photo_album_medway

P.S. MEDWAY QUEEN

Our carpenters, Ron Little and Peter Side, depicted here working on the second phase of the building of the paddle boxes.

Estelle Morris MP, the Minister for Heritage & Culture, at a meeting with a delegation from the Medway Queen Preservation Society at the Ministry in Westminster.

One of the newly carved emblems, painted and fixed to a paddle box front for its "first fitting"

The van was gratefully received, on behalf of the MQPS by Brian Burton of the GMB Union, who is also the Vice-Chairman of the Society.
The van is an integral part of the Medway Queen Lottery claim and is important in the Access and Learning Program. The GMB Union generously offered their assistance in fitting out the interior with educational IT equipment.

Morrison's Supermarket at Knight Road, Strood, was the venue for our fund-raising day on Saturday 20th May 2005
Members of our society, the publicly van and our 20 year old mobile model of the Medway Queen, are shown here.

Gary Hodnett, the General Manager of Morrison's Supermarket is seen here with Noreen Chambers, Secretary of the Society, Gary Hodnett wished the Society success in the on-going lottery bid, underway at the time. The successful outcome of which was subsequently announced in June 2006

	Medway Queen on the slip before being launched on 23rd April 1924 being St George's Day. The people in this photo must be members of the New Medway Steam Packet Company together with Alsia Shipyard owners and workers.
	The paddle steamer Medway Queen on trials after being launched in 1924, at Troon in Scotland having been built by the Ailsa shipyard. From the time that she was built, she was widely recognised as one of the finest examples of Scotland's shipbuilding craft.
	This photo is believed to have been taken during her last trip to Southend-on-Sea in 1963 just prior to being withdrawn from service. She was originally going to be broken up, but, following a public outcry, she escaped the breakers at the last moment to be used as a Marina Clubhouse on the Isle of Wight in 1966
	A view of the ship in August 1962 as she left the Pier at Southend-On-Sea Photo by Cyril Perrier
	In 1963 after her withdrawal from service Medway Queen was laid up, awaiting her fate. This photo was taken sometime during her lay up, either at Rotherhive Docks or East India Docks.
	Medway Queen during her service as the Marina Clubhouse, well maintained and still looking good. During this time, there were slight changes made to her appearance, the after vents were painted cream instead of the previous light brown and the after entrance was covered. The copyright of this photo is not known, if the owner has any objections to its use, please contact us and we can remove the photo, if required.
	The Medway Queen just outside of the 'Mill Pond' at the marina in Binfield IOW in April 1981, following her removal to make way for the larger PS Ryde. (PS Ryde is now also facing a similar fate) Photo by Mark Westcott
	Taken at the same time as the photo above, but from a different angle, it was possibly taken from the sea wall that contains the 'Mill Pond'. Photo by Mark Westcott
	The Medway Queen, on the Isle of Wight in April 1984, during the process of being re-floated, prior to being placed on a pontoon for the journey back to the River Medway Photo by Mark Westcott
	The Medway Queen at the wall of the old Chatham Royal Naval Dockyard in 1985. This was her condition when she was taken over by the Society from the receivers. The Society eventually agreed a price and became her new owners. Work then began in earnest to rid the ship of as much mud as possible as well as working to patch the hull to make her as watertight as possible. These huge tasks were to take the best part of 18 months to complete, as the society could only work between tides, and at the weekends.
	The ship after being successfully re-floated by the society in 1987 after removing several tons of mud from her interior and placing temporary patches, where necessary over the holes in her hull plating. She was required to float on three tides before we were allowed to tow her, on her own bottom, down the river to her new permanent berth at Damhead Creek.
	This photo was taken very shortly after the ship arrived at her permanent berth in Damhead Creek on the Hoo Peninsula. Having been successfully towed from Chatham Dockyard some 8 miles away. This is now her permanent home. Access to our site is via the Kingnorth Industrial Estate.
	Photo showing a dramatic improvement in her appearance after 12 years of pure hard work and effort, by our volunteers. At this time she was well maintained, but only at a cosmetic level. If only we had had more funding she could easily have been up and running again by this time.
	Close up of the Crankshaft of the main engine. Mark Bathurst is seen working in the bottom left hand corner. Mark travels from Margate to tend to the engine. Many of our volunteers travel from Dover, Gravesend and other outlying areas to come and work on the ship. Why not join us and lend a hand, we need all the help we can get!
	Here are some of our members who have put in so much of their personal time and effort, over many years in order to transform the appearance of the ship. Most of these volunteers are known as the "Thursday Gang". Almost all of them are 65 years, or older, the oldest member being over 85. We could urgently use some young blood, please join the Society and come along and help.
	Mike Roberts (Far right) with his Apprentices from Appledore Shipyard, Devon, who built our new Funnel and Fiddley. Brian Burton, one of our committee members, and also a member of the Rochester Boilermakers Union, who helped to make the building of the new funnel & fiddley possible, stands between the lads.
	Newly built replacement paddle Box frames, built by our GMB friends pictured here on our site, awaiting painting and construction of new timber Paddle Box fronts by our carpenters. This project was generously funded by a grant from the from the South East Co-op
