HMS Victory's longest serving CO hands over after eight years at the helm

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The longest serving Commanding Officer of HMS Victory has today handed over command after nearly eight years – and after over a decade of service to the ship.

HMS Victory in all her splendour

Lieutenant Commander Frank Nowosielski, 53, first served on HMS Victory from 1989 – 1992 as its First Lieutenant and was so inspired by the experience of working onboard that he was determined to come back to the ship as Commanding Officer.

Six years later, on 1 May 1998, he took command and has since seen Nelson's flagship through a number of changes, including an intense period of restoration and maintenance. He was awarded the MBE in 2002 for his services to the ship. His Naval career was extended to oversee the celebrations marking the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar last year - the most high profile and busy period the ship has known since coming into dry dock in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard in 1922.

Frank said:

"I am proud and honoured to have served on HMS Victory for over ten years. The ship is known worldwide and remains well-loved by the British public as the heart of the Royal Navy. It is clear that there is still a real fascination with the Royal Navy's heritage and the legacy of Nelson.

"The highest ever number of annual visitors - 437,000 - visited the ship last year since it became a paid attraction. It’s been a privilege to have been HMS Victory's Commanding Officer particularly during the celebrations marking the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar."

Lt Cdr Frank Nowosielski OBE, right of picture, hands over to the new Commanding Officer Lt Cdr John Scivier, witnessed by the Second Sea Lord and Commander in Chief of the Naval Home Command Vice Admiral Adrian Johns in the Great Cabin.
[Picture: LA(PHOT)Owen King]

One of Frank's proudest moments was the completion of the project to restore the Grand Magazine and the Hold in 2004. Opening up these previously closed areas to the public meant that over 90% of the ship is now on view to the public.

Victory's fore topsail, the last remaining sail from the Battle of Trafalgar, also went on display to the public last year after a period of careful conservation.

As well as hosting hundreds of official functions and meeting some high profile figures, such as Sir Clive Woodward and Lesley Garrett, Frank has also enjoyed building links with local schools over the years.

He has each year presented a leadership prize to the pupils at the Admiral Lord Nelson school and has created a link with the City of Portsmouth Boys' School and its Victory Centre, which provides special needs support for those with learning difficulties.

HMS Victory is the flagship of the Second Sea Lord and Commander in Chief of the Naval Home Command Vice Admiral Adrian Johns. Admiral Johns, who witnessed the brief handover ceremony in the Great Cabin, said:

"Lt Cdr Nowosielski has made an outstanding contribution as Commanding Officer of HMS Victory. His expert knowledge and understanding of HMS Victory's past and present have been invaluable. He played a key part in the Trafalgar 200 celebrations last year, helping to bring the past glories of Nelson to a present day audience during a most fantastic year for the Royal Navy."

Frank's new job is only a stone's throw away; still in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Frank has already started work as the General Manager for Action Stations, an attraction which gives visitors a taste of the modern Navy and marine engineering.

The new Commanding Officer of HMS Victory is Lieutenant Commander John Scivier, 46, whose last post was as the Officer in Charge of the Naval Aeronautical Information Centre (NAIC) in RAF Northolt. Born in Eastleigh, he joined the Navy as a Junior Naval Airman in February 1977 and has worked his way up the ranks to Lieutenant Commander.

During his career he has served in Germany on an exchange posting with the RAF and has supported operations in Afghanistan and Iraq whilst on deployment with HMS Ocean as the Senior Air Traffic Control Officer. As Officer in Charge of the NAIC, one of his many responsibilities was for the air traffic control and airspace management of the Trafalgar 200 celebrations and the International Festival of the Sea activities.

Lt Cdr Scivier, who lives in Alverstoke, Gosport, said:

"I am delighted to be given the opportunity to command HMS Victory and very much look forward to the challenges the job will present. The Trafalgar 200 celebrations were a major success and milestone for this historic ship and I am very keen to maintain the momentum of interest and support shown by the public last year. Whilst the ship is owned by the Navy, she belongs to the people and is an important part of the nation's heritage. Along with the Second Sea Lord, I will be looking at new ways in which that heritage can best be used to the benefit of the Royal Navy and to the local and wider community.

"Twenty years ago, almost to the day, I flew home from the Falklands ready to commence my officer training at Dartmouth. Prior to joining, I had two months holding at Portland as a Leading Airman and my Divisional Officer was none other than a very much younger Sub-Lieutenant Frank Nowosielski. The ship has been in very safe hands these past eight years and I wish Frank the very best in his new career."

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