Further to John's post, MQPS member Phil Trigg has made copies of his new book available to us on very generous terms. Reading Support Group will have a supply next week and some will go to the Visitor Centre as soon as possible in the New Year. 

HMS Hood was one of the last Royal Navy battle cruisers. She was first commissioned in 1920 and sunk in the Bismark chase in 1941. A shell penetrated Hood's comparatively thin armour and detonated ammunition causing her to explode with the loss of all but three of her crew. The battle cruiser concept was one of a fast heavily armed ship that could sink anything smaller and avoid anything stronger. They were not always used in that role and often lost in a dual with slower but better protected battle ships. Hood built up a fine reputation between the wars as a powerful ship, she was seen as an icon of the RN and her sinking came as a national shock.

Just in time for Christmas,
order yours now.

The final years of the British paddle steamers seen through the colour cine camera of Bernard Cox. This Popular Plato Video “Paddle Parade” programme of paddle steamer film from the 1960s has just been re-released on a 2 disc DVD set. The programme includes material on 20 different steamers including PS Medway Queen. The Medway Queen episodes are her last excursion in 1963, her arrival in Cowes in 1965 and later as a restaurant on the Isle of Wight in 1968. Total running time approx. 100 minutes. Order your copy from us now and it will support the restoration of Medway Queen.

The set of 2 DVDs is priced at just £13-50 plus a £1-40 P&P charge per order within the UK. Total £14-90. Multiple orders are still only £1-40 for P&P. The DVDs will be available online and in the Visitor Center on December 16th. If you can't wait that long or can't get there you can buy from Reading Support Group now. Just send a cheque, payable to "R. Halton", to 21 Lakeside, Earley, Reading. RG6 7PG. For overseas P&P costs and other enquiries please email mq.reading@ntlworld.com


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