Outrage as French wood used to repair Britain’s ‘most famous ship’

Lord Nelson will be “spinning in his grave” after it was announced that his ship HMS Victory is being restored with oak from his old enemy France, it has been claimed. 

The 260-year-old ship that participated in six major battles will be restored with French wood due to the lack of quality English wood available in sufficient quantities.

Lord Nelson died upon HMS Victory having been shot in battle and the spot on which he perished has a permanent memorial to his heroic death.

The admiral had led the British fleet to victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, a battle which ultimately cost him his life.

Ex-Navy chief Lord West reacted to the news, telling The Sun: “Lord Nelson will be spinning in his grave.

“But I do understand that they need to use the best wood, I just wish we had better forests in this country.”

Project manager Simon Williams admitted that he could see the “irony” in the decision to award the contract to a French firm but stressed that: “We’re after the best quality timber.”

The restoration is part of a £45 million project to fix the 3,500-tonne ship which has become a popular tourist attraction in Portsmouth’s dockyards which also include the Mary Rose.

The National Museum of the Royal Navy describes the work as “the biggest restoration programme in her history”.

The restoration programme has seen the ship’s masts and rigging taken down, with a large temporary structure enveloping the middle of it.

Speaking to Forces News earlier this year, the Master Shipwright Leonardo Bortolami said: “We need to replace all of the structures which show decay.”

Project manager Simon Williams said: “We absolutely have to get this right.

“We need this project to ensure that Victory survives for the next 50 to 100 years and if we get it right, she will survive longer than 50 years.”

It is hoped its restoration will be finished by 2035.