All of us at Medway Queen - West and the Medway Queen Preservation Society at Gillingham Pier wish all our supporters a very merry Christmas.

It has been a difficult year in most ways and we can only hope that 2021 is better. The Management Committee are looking at fundraising and restoration programmes for next year and Medway Queen - West (aka Reading Support Group) hope to be attending shows again in the latter part of the year.

More will be posted as the plans develop but, in the meantime, stay safe and enjoy the festive season as far as we are allowed to,

​Richard Halton

It is impossible to imagine. Falling back towards the coast along roads clogged with military traffic and refugees; under heavy air attack and outnumbered by an enemy close behind. Once on the beaches a wait for, possibly, several days to be evacuated. Still under frequent air attack and, in the later stages, subject to artillery fire. 

Once aboard a ship you were still not safe. The Stukas kept coming and many ships were sunk. If you were lucky another ship would pause to pick you up.

A short dramatised video, complied from the memories of a number of men who were there, has been added to our Dunkirk history page courtesy of the producers. It's not directly related to Medway Queen but take a look and if that gets you thinking it's not too late to get a copy of our own "Memories of Dunkirk" book in time for Christmas.

.With Christmas approaching and Covid restrictions still in place the Medway Queen online shop is proving to be busy. Whether the approach is direct from the website menus or via the "Christmas Market".

The Trustees of the New Medway Steam Packet Co. (Medway Queen Preservation Society) enthusiastically support the Medway City of Culture 2025 bid and look forward to active cooperation with the bid’s organising team. There is great potential for mutual benefit in our ongoing restoration programmes and the near-future ability to host meetings and events on board Medway’s very own historic steam ship.