Nelson & His World

Looks like the Victory will become the reponsibility of the Navy Museum. At least according to the Sun

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4161201/Skint-Navy-surrenders-Nelsons-HMS-Victory.html

At least with her remaining a flagship of a serving Admiral means there will still be some protections.



Joss

The Portsmouth News reported it better without the inane remarks posted on The Sun site..except for one from a Pompey fan

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/local/ ... _1_3572322

Thanks for posting that second link, Post Captain. The comments people were writing on The Sun's article were actually scaring me lol

Thanks for posting about this especially the piece from the News which, not surprisingly, was rather more objective in its reporting and devoid of the ill-infomed and daft comments of the other paper – apart perhaps from the remarks about Portsmouth Football Club. There is nothing as yet on the MRN's own webpage, but I am sure there will be in due course.

On the face of it this sounds good news, let's hope the money from the Heritage Lottery Fund and other sources will now be forthcoming. Hopefully this arrangement will substantially ease the Victory's financial problems, if not settle them.

As the article mentions, I'm sure outwardly that no-one will particularly notice the difference under the new management, and the Museum will probably want to keep things much as they are at present. Since she is to remain as the Second Sea Lord's flagship, surely she will also retain her commissioned status. However, even if this 'honour' were to taken from her, I would think the prospect of sound finance for her upkeep would overide any other consideration.

I suppose you should not expect to look to the Sun and Daily Mail for informed comment, but the reporting of this (apart from the Portsmouth News) has been utterly absurd. It is pointless to pretend that HMS Victory is not a museum piece, and who better to look after her than the National Museum of the Royal Navy? The MoD should have, and does have, other priorities. She will continue to be commissioned as the Second Sea Lord's flagship, and there is no reason to expect any less respect for Nelson's memory under the guardianship of the NMRN.

By the way, there have long been regular dinners held on board HMS Victory by the Navy, the Society for Nautical Research, and other charity events. While respect is due to those who died on board, she is not a war grave and Nelson is also more fortunate in having a grave than all the others who were unceremoniously thrown overboard.

The Defence Minister has now confirmed the transfer of HMS Victory to the newly formed HMS Victory Preservation Trust, part of the National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN), endowed with £50m from the Gosling Foundation and the MoD:

http://www.historicdockyard.co.uk/news/news430.php

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/local/ ... -1-3592048

In my opinion this is excellent news!

This is indeed great news! All on this site, the Nelson Society, 1805 Club, and all who hold the Victory dear will surely think the same, as it will surely end her financial troubles.

It looks as if the fund raising for the ship will start in April, now all monies will have to be found from the public (BUT perhaps some 'grant in aid') it will be up to ALL of us interested in the Ships preservation to contribute, no matter how little, what about a minimum direct debit of £5 per month, or more