The Times – 22 November 2016

Without vital funding for restoration work and a new mooring at London Bridge, HMS President – one of three remaining First World War ships in the UK and the only one in London – faces the scrapheap. This would be a huge cultural loss to our country.

During her 98 years she has served on the naval frontlines of the Great War, providing vital protection to Atlantic convoys bringing aid from America to Europe. She also saw service in the Second World War as an anti-aircraft battery on the Thames, protecting London landmarks such as St Paul’s Cathedral, as well as providing a secret base to the London-based French Resistance and Special Operations Executive. She also acted as a training centre for the Royal Navy throughout the Cold War.

There is currently an application for Libor-fine funding with the Treasury; this money will be distributed as part of the Autumn Statement tomorrow. We urge the Chancellor to look favourably on this worthy cause so that we can secure her future for generations, and allow her to celebrate the centenary year of her launch in 2018.

ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET LORD BOYCE

Dr JULIAN LEWIS MP

KEVIN FOSTER MP

STEPHEN POUND MP

LORD FAULKNER

LORD HASTINGS

DR PHIL WEIR, Naval Historian

PAUL WILLIAMS AND PETER MOYS, HMS President Preservation Trust