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Medway Queen Preservation Society
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"Blue book" revised and reprinted

22/3/2020

 
UPDATE, 29 March.  The reprinted "Blue Books" have been delivered and are now available to purchase on line. Also, look for the
"RAINBOW BOOK BUNDLE"!
​We have extended an offer on all three Medway Queen books to the online shop so you can buy 3 titles at a great combined price.
Click for Online Shop
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 One of our success stories over the years has been publishing the story of Medway Queen. The book was originally published in 2013, with the help of publisher Kevin Robertson. It sold out in 18 months and was reprinted in 2014. That too has sold out and a  revised version is now at the printers.

As well as a few name spelling errors, and other minor corrections/additions, the main areas of change are to the Preservation chapter and the story of HMS Medway Queen after Dunkirk. The original edition was published while the ship was being rebuilt and couldn't cover the whole of that story. That part has been re-written to take the story in outline up to the day when the ship returned to the Medway; already covered in detail in the "Green Book".
Also, since original publication, we have learned more of the ship's career after Dunkirk. Mainly concerning the Commanding Officers - which information has also been posted on our website in the "WWII Research Notes" available on the history page. The books have been printed and will be bound this week. They should be available through the online shop within a couple of weeks. Book size is unchanged at 72 pages and the cover price remains at £10.
Click for Online Shop
Terminology: "Blue book"? - When the book was first published we claimed it was the first in a trilogy. We were wrong; there will soon be FOUR! And Kevin is still helping us! Use of the cover colours is a useful shorthand - Blue is the history; green is the Bristol rebuild; red is the Medway Queen Club on the Isle of Wight. Number 4 will be "Grey" and that goes to the printer this coming week; "HMS Medway Queen - Memories of Dunkirk".

Best Laid Plans

18/3/2020

 
“The best laid plans o' mice an' men gang aft a-gley”

We have been thwarted by something most unexpected when we were laying our plans; the effects of the Corona Virus outbreak. Because of the outbreak the Dunkirk Little Ships will not now sail to Dunkirk in 2020 and the events in Ramsgate 2020 are cancelled. Under the circumstances we have reluctantly decided not to take Medway Queen to Ramsgate this year but there is a possibility that the anniversary of Dunkirk will be celebrated there in 2021.


Please also note that the ship will be closed to visitors until further notice

The “Medway Queen – memories of Dunkirk” book publication in support of the 80th anniversary will continue as planned, as will the commemorative railway wagons, 
Dunkirk AnNiversary Merchandise

Memories of Dunkirk

6/3/2020

 
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Our new book, "HMS Medway Queen - Memories of Dunkirk" will be available in May 2020. It is currently in the latter stages of proof reading.

​It will be roughly A5 size with 76 pages, and with a cover price of £8. It will contain personal recollections by those who were there. We are fortunate that no less than 3 members of the crew were taking photographs at that time. The First Lieutenant took some, which we have courtesy of the PSPS Collection. Two others, Eric Woodroffe and Roger Matthews, gave their material to the Medway Queen Preservation Society many years ago. Included in the book are the captain’s “narrative log” sent to the admiralty, extracts from a diary kept by one of the crew and accounts by Thomas Russell (ship’s cook) and John Graves (1st Lieutenant) printed in full. Personal recollections from the troops who were evacuated by HMS Medway Queen give the other side of the story.  We have a Foreword written by the grandson of the captain at Dunkirk and numerous accounts and information contributed by the descendants of both crew and troops. 
​"HMS Medway Queen - Memories of Dunkirk" is scheduled to go on sale at Ramsgate in May when Medway Queen is there for the anniversary commemorations. You can order in advance, direct from the author, and receive your copy a little ahead of that if you wish. Proceeds will all go to Medway Queen after printing costs have been met. Copies signed or unsigned as you wish.

Send a Sterling cheque for £9-60 (including UK P&P), payable to "R Halton", to 2 Drury Close, Hook, Royal Wootton Bassett. SN4 8EL. All enquiries to richardhalton1502@gmail.com please. Cheques will not be cashed until the books are available and they should be dispatched in the latter part of April. Overseas postage at cost, contact Richard by email.

Video of the Move to Damhead Creek

2/3/2020

 
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Click below to see the video of the move on Amazon
Link to Amazon Video
A reminder of the early days of the MQPS from George Painter - thanks George!

Medway Queen was towed down river from St. Mary's Island to Damhead Creek on 7th of November 1987. A huge amount of preparation had been done to remove mud and make the hull watertight before- hand. The tow was made only after the ship had stayed afloat for 4 tides to ensure safety. At about 10.30 am Medway Queen set sail in charge of the tug Beult II and the Medway Ports Authority's vessel, Medway Otter.

Photo, left: MQ afloat and ready to leave - Noreen Chambers. 
Below: MQ's arrival at Damhead Creek - Iris Painter.
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Medway Queen Preservation Society
Gillingham Pier
Pier Approach Road
Gillingham, Kent
ME7 1RX
Tel: 44 (0) 1634 575717

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New Medway Steam Packet Company Ltd    Registered Company No. 2100358      Charity No. 296236   
  • Home
  • MQPS
    • About MQPS
    • 2022 Work program
    • Membership & Donations
    • Volunteers
    • The Team
    • Full Ahead
    • Talks and Presentations
    • Medway Queen - West & Wagons
    • NHS-UK
    • General Steam Navigation
    • HMS Medway
  • Visit and Contact
    • Visit & Contact
    • Support Group Events
    • Virtual Tour
    • Pier Activity Arcade
    • Wheels of Time
  • History
  • Online Shop
  • News