, we must balance how we do this to ensure the physical and financial future of HMS Wellington. We cannot do one without the other,” said the Trust chair Prof Dominic Tweddle, former director of the National Royal Navy Museum, explaining the move into the venue-hire arena.
“This is an exciting development in securing HMS Wellington’s future. It will both provide much needed revenue for her conservation and preservation, as well as help tell the Wellington Story to brand new audiences. She’s a wonderful ship with a remarkable history, and we look forward to welcoming our new clients and supporters onboard.”
Keith Wheatley has been a journalist and author specialising in nautical matters for nearly 50 years. He wrote regularly for the FT and Sunday Times and covered three Olympics and six America’s Cups. His books include Britain’s Maritime History published with the National Maritime Museum.
Get on board
The Wellington Trust has appointed a panel of catering companies to work with aboard the venue, including Blue Strawberry, Caiger and Co, and Easy Gourmet. “Blue Strawberry is thrilled to collaborate with HMS Wellington as one of their preferred catering partners,” said director Stuart Jenkins. “We share a commitment to exceptional quality, sustainability, and innovation in the event space. Together, we look forward to creating memorable experiences on such an iconic viewpoint on the River Thames.”
www.thewellingtontrust.org
