Save HMS President –

The Q-ship Society CIC Appeal.

Our Mission: Save, Move, Moor, Restore

The Q-ship Society CIC (Company Number: 15963105) was established with one urgent purpose: to help save the historic First World War warship HMS Saxifrage (1918), later known as HMS President, from being lost forever.

HMS President is one of only three surviving British warships dating from the First World War. She is an exceptionally important survivor of the war at sea and a tangible link to the men who served aboard the Royal Navy’s Q-ships in the fight against German U-boats.

The immediate priority is to secure the vessel and prevent her from being broken up.

Our campaign is focused on three stages:

1. SAVE

The immediate objective is to secure ownership of HMS President from her current custodians and save the vessel from the scrapyard.

We are currently working to raise the funds necessary to acquire and rescue the ship. The £200,000 fundraising target is intended to support this rescue and acquisition effort, enabling the Society to act when the opportunity to secure the vessel arises.

This is the critical first step. Without saving the ship now, there can be no restoration project in the future.

2. MOVE & MOOR

Once ownership has been secured, the Society will arrange and fund the safe relocation of the vessel to a suitable permanent berth.

The Society will then take responsibility for establishing and maintaining a long-term mooring for HMS President. We hope to secure a sympathetic berth at a reduced rate, reflecting the ship’s exceptional national heritage importance and our status as a Community Interest Company dedicated to preserving her.

3. RESTORE

Restoration will begin as soon as practical access to the vessel has been secured.

Our long-term ambition is to restore HMS Saxifrage as closely as possible to her original First World War configuration, while retaining carefully selected features that tell the story of her later service with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve as HMS President.

Once restored, the vessel could become a permanent museum and heritage centre telling the story of:

Our aim is not simply to save an old ship. It is to preserve an irreplaceable piece of Britain’s maritime history and make her story accessible to future generations.

Why We Need Your Help Now

HMS President has reached a critical point in her history.

For many years, the vessel has survived against considerable odds. Today, however, the opportunity to save her is immediate. If the ship is lost to the scrapyard, an irreplaceable First World War warship will disappear forever.

The Q-ship Society CIC is therefore seeking to raise £200,000 towards the acquisition and rescue of HMS President.

Your donation can help us reach the point where we are able to secure the vessel, begin the process of bringing her to safety, and give her a future.

Every donation brings us closer to saving HMS President.

What Happens After We Save Her?

Saving the vessel is only the beginning.

Once secured, the Society’s work will continue with the relocation, establishment of a permanent berth, stabilisation, conservation and eventual restoration of the ship.

We will also continue our historical research and public engagement so that the story of HMS Saxifrage, HMS President, the Q-ships and the war against the U-boats is properly documented and shared.

Wherever possible, we will provide supporters with regular updates on the campaign and the progress being made towards securing the vessel.

Support the Q-ship Society CIC

The Q-ship Society CIC is a Community Interest Company established to preserve and protect HMS Saxifrage/HMS President and promote the history of Q-ships and anti-submarine warfare.

Our fundraising target is focused on helping us achieve the immediate priority of acquiring and rescuing the vessel. The Society also has ongoing costs associated with its operation, research, communications, fundraising and preparations for the eventual relocation and restoration of the ship.

Your support helps us keep the campaign moving forward and ensures that we are ready to act when the opportunity to save HMS President arises.

Help Us Save HMS President

£200,000 is the target.

The mission is simple: Save. Move. Moor. Restore.

With your help, one of Britain’s last surviving First World War warships could have a future rather than a scrapyard.

Q-ship Society CIC

Company Number: 15963105

For more information and the latest campaign updates, please visit the Q-ship Society website and follow the Society’s social media channels.