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To really get the restoration moving we need more cash (as usual) and more volunteers. We have enthusiastic active volunteers working on all aspects of the ship’s restoration, whether that be physical restoration, sales, PR, admin or looking after visitors. Volunteers are the lifeblood of any society such as ours and of any restoration project such as Medway Queen.
We urgently need more volunteers in all departments. Physical restoration work could proceed more quickly with a few more pairs of hands available. The ever-increasing admin load could be spread a bit wider and operation of the Visitor Centre and ship tours expanded. All of these activities can be satisfying and enjoyable and all are vital to the ship’s restoration – please come and talk to us: Pam at pambathurst@sky.com or phone 07790 179760
We have identified the following specific vacancies, but if you want to help in other capacities please still get in touch: Pam at pambathurst@sky.com or phone 07790 179760
It is our intention to hire out PS Medway Queen in a static role as a venue for events, parties, etc. We will need volunteer assistants for both managing and operating the venue. Candidates must be local enough to attend the ship with the Venue Manager, or in lieu of the Venue Manager, when required. Relevant venue or hosting experience would help but a willingness to learn and cooperate with the Venue Manager is most important.
On board the ship the restoration volunteers fall into 4 groups; Woodwork, Metalwork (fabrication welding etc.), Engineering and Electrical although the lines are often blurred as they frequently work together. More hands in all these areas at any skill level would speed things up. Restoration progress and other news are reported in the website news pages and in our members' newsletter "Full Ahead"
With a few more people helping we could extend the Visitor Centre and shop hours to generate more income. Ship tour guides are also needed to cope with current and, hopefully, future demand. Visitor Centre and ship tours currently rely on the usual small band of willing members – “Dad’s Army” they call themselves! More help is always needed – get in touch please!
Off-site there are opportunities for those who live further away. We are doing all these things but not enough of them: Fund raising, promotional activities, press liaison, social media, educational talks to schools and other organisations. Further away we have two groups (based in Wiltshire and in Corfe Castle) undertaking remote PR and fund raising. More would be good – does anybody in Essex want to have a go? The Medway Queen Visitor Centre team, Admin, PR and Fund Raising all work together without demarcation lines, so you do not have to choose between them.
The New Medway Steam Packet Co. (Medway Queen Preservation Society) is a registered charity and limited company run by a Board of Trustees. The Trustees, all volunteers, meet formally on a monthly basis and informally between times as required. Depending on their areas of responsibility some Trustees visit the Gillingham Pier site on a frequent basis. Others are able to fulfill their obligations just as well from home. The Board was expanded in 2017, as part of the HLF Transition Project, but has since contracted once more so there are roles to be filled and more help is always welcome in the existing roles.