	Our carpenters, Ron Little and Peter Side, depicted here working on the second phase of the building of the paddle boxes. The photo shows the construction of the hardwood base being added to the frame of one of them.
	Model of the Medway Queen as seen at the Kew Bridge Model Boat Show, on June 12th & 13th 2004. 1/32nd scale model by Brian Eaton
	Work is shown here progressing on the paddle boxes. However, progress was frustratingly delayed by inclement weather. This is the new timberwork on the starboard side paddle box front taking shape
	Estelle Morris MP, the Minister for Heritage & Culture, at a meeting with a delegation from the Medway Queen Preservation Society at the Ministry in Westminster. Present at the meeting were (from left to right) Brian Burton GMB, John Kempton, Vice chair MQPS, Jonathan Shaw MP, Kevin Curran, General Secretary of the GMB Union, Estelle Morris, the Minister, John Chambers, Chairman MQPS, and Mick Laws, GMB.
	Both Paddle box’s are seen here well on their way to completion. At this stage of the project, the new emblems had also been carved and were awaiting painting
	The Lottery team delegation that visited the ship and our Committee members on the 8th June 2004. (From left to right) Brian Goodhew, Vanessa Wells, Dr Houghton, Elise McGuinness and Noreen Chambers.
	One of the newly carved emblems, painted and fixed to a paddle box front for its "first fitting"
	Photo of one of the new paddle box’s as they are both nearing completion. The photo does not do justice to the paddle box’s, they must be seen, to appreciate the fantastic job that has been done by the members involved
	Mr. A.Z. Mumin, Affairs Officer for the Co-op, presents a plague to Ron Little, (centre) representative of the MQPS, upon the successful completion of our paddle box project, generously financed by the South Eastern Co-op. Mr. Jonathan Shaw MP was also present, he is a great supporter of our project.
	The four members who were mainly involved and worked so hard on this project. (Left to right) Alan Hartly (carpenter) Ron Little(carpenter, who also worked out all of the details for this project) Len Knight (painter and signwriter) and Peter Side (carpenter)
	The official handing-over of the funnel & fidley was carried out by Mr. J. Wilson. CBE, Managing Director of Appledore Shipbuilders Ltd, and Mike Roberts, apprentices co-ordinator. The ceremony took place at Chatham Historic Dockyard on the 30th June 2004.
	New vents have now been added to the funnel display at Chatham Historic Dockyard. Made possible by the generous efforts of our GMB members. At this stage, seating remains to be added, which will be made from hardwood by our own carpenters
	The new funnel being moved to a more prominent site within the Dockyard. It is now located between the Historic Ships in the Dry Dock area
	The display pictured here in it’s new location where it is far more prominently displayed than before, the new paddle boxes were added to the display, on the 15th May 2005 We look forward to installing the paddle boxes on the restored hull soon.
	Another view of our display. After a 21 year long struggle to preserve the ship it is exciting to see that the nation has finally decided to help us to restore our most historic ship of recent history, for the benefit of future generations. However we urgently need your help to complete the restoration.
	The new Carpenters shop opened in 2005, after the disastrous fire that destroyed part of our site in 2004. A lot of hard work was, once again required from our volunteers in order to restore these essential facilities. This effort was in addition to the maintenance of the ship herself. If any society deserves ultimate success, it must be this one, after more than 21 years of struggling against the odds.
	We were delighted to receive a highly-prized donation in the form of an ex-mobile dental surgery. Our volunteers converted it for use as a mobile classroom. It is now highly decorated with Medway Queen designs and logos. The van was generously donated by Mike Johnson, who is also a MQPS committee member.
	The van was gratefully received, on behalf of the MQPS by Brian Burton of the GMB Union, who is also the Vice-Chairman of the Society. The van is an integral part of the Medway Queen Lottery claim and is important in the Access and Learning Program. The GMB Union generously offered their assistance in fitting out the interior with educational IT equipment.
	Morrison's Supermarket at Knight Road, Strood, was the venue for our fund-raising day on Saturday 20th May 2005 Members of our society, the publicly van and our 20 year old mobile model of the Medway Queen, are shown here.
	Gary Hodnett, the General Manager of Morrison's Supermarket is seen here with Noreen Chambers, Secretary of the Society, Gary Hodnett wished the Society success in the on-going lottery bid, underway at the time. The successful outcome of which was subsequently announced in June 2006
	Hans Juergen Freund. Hans is a resident of Switzerland, albeit born in Germany and is a great supporter of the Medway Queen, he has traveled over to visit us and he and his friends have raised much needed funds towards the cost of restoring the ship.
	Marylyn, George Hawkes and Joe Stokes maintaining the funnel, fiddly and paddle-boxes on display in The Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent. 2007.
	. Hilltop Junior School, Strood, Kent. A talk to school children was held. By Gill Ellen and Cyril Whittingham to sixty who attended ,Followed by question's and answer session. Mrs Callaway, Headmistress, gave her thanks and wished the project every success. 2007
	The Dunkirk Little Ships at Chatham Dockyard in May 2008, to commemorate the 'Operation Dynamo' that helped to saved our beleaguered army in France in May 1940, from the beaches of Dunkirk. See below.
	The Medway Queen publicity van was present to let people know the valuable part our ship play on this occasion. Without the Paddle steamer most men would have been lost to the future of our ultimate success in 1945. Why such a struggle to preserve our heritage today?