As all Great Britons prepare to get their figures ship-shape for the summer, the nation’s stately dame, HMS Warrior 1860, is no exception as her figurehead is undergoing refurbishment.
Work is taking place to ensure this fine figurehead is looked after but it is no easy task - due to the very unusual nature of the job it has even taken a whole week to erect the scaffolding.
This was followed by the washing, rubbing down and painting of the figurehead, undertaken by Dave Bishop and Peter (Shiner) Wright (both Warrior employees) who were assisted by John Coughtrie (Warrior volunteer). This work has taken 8 days to complete.
Since then Fez Parker has been re-gilding the figurehead – it is a very skilled and painstaking task which is now approaching completion. Depending on the weather, gilding work should finish next week and then all that remains is the removal of the scaffolding.
Fez has been involved in previous refurbishment of HMS Warrior 1860 and it was always an ambition of his to re-gild the figurehead and now he has achieved his magnificent mission he feels his work is done and he will now look at the ship with pride into his retirement.
Those who have viewed the figurehead from the platform are most impressed with the detailed carving – even, for example, behind the Warrior’s shield which is not seen (see attached image).
The figurehead we see today is the third one, all to the same design, that Warrior has had during her lifetime. The powerful Warrior was one of the last battleships to carry a figurehead; the original one was made in Portsmouth at a cost of £60 but was sadly lost in 1868 when Warrior accidentally collided with HMS Royal Oak. The collision was with such a force that the figurehead’s head fell off to be claimed as a prize by the midshipmen on Royal Oak’s quarterdeck.
Using original sketches and photographs the present version was carved by Jack Whitehead and Norman Gaches in Cowes in the early 1980s. It was put on display at the 1983 International Boat Show in London and appeared on Blue Peter then, in August, Warrior’s figurehead was brought to Portsmouth Dockyard and positioned outside No.5 Boathouse only a few yards from the site vacated by its predecessor 65 years previously. From that moment Warrior’s presence in Portsmouth was re-established.
Images:
Warrior Figurehead refurbished
Warrior Figurehead with Fez Parker
Warrior Figurehead - before refurbishment
Warrior Figurehead - behind shield
