His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh visited the world’s oldest complete steamship on June 5th, forty years after he started the campaign to save her for the nation. Prince Philip unveiled a plaque to inaugurate SS Robin’s new permanent home in Royal Victoria Dock, Newham, just a mile from her original birthplace on the River Lea where she was built at the famous Thames Ironworks Shipyard in 1890.
The visit marked the start of the final phase of an extensive 5 year, £3m restoration of East London’s most famous ship, which has been supported by thousands of volunteers, friends and contractors since the charity originally bought the ship from Cutty Sark for £1 in 2001. WCF is proud of the role it has played in supporting the restoration of this historical national treasure.