John supported the Medway Queen Preservation Society from the very beginning. He and his wife, Noreen, were founder members although at first Noreen was the one taking the most active part in the society’s activities. Later John became more active within the society to become Chairman when Marshall Vine relinquished that post until 2004 when he handed the reins to John Kempton. John Chambers was instrumental in preparing the society’s major bid for Heritage Lottery Funding, put together with Paddle Steamer Preservation Society backing. That bid eventually led to the grant from the South East England Committee of the Heritage Lottery Fund which enabled us to rebuild Medway Queen’s hull in Bristol.
John met his wife Noreen in Islington library where they both worked. They married in 1961, living in Croydon where they had 4 children. They later moved to Gillingham where the family was raised. John retired from work at age 58 and later took on a role in the library at Chatham Historic Dockyard. John had a wide range of interests including model boats, walking and cooking. He and Noreen often visited Southern Ireland and later a number of Mediterranean countries. They were both able to be present when Medway Queen’s new hull was rededicated in the Albion Dock, Bristol, in July 2013. John is survived by 4 children, Martin, Ben, Selina and Claire plus 11 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren Comments are closed.
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