Name My Queen

Built in 1929 by Husk & Sons of Wivenhoe, Essex, MY QUEEN is a passenger vessel with the capacity for 169 passengers. During World War II, she was requisitioned by the Navy and at that time was named GONDOLIER QUEEN. She took part in the 1940 Dunkirk evacuation. She was kept by the Navy and was next heard of as a pleasure boat at Southend where she remained until the early 1970s. George Wheeler Launches then brought her to the Thames, running a water bus service between Westminster and Greenwich. From there she went to the West Country and was given a new enclosed saloon, top deck and upper wheelhouse. She is well adapted to her work, having a very broad beam for her length and a shallow draft. Based on the River Dart, she sailed between Dartmouth and Totnes and also operated sea and river cruises from Dartmouth, and a service from Darmouth to Dittisham from April to October. MY QUEEN still operates as a passenger vessel but is now located at Starcross, Devon running river trips and sea cruises from Dawlish. She has been the RSPB's official Avocet Cruise boat for four years and has featured on 'How to watch Wildlife' with Bill Oddie. She also appeared on another wildlife programme with Chris Packham for the BBC, and is often on the local news. She is very popular with holiday makers for her Dunkirk connections.

July 2022: After being unused for several years she sank over the winter 2021. She was subsequently re-floated after about three weeks. Now after several months, today a fishing vessel ( Danmark reg Scillies) came up and towed her away at high tide. Marine traffic indicates that the Danmark has arrived at Kingswear, presumably having completed the voyage successfully