(Caption: HRH The Princess Royal, Patron of the Wellington Trust, chatting with Professor Dominic Tweddle and Alastair Chapman, onboard in May to celebrate the 90th anniversary of HMS WELLINGTON)
The Wellington Trust is pleased to announce that Professor Dominic Tweddle, former Director General of the National Museum of the Royal Navy, has been appointed as Chairman of the Wellington Trust, effective from 1 July 2024.
Alastair Chapman, the outgoing Chairman, is handing over leadership of the Trust after four years of dedicated service during the Trust’s most turbulent and uncertain period since its establishment in 2005. As Vice Chairman, Alastair stepped into the role of Acting Chairman in February 2020 following a tragic accident suffered by the Chairman, Captain Guy Brocklebank Royal Navy. He was appointed Chairman, in July of that year, following Guy’s untimely death.
Alastair has since steered the Trust through the pandemic and the challenges with which this presented the Board and, more recently, the departure of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners (HCMM). He has devoted countless hours and effort to securing the future of WELLINGTON, without which she could be facing an unthinkable future. Alastair is also retiring as a Trustee after 11 years of loyal service. As he hands over the helm to Dominic Tweddle, Alastair reflects:
“WELLINGTON is much more than a warship with a remarkable history. WELLINGTON represents a constant reminder of the continued importance, and the permanent challenge, of maintaining a naval presence to safeguard free trade and safe passage around the shores of our island nation, and throughout the world. It has been a privilege to have served her as both a trustee and Chairman of the Wellington Trust.
I have complete confidence that Dominic and the Board of Trustees will help realise our vision at the Wellington Trust: this is for HMS WELLINGTON to be recognised by the public as a living testament to the courage and sacrifice of all those who took part in the Battle of the Atlantic, the longest and most crucial engagement of the Second World War.”
New Chairman Dominic thanked Alastair:
“I would like to pay tribute to Alastair’s dedicated and effective work as a Trustee for eleven years, and as Chairman for the last four years. He has expertly shared the Wellington Trust through a very difficult period in her history, and I have a tough act to follow. However, I know Alastair has a deep passion for WELLINGTON and this is less of a farewell, as I know we will see him back onboard as a loyal and ever-present Friend of the Wellington, and as an Ambassador for the Wellington Trust.
My sincere thanks to Alastair for his service to WELLINGTON”.
Dominic is also the Campaign Director for the 90th anniversary campaign Wellington@90. All funds raised will both support WELLINGTON’s conservation and preservation and develop a new business plan to make her more accessible to the public as a visitor attraction.
Members of the public can donate by either:
- Visiting our website: https://www.thewellingtontrust.org/donate/
- Contributing to our GoFundMe campaign: https://www.gofundme.com/f/wellington90
Keep up to date on our efforts to secure the future of WELLINGTON and what’s happening onboard by following The Wellington Trust on Facebook, Instagram or Linkedin.
