LINKS between Wellington and its adopted warship HMS Wellington have been renewed with a visit by town Cllr Keith Wheatley.

Cllr Wheatley was deputed by the town council to visit the Second World War ship when he was next in London.

HMS Wellington is moored permanently on the Thames Embankment, just downstream from Waterloo Bridge.

Its ‘HMS’ status was restored earlier this month by King Charles to marks its 90th birthday and the 85th anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Atlantic in which ‘Wellington’ escorted 103 convoys and saved more than 400 mariners after enemy attacks.

Cllr Wheatley said: “HMS Wellington is still a wonderful ship and I enjoyed every minute of my tour aboard her.

“I had to stress to the trustees that our council does not have money to support its fund-raising appeal but they certainly have the town’s goodwill.

HMS Wellington moored on the River Thames, in London.
HMS Wellington moored on the River Thames, in London. PHOTO: Wellington Trust. ( )

“I have family connections to both the Royal Navy and the City’s marine insurance industry so I will be doing what I can to raise awareness of HMS Wellington to any relevant groups.

“In the meantime, Wellington Museum has a very useful folder of information about the ship and the ship’s plaque that was presented to the town by the Admiralty in 1942.”

The Wellington Trust, which owns the vessel, is trying to raise £50,000 to maintain her.

Trustee Glyn Evans said: “We cherish our links to Wellington and any resident who wants to visit the ship or use her for an event or function in London will be hugely welcome.

“I was delighted to welcome on board Wellington Cllr Keith Wheatley, 82 years on from when HMS Wellington was adopted by the urban district of Wellington.

“I hope this visit might prove to be a significant step towards a revival of the adoption.”

The town adopted the ship in 1942 at the height of the Battle of the Atlantic when it sailed nearly 250,000 miles and escorted convoys bringing food and essential supplies to Britain.

Residents set themselves a £120,000 fund-raising target, equivalent today to slightly more than £7 million.

Cllr Wheatley said: “Nowadays, the ship is stripped of her guns and seagoing equipment but standing on the open bridge and looking down the river toward the sea, it only takes a little imagination to see what life must have been like for the Royal Navy personnel who risked their lives protecting merchant ships from U-boat attacks.”

In May this year, Princess Anne visited HMS Wellington in her capacity as patron of the trust, which has a long-term aim to raise a steady revenue stream to maintain the ship by using her 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, the trust believes its potential is clear.

The trust has also applied to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for about £300,000 to fund urgent maintenance of the gangways and pilings that connect the ship to the shore.