​The latest promotional wagons for Medway Queen have now been issued. The last of three sales initiatives aimed at this year’s (cancelled) 80th anniversary of Dunkirk commemorations. If the Dunkirk events go ahead next year we’ll have to think of something else!

​Available from the Medway Queen Visitor Centre (soon) and by post from Medway Queen - West.

After a long summer "hibernation" the team are working to get visitors on board once more.

The volunteers went back in July and are doing a fantastic job, and now we plan to reopen the ship to visitors from Saturday 5th September, with opening hours and tour charges as they were before Covid-19 interrupted us. 

Safety for every one is top of our agenda; capacity may be restricted and procedures changed to suit the situation. 

​On Monday 10th August we had a visit from STV, to film for a future episode of The Antiques Road Trip, with presenter James Braxton.


​ The team decided that we should have a spring clean of the ship and workshop prior to filming. The whole team set about the task and by just after lunch everything was in ship shape condition. We were given prior notice of what activities they wanted to film and to this end we split up into teams to get these activities set out both in the workshop and on Board. 

James Braxton (right) and the film crew did not arrive until 14.45pm so and after a quick COVID and Ship briefing they set about their task. Seven of the Volunteers were filmed carrying out a variety of activities. We were told that this would be about a five minute clip within one of the episodes to come out later this year or early next year. The filming did not finish until 19.15 hr on this very hot day. A big thanks Ron, both Bobs, Andy, Paul, Chris, Phil and Mick; who worked so very hard on the day to get the site ready and to take part in the filming. I do believe we will have portrayed the Ship and Society in a very good light. We do not know the broadcast schedule at this stage so keep an eye on the TV listings.

​Mick Appleyard
Photos: Joe Stokes and Mick Appleyard

The "mystery" is not a case of "what is it?", We know it's a Merryweather fire hose nozzle. The mystery is which ship did it come from. It came from either Medway Queen or Ryde Queen on the Isle of Wight but we cannot determine which one. Does anyone remember fire-fighting equipment on the ships in the 1970s or at any other time?

​Answers to [email protected] please.