Medway Queen
A fresh start for 2015
The Medway Queen Preservation Society (New Medway Steam Packet Co. Ltd.) is pleased to announce that the Heritage Lottery
Fund (HLF) has awarded a ‘Transition Grant’ for 2015. After the success of the Medway Queen’s hull rebuild in Bristol, and the
euphoria of the ship’s return to Medway in November 2013, 2014 was bound to be something of an anti-climax. The major
funding from the HLF and the European Regional Development Fund had been used for its intended purpose but the project was
now at an end. The society tried to maintain the momentum of the restoration with much appreciated support from Medway
Council and the GMB Union but insufficient funds were forthcoming to keep even a reduced level of professional activity going
for long and the workshop activity had to be reduced. This process was aided by the apprentices completing their training and
moving on to full time employment.
Some restoration progress has been made. Two groups of volunteers have strengthened during the year. A team of fitters has reinstalled the bow steering mechanism and is progressing well on the main steering system. For this and other machinery related
work funding was made available by the Trusthouse Charitable Foundation, The Ironmongers’ Foundation and the Headley Trust.
Another team of volunteers has been working on the main deck in the aft saloon. In the area immediately astern of the engine
room the deck planking is fixed by studs to metal plates and this work needed to be completed. A team of trainee painters supplied
and funded by the European VDAB organisation painted the funnel and much of the ship’s interior early in the year.
In November 2014 the BBC filmed on board Medway Queen for an episode of “Heirloom Detectives”. This is a follow-up to an
Antiques Roadshow programme that featured the Grandson of Medway Queen’s captain at Dunkirk. The daughter of MQ’s 1 st
Lieutenant, John Graves, also took part in the programme and has loaned her father’s dress sword for display in the Visitor Centre.
The programme is expected to be broadcast in March.
In the early months of 2015 the society will be able to plan and implement a much needed re-organisation and begin preparation
for major funding applications. The need for this re-organisation has long been recognised by the management committee and the
Transition Grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund now makes it possible. The grant is primarily aimed at bringing the society’s
legal structure and governance up to date and fitting it for the increased responsibilities that the restored ship brings. It will not
directly fund further restoration but it will contribute to specific aspects of the project’s overheads in the coming year. In the first
part of 2015 the society also hopes to raise funds to be able to make a temporary move to Ramsgate to commemorate the 75 th
anniversary of Dunkirk with the “Little Ships”. This is an opportunity to raise the project’s profile and encourage visitors but the
necessary tow and insurance costs are high. Anyone able to help in this respect is asked to contact the Medway Queen
Preservation Society at Gillingham Pier, Pier Approach Road, Gillingham, Kent. ME7 1RX or contribute through the website
www.medwayqueen.co.uk. In parallel with this, the society would like to repeat its previous successes with apprentices and
trainees, including the VDAB cooperation and similar arrangements with local companies. This too requires grant funding to
cover supervisory staff and materials which is being applied for and the amount of this work that can be done will be entirely
dependent on the level of funding that can be achieved.
2015 is the Dunkirk 75th anniversary; Medway Queen and her Visitor Centre will be open from 11am to 4pm every Saturday up to
12th December (Last admissions strictly 3pm). Please note that ship access is subject to operational requirements of the restoration
and other factors so check first on 01634 575717 if you are travelling any distance. Disabled access is limited and subject to tide
conditions.
On balance, 2015 should be a good year for Medway Queen and we can now face the immediate future with confidence. There is
a lot of work to do and major fundraising to undertake but this support from the Heritage Lottery Fund makes it all possible. We
will, however, still need the continued support and goodwill of everyone who is interested in the history – and the future – of this
unique steam ship.
Richard Halton, January 2015
Editors notes:
Contact for this item: Richard Halton [email protected]
More information www.medwayqueen.co.uk
The New Medway Steam Packet Co. Ltd.
UK registered charity; 296236.
About the Heritage Lottery Fund
From the archaeology under our feet to the historic parks and buildings we love, from precious memories and collections to rare
wildlife, we use National Lottery players' money to help people across the UK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care
about. www.hlf.org.uk.