A Victory for Nelson’s ship
LORD Nelson’s flagship is to be taken over by a specially created national museum.
There had been fears over the future of HMS Victory after the Ministry of Defence revealed that the warship, launched in 1765, might be too expensive to maintain.
Options, including passing her to another government department or to an outside charity, sparked an outcry.
But with the creation of a National Museum of the Royal Navy, Victory is expected to remain a commissioned warship and the Navy’s oldest vessel.
The announcement is due to be made by the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, when the museum opens tomorrow in Portsmouth, where Victory is a popular visitor attraction.
Nelson’s closest living relative, great-great-great granddaughter Anna Tribe, 78, said: “He would have been happy and proud. Victory is important to the Navy and it’s good she is staying linked.”