Work on the new aft deck-house (left) is nearing completion with a watertight coating to finish off the top of the structure. We are very grateful to Bulldog Flat Roofs of Gillingham for their offer to apply a GRP coating to the roof of all our deck houses and skylight covers as a donation.

Below decks the aft saloon is really beginning to look the part (Below right) and water and other services are being connected in the galley (below left). All by our indefatigable volunteer teams.

There's always more to do though!

Notes extracted from our Volunteers' Newsletter, No. 16
Photos: Judith Maguire

While the new deck-house starts its work of protecting the aft companionway, although still waiting for its roof covering, the team are hard at work panelling the aft saloon deck-head. It is coming on nicely but they would welcome more help from anyone with appropriate skills.

More volunteers would also be welcome in the Visitor Centre on Saturdays or to help with running the project in other ways.

Call in and see us, email info@medwayqueen.co.uk or ring 01634 575717.

The board was already at full stretch before the loss of these two Trustees and their responsibilities will have to be shared out as well. We need more people at the organisation level, whether trustees or volunteers, so brace yourselves for an onslaught of hints and requests for help! If you can help in any way with organisation, planning and management of the project please get in touch.

Richard Halton
Photographs: Joe Stokes

Saturday 19th October. A busy day with another Wheels of Time award and the society AGM.

Another Wheels of Time winner chose PS Medway Queen as the venue for his award presentation which we all take as a compliment. George is pictured (below) in the Visitor Centre with his award. Well done George!

On the same day the society AGM took place on board the ship. You can see from the photograph (left) how the aft saloon is progressing. Just look at that deckhead!

​A piece of bad news and a matter of concern is the loss  of two of our Trustees. Brian Goodhew stood down after very many years service, although you'll still see him in the Visitor Centre on Saturdays, and David Howells decided not to stand for re-election this year. He too will continue to be involved in the project as a volunteer.

You can't celebrate without cake!

​As John Kempton reported a few days back MQPS was represented at the commissioning ceremony of HMS Medway. A couple of photos have been sent in showing their acknowledgement of Medway Queen's links to HMS Medway, a River Class patrol vessel.

John reported on the 19th: "very pleasant weather today here at Gillingham, good job to, as just back from commissioning ceremony for the new HMS Medway. Much gathering of the great and the good, including our patron Lord West, what a great ship and ship's company. The ceremony was great with the marine band. I presented to the executive officer a copy of a painting we have of the ship outside Chatham dockyard pre-war, with an old naval ship in the back ground.We are affiliated with the new ship, and I am sure you join me in wishing her and the company all the best."

Thanks to Pat Cooper for the pictures.