The historic paddler Medway Queen has an open event over the weekend of 12 and 13 September. Opening hours are 1100 to 1600 with last admissions by 1500.
Medway Queen is moored on Gillingham Pier; Pier Approach Road, Gillingham, Kent. ME7 1RX. Next to Lightship LV21 and, from time to time, the sailing barge Cambria. It is planned that the ship and Visitor Centre will be open on Saturdays through to the end of November and on both Saturday and Sunday of the Heritage Open Days.
A fund-raising initiative was launched in Ramsgate, structured around a display of 7000 AirfixTM model soldiers which could be ‘rescued’ in return for a donation. As in 1940 they waited patiently in line to be picked up from the ‘beach’ although this time they were in the comfort of the ships aft saloon.
Thousands of the soldiers were saved at Ramsgate although we did not come close to the original 1940 crew’s achievement.
The scheme will be the centrepiece again on the Heritage weekend when a small donation will be requested for a tour of the ship and to rescue one soldier. Further soldiers can be ‘rescued’ from the ‘beach’ for an additional donation of £2.50.
