The Medway Queen reopened to the public on Saturdays from 14 February with the usual caveats regarding restoration work and other factors. Times and prices are the same as last year, open from 11am to 4pm with last admissions at 3pm. As in previous years there will be Saturday evening events from time to time, see website www.medwayqueen.co.uk. The shop at the Medway Queen Visitor Centre and onboard the ship stocks a range of relevant books and souvenirs as well as the “Ailsa” and “General Steam Navigation” model railway wagons.
Another Anniversary
This year sees the Diamond (60th) Anniversary of the opening of the Medway Queen Club on the Isle of Wight. After the ship was withdrawn from excursion service she was purchased by Alan Riddet and his associates and moved to what is now Island Harbour near Newport. After conversion work, the club opened for business on the 14 May 1966. The ceremony being performed by John Graves, who had been First Lieutenant of HMS Medway Queen during the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940 and who had maintained links with the ship ever since.
They celebrated the 50th anniversary in the restaurant at Island Harbour on 14 May 2016 along with photographic displays elsewhere on the Isle of Wight, and with publication of a book, “The Medway Queen Club”, containing personal recollections of the club from those who worked there or visited. In its heyday, the club featured discos and jazz evenings and in 2016 people were able to listen to the original jazz trio playing live at Island Harbour with one of their regular singers also performing.
Sadly, this is no longer possible and this time things will be a little lower key. They are working with island organisations to mark the anniversary, centered on a photographic display at the East Cowes Heritage Centre from 7 May – 4 June. There will also be a display at Gillingham (Kent) Library from 20 April for four weeks. There will be a smaller display on board Medway Queen from May onwards and possibly at other sites in the Medway area or on the Isle of Wight. Details will be posted on the website. As always, the Medway Queen Preservation Society would be pleased to receive any additional information or memories of the ships on the Isle of Wight or at other times.
Medway Queen was joined in 1972 by PS Ryde from the Portsmouth – Ryde ferry service. She was larger than Medway Queen, with more accommodation. The restaurant was moved to the new vessel and many of the other functions followed. Medway Queen then concentrated mainly on disco events – one of the DJs, Dave Cannon, has recently performed again on the ship at Gillingham Pier and they hope to repeat that at some time this year.
