Medway Queen Preservation Society

Wheels of Time 2022 Award

7/8/2022

You need to collect ten Wheels of Time site badges to earn Roamin’ Rex’s Bronze Award, twenty to earn his Silver Award, 30 for his Gold Award, 40 for his Platinum Award or all 53 sites in Kent to earn the Wheels of Time 2022 Award.

Congratulations to Mason who was presented with his Wheels of Time 2022 Award on Saturday. Mason nominated the Medway Queen as one of his favourite Wheels of Time attractions to receive his 2022 Award for visiting all 53 WoT sites. He and his family enjoyed a tour to see the latest work completed on the ship and celebrated his achievement with cream teas in the forward saloon.

Saturday 6th August was one our busiest WoT days so far this year with more families beginning to find the MQ on their "to do" list for a visit and to collect the unique MQ WoT badge, as well as enjoying the ship tour and the activity packs available in the Medway Queen Visitor Centre.

Visit Medway Queen

Photos and report: Martin Goodhew

New GSN wagon for N gauge

30/7/2022

We are pleased to announce the early arrival of the latest “Medway Queen” promotional wagons for N Gauge. These promotional wagons are a product of the cooperation between the General Steam Navigation Locomotive Restoration Society, based at Blunsdon on the Swindon and Cricklade Railway, and the Medway Queen Preservation Society.

The wagon design fits the MQPS theme of fictional wagons that might have been seen at Gillingham Pier if there had been a rail connection, and is also relevant to the General Steam Navigation Locomotive Restoration Society. These Dapol 7-plank open wagons are available in two colours (black and green) with white lettering. They are now available in person from the Medway Queen Visitor Centre (on Saturdays) and will, of course, be featured on the MQPS stand at The International N Gauge Show (TINGS) on 10th/11th September - where you can inspect and buy them over the counter (please note that the stand cannot accept card payments). They are priced at £12.40 per model plus £3.75 per order for UK P&P if buying by post. Mail order from Richard at 2 Drury Close, Hook, Royal Wootton Bassett, SN4 8EL. Please make your cheque out to "R Halton". Email richardhalton1502@gmail.com for online payment options.

N Gauge Wagons - more details

Visitor with a link to the past

30/7/2022

Today, Howard Stacey from Gravesend visited the Ship to tell and share his father's story. His father, John S. Stacey, was a seaman; part of the crew of HMS Brighton Belle when she struck a submerged wreck off the Goodwin Sands. The story of the Brighton Belle and how the Medway Queen came to her rescue to take the crew and evacuees off is part of the Visitor Centre information and is included in our published history; "The Medway Queen".

Photo: Howard with Pam Bathurst, pointing to the picture of the Brighton Belle in the book - Martin Goodhew.

Medway Archives

22/6/2022

I called in to the Medway Archive Centre on Monday, after the MQPS Board Meeting, to see the display and to check a few historical details on our ship.

The display looks great and is well worth a visit. MQPS supplied the design and the components and the people at the Archive Centre have done a good job installing the display on their exhibition boards. Click below for details of opening times etc. On a Saturday you have plenty of time to pop in to see the display before going on to visit the ship at Gillingham Pier. The cream teas on Medway Queen were such a success over the Jubilee weekend that Pam is making them a regular feature. I tested one on Monday and it was delicious!

Richard Halton

Photo: Elspeth Millar, Medway Archive Centre

Display visit details

Another Community Day

11/6/2022

Thanks to a team of volunteers from the National Grid - Grain LNG Medway Queen has had more specialised TLC. About 3 years ago the the team from Grain LNG spent a day working on Medway Queen and yesterday (Friday 10th) they were back for more. In particular they gave the funnel a thorough make-over with two coats of paint. They supplied their own scaffolding, erected by specialists from within the company which saved our project a considerable sum of money.

The team did other work too and we are very grateful for all their work. Thanks must go to the team, to Stuart Clack for organising the day and to Bob Wilde and Ron Vant from MQPS who set up the project and supervised on the day. A brilliant support team of Pam and Mark Bathurst kept the workers fed and watered.

Our thanks, again, to everyone who took part. The ship is open as usual today (Saturday) so pop down and take a look if you are in the area.

Photos: Ron Vant

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