Film footage of PS "Medway Queen" at Gillingham Pier, (Kent , UK) shot on August 12th 2023. Music by Bobby Redway from a cassette tape bought from the Medway Queen Preservation Society (MQPS) shop at Gillingham Pier. Songs are "Save Our Queen" and "Goodbye Sun Pier".
I can find no mention of Bobby Redway on the internet and would guess that this tape was made many years ago in the pre-internet era. This tape was the last and only one that the shop had - I don't know how rare it is. Would be interesting to know how many were made or sold or indeed any other information about Bobby and any other songs he wrote or music he recorded.
Sleeve notes from cassette tape: Bobby Redway, born and raised in Kent, recalls as a child enjoying many day trips from Sun Pier, Chatham to Southend on the Paddle Steamer "Medway Queen". He firmly believed that these outings sowed the seeds that resulted in him signing up as a navigating officer in the Mercantile Marine when he left Gillingham Grammar School. Bobby is well known locally for his tireless fundraising efforts on behalf of the disabled people in the area. He wrote both songs and paid all the studio costs up to the final master tape. All profits from the sale of this cassette will go to the Medway Queen Preservation Society to help restore the ship.
Paddle Steamer "Medway Queen" was built in 1924. She is one of the finest examples of a traditional British estuary paddle steamer. As HMS "Medway Queen" she became the heroine of the Dunkirk evacuation. She made seven trips and saved several thousand allied troops. The "Medway Queen" must be preserved as an important part of our heritage.
My film footage shews "Medway Queen" at low tide so it is possible to see the bow rudder - the PS "Medway Queen" always had a rudder at the bow as well as at the stern. When the hull was recently refurbished at Albion Dock, Bristol, bow thrusters were installed which can also be seen. The ship cannot move under her own power at present. If she is ever to do so she will require a new boiler - you can see the empty boiler room in the video. I should like to think that I might live long enough to venture out into the Medway Estuary as a passenger on "Medway Queen" though there is much work to do and much money to be raised if this is ever to happen.
6 сен 2024
