​On Saturday 24th November, John Kempton (Chairman of MQPS) was invited to the Co-op store in Chatham Maritime to receive a donation from the store’s Local Community Fund.

As can be seen from the photograph, this amounted to an amazing £3033.69; a great boost to funding for restoration of the upper aft saloon. This branch of the Co-op had raised £9519.17 for distribution on Saturday – a fantastic achievement.

​Our thanks go to the Co-op management and staff and, of course, to all their customers who raised this money towards the restoration of Medway Queen.

Every time a Co-op member shops at Co-op, 1% of their spending on selected own-brand products and services goes to the local community fund. The money raised by all the members in the community, together with money from shopping bag sales, helps to fund local projects in the area.

Members can choose which cause they want their own 1% to go to. Please register for the scheme if you use the Co-op and select New Medway Steam Packet Co. to help us restore this famous old ship. Any money raised by Co-op members who don’t select a cause is added to the money raised from shopping bag sales and shared equally between the causes in their local area.

The restoration project’s focus is very much on the aft saloon at present with a view to having it up and running as an event venue as quickly as possible. This requires a sympathetic restoration of this compartment, the largest on the ship, together with the forward saloon and its attendant galley to enable hot drinks and light refreshments to be served. The major part of this project is electrical and safety installations together with a need for appropriate upholstery of the bench seating that runs down either side of the saloon. More information and details of how you can help at:
​ www.medwayqueen.co.uk/wish_list

One of our volunteers has created this remembrance display on board Medway Queen to mark the end of the First World War. HMS Medway Queen did not of course serve in that war but played an active part in the 1939-45 conflict. Her fleet sisters, Queen of Kent and Queen of Thanet, were built as minesweepers for WWI and also served in WWII.

Thanks to Layla Wiseman for creating the display and knitting the poppies and to Judith Maguire for the photograph.