Blog Posts

Progress on board

8/4/2019

Work on board Medway Queen is progressing by leaps and bounds thanks to the generosity of our members and others and to the hard graft put in by volunteers and contractors alike.

Electrical services have been upgraded and new fittings installed, the upper aft saloon is becoming a separate space within the ship with necessary fire protection. A first batch of cushions for the bench seats have been tried out and put into safe storage while work continues. The forward saloons have been spruced up and work should be under way on the galley any time now.

Click here for visiting details

The pictures speak for themselves. During the week the ship is a place of work and closed to visitors but she is open on Saturdays from 11am to 4pm (last admissions 3pm) so come down and see the progress first hand. Once this phase of work is complete we will be able to hire out the space and generate a revenue stream that will help towards further restoration.

Photos: Joe Stokes and Martin Goodhew

Kent Holiday and Leisure Show

8/4/2019

This is the fourth year that Medway Queen has been represented at the Holiday and Leisure Show. Previously the show was held in Dover, but has now moved to the County Showground at Detling. This is a more central location and has resulted in a substantial increase in exhibitors and visitors. A record of 1837 members of the public attended the show this year. There were stands from all aspects of the leisure industry, including holiday and travel companies, as well as a wide variety of visitor attractions mostly based in the Kent Area.

Our display included photographs, artefacts, books and publicity material as well as a “loop” of photographs and movie footage displayed on a monitor. Many visitors showed interest in our exhibition and Pam and I were able to use the occasion to publicise our restoration work and to encourage visitors to come to see the ship. We also used the opportunity to promote our presentations and we expect to hear from various societies who would like us to visit their group, with a view to giving our talk and showing our “Power Point” production. In past years we have been engaged by a number of different organisations, whose representatives have seen us at this event.

Mark Bathurst

Photo: Mark standing ready for the rush - Martin Goodhew

Dunkirk Survivors

3/4/2019

Our knowledge of HMS Medway Queen's part in Operation Dynamo is increasing all the time. In addition to Jack Skinner's first hand accounts mentioned in a previous post we have now added more names to our survivors list.

W.J.C. Fuller was a Lieutenant on HMS Brighton Belle. He was picked up by Medway Queen when Brighton Belle sank on May 28th. His grandson has copied some notes for us and the (false) press reports of MQ being sunk during Operation Dynamo.

Oliver Clifford was a lance Corporal in the RASC and was rescued from Dunkirk by HMS Medway Queen, although we do not have the date he was picked up.

Ronald Arthur Medhust was a Lance Corporal in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He too was picked up by MQ but, again, we do not have details of date etc.

The quest for information on our ship's history is continuous. If anyone can add to our knowledge please get in touch. Next year sees a significant anniversary of the Dunkirk Operation which we will mark in a number of ways and any extra information might help us in that. Contact info@medwayqueen.co.uk or richardhalton1502@gmail.com

MQ History

Medway Queen on TV - Updated

19/3/2019

Update - 23 March - the programme was shown yesterday afternoon and is now available on IPlayer:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0003fvy/flog-it-series-16-34-rochester-cathedral

Some time ago now Paul Martin and his team filmed some "Flogit!” (antiques programme) episodes in Rochester Cathedral. I think they filmed 2 episodes. Each episode includes a visit to a local site of historic interest, one of which was Medway Queen at Gillingham Pier. The other one, featuring Chatham Dockyard, was shown recently.

Although we have not had any notification I think the "Medway Queen" episode is coming up shortly. According to my TV listings this coming Friday’s episode is also from Rochester Cathedral, and not billed as a repeat, so it could be the one with a half time visit to Medway Queen.

Friday 22 March, BBC1, 4.30pm

Richard Halton

Photos: courtesy of Joe Stokes and Pat Cooper

"Navy Days" poster for sale

5/3/2019

This poster is being auctioned in aid of Medway Queen's restoration.

It measures approx. 24inches x 36inches and was donated at the “Tolworth Showtrain” exhibition last November, for sale in support of Medway Queen.

It is being auctioned by Great Central Railwayana Ltd. in a postal sale - bids close on March 12th 2019. Details from Richard Halton or www.gcrauctions.com or phone: 01327 263633.

Sale web site: http://www.sheffieldrailwayana.co.uk/sale259P/index.php
Our lot: 834, listed under posters.

All proceeds will be passed to MQPS via "Medway Queen - West" (formerly Reading Support Group). Our thanks to Great Central Railwayana Ltd. for all their help in this matter.

Bid now, bid high!

Richard Halton

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Progress on board

Kent Holiday and Leisure Show

Dunkirk Survivors

Medway Queen on TV - Updated

"Navy Days" poster for sale

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