An historic ship’s figurehead will remain “where it belongs” following the closure of an adventure centre.

It has been revealed the figurehead which stands outside the Arethusa Venture Centre, in Upnor will remain in the village, despite plans for it to be sent to Portsmouth.

The outdoor activity venue was popular for school residential trips. Before that it was famed for the ship HMS Arethusa, which was used as a training facility for naughty boys and those who wanted to be in the navy.

After charity and owners Shaftesbury Young People closed the centre, it sold the fixtures, fittings and equipment at auction.

Among them was the Arethusa’s figurehead, which greets visitors at the entrance of the riverside site.

The wooden item is a relic from the Crimean War and was given Grade II protection in January.

Shaftesbury did consider moving her to the Naval base at Portsmouth, already home to Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory which was built at Chatham Dockyard.

The news that the ship’s figurehead could be sent more than 100 miles away to Portsmouth received strong objection from the Arethusa Old Boys’ Association.

The group used to train on the ship during the Second World War and paid for the restoration of the figurehead.

‘It is great that the Arethusa figurehead will remain in Upnor’

Rochester and Strood MP Kelly Tolhurst was sent lots of emails from the concerned group.

She said: “It is great that the Arethusa figurehead will remain in Upnor – where it belongs.

“I know how much effort the Arethusa Old Boys’ Association had put in to get the figurehead

back to its former glory and it is a wonderful tribute to HMS Arethusa as the last British Naval ship of her kind to go into battle under sail.”

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