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A newspaper cutting that helped to start the PSPS Medway Queen withdrawn during the early days of the PSPS Alumchine - the steamer that the PSPS tried to acquire during its early years PSPS members at Margate in 1964 Charter of the Consul by the PSPS in 1961 PSPS Blackheath Model Rally in 1962 The PSPS charter of Princess Elizabeth to Torquay in 1965 A typical PSPS 'Nutter'
Committee members admiring a model paddle steamer in 1964 Letter from the PSPS patron - Sir John Betjeman Charter of the Bristol Queen to Tenby by the PSPS in 1967 Kingswear castle laid up on the River dart in Devon prior to purchase by the PSPS for £600 Kingswear Castle undergoing restoration at medway Bridge Marina during the 1970s Consul in the Upper Pool of London in 1963 Waverley on a PSPS charter during the early 1970s Waverley is sold to the PSPS for £1!
watch film of Waverley's first visit to London in 1978 The four PSPS members that travelled south with Waverley in 1978 Menu for the 25th Birthday dinner in 1984 Bernard Cox hands the plaque from the Freshwater to PSPS founder Alan Robinson at the Savoy Hotel in 1980 Menu from the 21st Birthday Dinner at the Savoy Hotel in 1980 Douglas McGowan, Johnathan Cohen and Pat Bushell at the Savoy in 1980 Balmoral departing from Great Yarmouth in 2003 Waverley and Kingswear Castle during the 'Grand Parade of Steam' in 1985

The Restoration of Kingswear Castle 1971-85
Kingswear Castle whilst being restored at the Medway Bridge Marina during the 1970s
Kingswear Castle departing from Strood flying the PSPS flag in the 1980s Kingswear Castle being Restored on the River Medway c1972

Kingswear Castle was available for sale in 1966 for £4,000 but was later offered to the PSPS for the sum of £600. The PSPS Chairman felt that the steamer would be used up river to Newport on the Isle of Wight if restored to service. The PSPS meeting in November 1966 unamimously agreed to go ahead and purchase Kingswear Castle and to use all of the Society's Preservation Fund on this.

Kingswear Castle once purchased, had a lengthy restoration period not entering full service until 1985. She was moved early on to the Medway Bridge Marina at Rochester (as seen above) and PSPS members for the first time were offered the opportunity to get involved with restoring a paddle steamer.


   

 

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