Wednesday 15 October 2014

* * NEW WEBSITE * *

This blog site has now moved to and is part of paddlesteamers.org  All new, current and older posts can be viewed by clicking on the link.

Tuesday 19 November 2013

MEDWAY QUEEN - Back on the Medway

Medway Queen has arrived safely back on on the River Medway.

With a weather forecast for three or four days of light mainly northerly winds, she left Avonmouth under tow of the tug Christine on Friday 15th November, arriving on the Medway on 18th.  On 19th she was moved alongside Gillingham Pier, where restoration work will continue.

Pete Devrell recorded MQ passing Battery Point.  Below are some of the still photos he took, he also shot some video footage that can be viewed  http://youtu.be/PtzQWFNCa10










Friday 8 November 2013

MEDWAY QUEEN move - Update 8th November

On Thursday 31st October Medway Queen was towed out of the Albion Dock, through the floating harbour and down the River Avon to Avonmouth.  She will wait there until there is a suitable weather window, to allow the tow proper to commence.  October/November is not a good time for a decent weather window, as the recent storms have proved.

A number of videos of the move have appeared on YouTube, one by Branch member Geoff Hale can be found here.


Monday 28 October 2013

MEDWAY QUEEN - Update 28th October 2013

The tug Christine arrived in Bristol about a fortnight ago in readiness to tow Medway Queen back to the Medway.

The necessary certificates to allow MQ to be towed must have now been issued, as she was towed out of the Albion Dock last Wednesday.  A short film of the move can be seen by clicking HERE. They are now waiting for a good weather window before the tow can commence.

The PSPS Scottish Branch has a press release about the move, on their site.  Bristol Channel branch member Geoff Hale has recently been aboard Medway Queen and has produced a 6 minute video of his visit - the film can be viewed here.

Peter Havard


Wednesday 2 October 2013

Winter Programme posted

Details of the winter programme of Branch Meetings has now been posted (see tab below the header picture)

Saturday 7 September 2013

BALMORAL - UPDATE 7th Sept 2013

The meeting aboard Balmoral last Saturday was very well attended - the Britannia Lounge was packed -standing room only.

The main points to come out of the meeting were:

Charitable Status should be received before the end of September
Over £50,000 has been pledged so far, this will be worth 25% more with Gift Aid
Lottery Transition Funding to be applied for (up to £100,000)
Several large organisations being approached for donations
WSN has agreed 'in principal' to bareboat charter Balmoral to the new company
Ship to be opened to the public (I believe that a catering contractor has been appointed)

There were probably other things, but I wasn't taking notes.  A newsletter (with the very latest news is due soon) and will be sent to all on the mailing list - if you haven't signed up, you can do so HERE  The Balmoral web site (same link) has had a lot of things added to it since I last looked, including several video clips - very interesting - an impressive site!

Everyone at the meeting was asked to provide their contact details and to list any skills they could bring - anything from - taking the minutes at the fortnightly meetings, admin, hosting visitors to the ship, right through to the manual work /welding /engineering of the 'winter' volunteers.  If YOU have a skill that you think would be useful and are prepared to volunteer, there is a Volunteer page on the web site - use the link above.

Finally, someone has produced a couple of promotional videos that I found on the Supporting Waverley And Balmoral Facebook page - the following links will take you to the YouTube videos Vid one 5:47 and Vid two 24:32

Peter Havard



Saturday 3 August 2013

BALMORAL - MEETING 31ST AUGUST 2013

A meeting has been arranged, on board Balmoral (at Princes Wharf, Bristol) at 2.00pm on Saturday 31st August (not the bank holiday weekend)  The meeting is open to all interested members.

The purpose of the meeting is to - 

        give members a progress report.
        coordinate branch assistance, especially for volunteers to 'man' the ship when she is open to the public.
        help with publicity.
        the Balmoral Strategy Group want feedback from members and ideas. 


Peter Havard