Q is a Queen's view of a King

... or a view from Queenborough Harbour on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent across to the power stations on the Isle of Gain and the King: the PS Kingswear Castle.

The boat is a coal-fired river paddle steamer built in 1924 and powered by1904 engines from a predecessor of the same name, now a rotting hulk in the River Dart, Devon.

Queenborough dates from Saxon times, when it was known as Cyningburh (King's Borough). Edward III built a fortress here to guard the passage of ships along the Swale during the Hundred Years' War. He renamed the town to Queenborough after his Queen, Phillipa of Hainault, and it became important for the export of wool. However, by the 19th century the creek had silted up and Queenborough became a bit of a backwater with financial difficulties - not helped by dishonest officials!

The coming of the railway in 1860 provided the impetus to begin the process of recovery and though it never recovered its importance, being overshadowed by its neighbour, Sheerness, today it enjoys some of the fruits of local investment arising from the island's major industry of Tourism.