Bob Ratcliffe

Above: Bob and his wife, Margaret at the presentation of the bow wheel to Medway Queen in November 2014. Joe Stokes

​We were saddened to learn of the passing of Bob Ratcliffe – he was very much a part of the story of the Medway Queen project. A founder member of the Medway Queen Preservation Society, Bob served on our first committee in 1985 and with his local knowledge, contacts, optimism and humour we were soon underway.

Known locally as “Mr. Rochester”, because of his interest in and vast knowledge of the area he was involved in several local societies and was present at most events in the city. He was an expert in the bygone transport of the region; trains, traction engines, buses and, of course, ships. Bob knew and loved them all. ​​

Not only did Bob remember the Medway Queen in service on the Medway but he was on board the ship as a passenger at the Spithead Coronation Review in 1953. In 2014 Bob generously sponsored a replacement bow steering wheel in memory of his son, Michael. An author, broadcaster, historian there was no limit to his talents nor his energy when campaigning for a local cause. John and I enjoyed time out on the sailing barge “Cabby” on race days in the company of Bob, he was always a witty companion.

Bob’s funeral was held at Rochester Cathedral on Thursday December 20th 2018 at 11.30 followed by a private service for the family at Medway Crematorium. To Margaret and Andrew and family we offer our condolences. Bob was respected by all and the world of preservation will be a poorer place without Bob Ratcliffe.
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Noreen Chambers
(December 2018)

Bob's interests in transport were varied. In 1953 he was taken by train to Southampton where he boarded Medway Queen for a tour of the fleet and to watch the Coronation Review. Bob took this picture at Waterloo Station. The center train is the one he boarded for the journey to Southampton. ​Some of the passengers must have been a little put out when their first view of their ship was the top of a funnel protruding above the dockside.  Berth 47 was an ocean liner berth and Medway Queen’s 316 tons would be a quite a bit smaller than the usual traffic there: RMS Queen Mary, still in service at that time, was 80,000 tons displacement.