18/05/25 Good News at last!
After leaving Gillingham at 03.30hrs this morning, she is now moored on the east Margate buoy awaiting the pilot, who is booked for 12.30hrs.  We expect that she will come into the harbour around 13.00.  We may not be able to open to the public today, but we hope that we can  get the ship ready for the scheduled opening to the public tomorrow. 

17/05/25 16:39
Another delay! There's another delay - details very unclear but not of our making. The ship will not be leaving today and probably not tomorrow. Some conflicting information, but really we do not know what's happening  here or why the journey has been put off! I'll post more as I find out.

17/05/25 UPDATE!
We are "GO" for leaving Gillingham Pier, for Ramsgate, at approximately 14.00hrs today (Saturday),
​Our Tug Master Alan Barker and owner Tom Lash, expect to arrive at Ramsgate Harbour, with MQ, on Sunday at 12.45hrs and be taken into the harbour at approximately 14.00hrs.

15/05/25 Update from Mark:
Sorry to say that M.Q. Will not be leaving Gillingham today, due to an adverse weather forecast.  Hopefully tomorrow or Saturday. 

Probably at 14.00hrs on Saturday, better late than never!  
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14/05/25
​We are all ready, the access ramp has been disconected (below, photo: Paul Thompson), and the ship is ready to go. ​BUT - towing requires very low wind speeds and at present there's a force 5 preventing departure. We'll try again tomorrow.

With regret it is my duty to let you know that our Chairman, John Kempton, has resigned with effect from last Monday. As Vice Chair, I have obviously stepped up and will take the Chair until the next meeting (which will take place on 17th February) so any queries, please contact me on 07790 179760. I will let you know after the meeting who has been voted to take John’s place.

All the very best to you all

Pam Bathurst
Director / Trustee, Vice Chair and Membership Secretary.

John Wrote:

​I have to say goodbye. I have resigned from the Board of the New Medway Steam Packet Co., though I remain a life member. I have, despite ups and downs, as with all of life, I know, had a great time with the ship and people I have met over the years, and it has been my privilege to work on the Medway Queen  and with you all, present and sadly past friends.

I would like to wish "all the best", to the Medway Queen, to the Board of Trustees for their continuing work, the workshop team and visitor team, and to all of you members and friends as I say at the start of this, do please continue your fantastic support for the MQ, 

John Kempton

TWO QUEENS
Richard Halton’s new book, “Two Queens”, has suffered delays but is available now. It details the history of two excursion vessels operated by the New Medway Steam Packet Co. in the 1930s and for a while after the war. PS Queen of Kent and PS Queen of Thanet were both built as Racecourse class paddle minesweepers in 1916. They were sold out of naval service in the late ’20s for the excursion trade and then requisitioned again in 1939 to sweep mines once more. One went to Dunkirk in 1940 and the other survived a very close encounter with a V2 missile in 1945! After the war they were converted back to being excursion vessels and were briefly operated by NMSPCo. once again, before being sold on to Red Funnel. Sadly, they were both scrapped in the early 1950s.
 
The book tells their stories from build to final withdrawal. It is being published by Mainline and Maritime, as was Richard’s “PS Ryde” book. The book is A4 format with 72 pages and more photos than the author expected to find!
 
The “Two Queens” is available online from www.medwayqueen.co.uk and from www.mainlineandmaritime.co.uk . You can buy in person at the Medway Queen Visitor Centre when it is open on Saturdays. Alternatively, signed copies can be purchased by post, direct from the author, through the “Medway Queen West” support group. The book is priced at £18.95 plus £2.70 UK P&P. Please send a cheque, payable to “R. Halton”, to 2 Drury Close, Hook, Royal Wootton Bassett, SN4 8EL.
For all enquiries, including transfer payments, contact: [email protected]

CENTENARY ALBUM
Our third “Full Ahead Extra” booklet is packed with photographs of the Centenary events at Rochester Cathedral and Gillingham Pier. Approximately 40 photographs, including a few historic views. Most of the images have not appeared in Full Ahead.
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This Centenary Album is available at just £3 per copy from the Medway Queen Visitor Centre or online from our website shop. If you want to order by post, send your cheque to us at Gillingham Pier and enclose an A5 sized SAE. Cheques payable to “Medway Queen Preservation Society” please.​

CHRISTMAS CARD
​We have a newly designed “Centenary” Christmas card (right) on offer for 2024 which measures approximately 5 inches square. The message inside the cards is "Merry Christmas" and details of the card and ship are printed on the back. Stocks of last year’s card are also still available. The cards are priced at £7 for a pack of 10, with a modest P&P charge.