A man who has worked tirelessly for decades to restore the historic Medway Queen paddle steamer has been rewarded for his efforts.

Brian Goodhew, who stepped back earlier this year after more than 60 years on the ship, has been presented with a lifetime award as an outstanding volunteer in the campaign to bring the celebrated vessel back to her former glory.

The ship, hailed as the Heroine of Dunkirk for rescuing thousands of soldiers in the Second World War, is close to Brian's heart. He joined her as a galley boy at the age of 15 and he married the cook's daughter Shirley, his wife of 59 years.

His grandfather Henry worked on her in the summer months when she was a pleasure boat steamer around the Kent and Essex coast.

As soon as he was old enough to go out to the "deep sea", Brian joined the Merchant Navy and travelled the world.

But when the Medway Queen Preservation Society was formed in 1985, Brian, 81, made sure he was at the helm.

A car accident injury prevented him from doing heavy work on increasingly demanding repairs, so he volunteered to look after the society's publicity.

He has held the post for 30 years and has been instrumental in securing lottery grants and European funding.

Although he has recently stepped down from the board of trustees, Brian is still a familiar face at the visitor centre in Pier Approach Road, Gillingham where she is berthed.

He continues to give ship tours and is a font of all knowledge on her rich history.

Brian has many happy memories of his involvement with the Medway Queen over 66 years.

He said: "I shall always be in the background if needed. After all, the Medway Queen is a friend to me, she is part of my family."

Great-grandfather Brian, who lives near Sittingbourne, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Marsh Volunteer Award by Brian Marsh from the Marsh Christian Trust, which supports the scheme on behalf of National Historic Ships UK.

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