It was truly wonderful to be able to attend the 100th Anniversary service at Rochester Cathedral of The Dunkirk Little Ship paddle steamer Medway Queen. Thank you to The Medway Queen Preservation Society and all who have been involved over the decades in making sure this piece of our British history is saved for future generations. The Medway Queen built in 1924 in Troon, was part of Operation Dynamo 1940 in WW2 rescuing 7,000 men part of British Expeditionary Force from the beaches of Dunkirk.
The service was attended by Lord Admiral West, Vice Lord Lieutenant of Kent, the High sheriff of Kent and the Mayor of Medway, but most importantly the volunteers and all those behind the scenes who have worked tirelessly over the years Including Noreen Chambers who I have known since I was a young girl due to our family having our own Dunkirk Little ship in Rochester to look after. As a young girl I have memories of Noreen and a small team working all the time raising money for the paddle streamer, pulling her exhibition float around to all events to raise the plight of the Medway Queen. It has been down to the tenacity and determination of those individuals who wouldn’t give up and eventually getting the support for her hull to be restored to the splendour of today as she is moored at Gillingham Pier.
For more information about the Medway Queen visit their website here Medway Queen Preservation Society
Also for more information about all the vessels which took part in Operation Dynamo, many of which came from the River Medway visit the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships website here The Association of Dunkirk Little Ships. (adls.org.uk)
