Tideway honours HMS President as the iconic ship begins a new chapter in her history
Tideway is paying tribute to one of the last three First World War vessels still in existence after she was relocated from the River Thames after 93 years.
To make way for construction of the Thames Tideway Tunnel, HMS President has moved from Blackfriars to a temporary home on the River Medway where she will be refitted and refurbished, ahead of her centenary in 2018.
Tideway is honouring HMS President’s wartime service by using the boat's distinctive 'dazzle camouflage' pattern as a basis for an artwork installation at the Kirtling Street site in Battersea, with a view to potentially using the design for hoardings at Tideway sites across London.
Mark Sneesby, Chief Operating Officer at Tideway, said: "HMS President has been a permanent fixture on the Thames for 93 years and whilst we are saddened to see her move on to the next chapter of her life, it is fitting that she is moving to protect the river that has been her home.
"Whilst she may be gone, at Tideway we have made sure that she is not forgotten. Our environmentally sympathetic 'urban camouflage' artwork at Kirtling Street will serve as a reminder for our workers and the public of her service to the nation and to our nation's capital."
From German U-boats to glamorous weddings, HMS President has seen it all over the past century, but she still has plenty of life left within her for more adventures as she starts the next chapter of her life.
Launched by the Royal Navy as HMS Saxifrage in 1918, the vessel began as a submarine hunting 'Q ship', designed to fool enemy submarines into thinking she was just a normal freighter before revealing her deadly arsenal at the last moment. When the First World War finished, she was renamed HMS President and served the Royal Navy with distinction as a reserve base on the Thames, training the next generation of sailors defending the country.
Not content with serving the country, she continued to serve the capital, firstly as a charity centre, before becoming a unique function venue in 1996 and forming the backdrop to numerous events and weddings over the years.
To commemorate her role in the First World War, in 2014 she was repainted in 'dazzle' camouflage, designed to confuse the enemy, a key naval tactic during the war.
Her historical significance means she will also be in demand for the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War in the same year. She remains one of just three WW1 vessels that served with the Royal Navy still in existence.
Tideway will be using the site at Victoria Embankment to connect the tunnel to an existing sewage discharge point in to the river. Once completed, a new area of embankment will be created giving additional public space to enjoy the river.