Guest Blog: Lisa Page, New Media Executive, Cunard Line

In the early hours of Saturday morning I found myself at a very cold and windy quayside at the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg. Complete with hard hat and safety shoes – camera at the ready, we were awaiting the arrival of our flagship – all in the name of our blog! Queen Mary 2 peered around the corner at around 4am and the wait was over:

 

This is where we filmed our first shot for the upcoming video blog of the refit, our cameraman Peter ran up and down to get the perfect shot and set the scene:

Once the ropes were secured the dock gate was tugged back into place and the water began to drain, something which took many hours to do, she was on blocks the following morning, and the shipyard workforce were in full swing clearing out the dock and cleaning the hull. Unfortunately it was too busy to have a camera crew down underneath the hull but we’re hoping to get some shots at the end of the refit next week. If you look closely at the photo below you can see how small one of the workers looks at the bottom of the dock:

There were hundreds of contractors on board; carpenters, electricians and decorators – all working their magic for the next 10 days in refit. We headed straight to the Golden Lion Pub – one of the main rooms to be renovated. All of the old carpets were already gone, as well as the seating areas, this is how she currently looks:

Next we headed up to the Grills Restaurants for a quick catch up with Senior Maitre D’ Beniamino Acler, all around us people were busy sowing and fitting seat covers and various soft furnishings. During the refit both Grills Restaurants will have new carpets throughout, here’s Beniamino and Entertainment Director Paul O’Loughlin during their interview:

The Canyon Ranch Spa is my favourite area on board Queen Mary 2, especially the aquatherapy pool, with the water jets and bubbles in the centre! We met with Assistant Manager Richard Araujo, who explained that amongst the changes in the spa area, the teak wooden areas were being redone, there will also be new machines in the gym, including some very fancy sounding bikes!  This is where I saw the pool as I’ve never seen it before…completely empty. Paul and Richard climbed in to take a closer look:

The floor outside of the Britannia Restaurant was a little ‘bumpy’ in parts, as this is such a high traffic area it was unable to fix whilst we had guests on board. The carpet has been pulled up and the problem areas are being repaired as you can see below:

Usually one of the busiest venues on board, the Commodore Club looked deserted, you can see the new chairs in the picture below, the carpets will also be replaced.

We have two children’s areas on board Queen Mary 2, the Play Zone and the Zone, usually full of colourful toys and the latest computer games, both areas are having a revamp and were completely bare when we went inside to film, you’ll notice a big difference at the end of the refit next week.

That’s all from me for the moment, we’ll be filming in the shipyard again next week, keep an eye on our facebook and twitter pages for live updates. I hope this blog has given you all an idea of what’s happening during the dry dock and how we produce the videos you see here on wearecunard.com. The footage is currently being edited to make part 1 of our refit video blogs, make sure you check back here at the end of the week or use the subscribe button at the top and we’ll email you!

Lisa

Hello All

I hope all is well – and a special Happy Thanksgiving to our friends in North America. I write this on Thursday morning having just been down to wish Queen Mary 2 well as she sets sail for her refit in Hamburg. The ship was already busy taking on contractors, supplies and preparing for a very busy period ahead. We have a very special blog today – from one of our Cunard World Club Ambassadors Ciaran Ward. Ciaran enjoyed a long career with Cunard line and I was privileged to see him off at a special retirement gathering on the bridge of Queen Mary 2. Happily his son is still with Cunard Line as one of our officers. I also remember sailing into Cobh a couple of years ago on the bridge of Queen Mary 2 – close to the home town of Ciaran and his family – and it was very special to have both father and son on the bridge together. Anyway – enough from me – enjoy reading from the man himself;

Guest Blog: Ciaran Ward, Cunard World Club Ambassador

Day 1: Embarkation Day – Southampton

It has been almost a year since I retired from life at sea as Chief Electrical Engineer on Queen Mary 2 and it was with considerable excitement that my wife Caroline and I approached Queen Elizabeth at Southampton docks in the newly created role of Cunard Ambassador for the upcoming Cunard World Club voyage. It was inevitable that comparisons in size would be made with Queen Mary 2 however from the outside Queen Elizabeth looked equally impressive and huge. Check- in and embarkation were very quick and free from bother of any kind. The small map provided with the embarkation tickets spared us the embarrassment of asking for directions when on board and we found our stateroom easily which was in a superb location and close to all amenities.

For many years I had ‘talked the talk’ of Cunard’s White Star Service now it was time to ‘walk the walk’ and  I was really looking forward to living the guest experience having been on the technical  side  of our ships  throughout my career.  After a quick familiarisation of the on board layout we attended guest boat drill which I found very interesting due to the fact that I had not witnessed it at first hand for so many years, even though as a member of the ship’s company we always had our own separate weekly drills . We set sail at 1630 and having participated in some meetings about my role on board, it was time to unpack and prepare for the voyage ahead.

Day 2: At Sea

The Bay of Biscay provided us with moderate seas, which Queen Elizabeth coped admirably with throughout the day. After breakfast we caught up with long time friends and Cunard travellers Mr & Mrs Spence having met them first on QE2 15 years ago. We looked in on the line dancing classes; however, a suspect knee prevented me from participating. The singles party in the Garden Lounge provided an opportunity to meet Mrs Agrafiotou, who  is a very loyal Cunarder and who was a personal friend of many past company Presidents. We also met Mrs Dyer who until 2 years ago did not dance, but finally decided to try to learn after many requests by the on board  gentlemen hosts. This proved so successful that she now participates in dancing competitions shoreside with her husband.

The Grills cocktail party had the customary ‘formal but very friendly ‘feel about it and afterwards we had the honour of hosting the Captain’s table with eight guests in attendance.  Both company and food over dinner were of the highest quality, we were the last to leave the restaurant after a most enjoyable evening.

Day 3: At Sea

A bright and sunny day and seas much calmer. 11am saw us at the croquet  competition where the added feature of a croquet playing area which rolls and pitches with the swell,  provided a shock result whereby an experienced player lost to a lesser  experienced one. Controversy also arose  later  when the playing of a crucial shot was deemed to have been spoiled due to the sudden and booming sound of the ships noon whistle, however  Shan from Cruise Staff  decided against a call to the video referee and played on!!

Around mid afternoon we attended a training session for our upcoming roles as Tour Escorts on the ‘Panoramic Gibraltar with English Tea’ excursion tomorrow.  Both Britannia cocktail parties were very grand and most entertaining. 

Day 4: Gibraltar

Arrived  Gibraltar at 0730 and departed on our respective tours at 0830. After a brief drive though the town to view the main sights, we stopped at Europa Point  but were unable to see North Africa due to mist but our guide did assure us, it was definitely there the previous day!  After a traditional English Tea of tea and scones at the Caleta Hotel we returned to Queen Elizabeth and departed on schedule. We visited the ‘Three Lives’ darts competition in the Golden Lion where there was  some strategic juggling for position with the ladies being heavily outnumbered by the men but nonetheless they acquitted themselves admirably.

Afternoon Tea found us in the Lido where Mr Webb and I exchanged some salty tales of our life on Port Line ships however his experience was earlier than mine as he was only six years old at the time.

We later had a leisurely Irish Coffee with Mr & Mrs Bartle in Cafe Carinthia both of whom 2 years ago were very reluctantly introduced to cruising with Cunard, and have now become avid devotees.

A late afternoon visit to the short mat bowls competition and a chat with the participants convinced me that it is definitely a pastime which my aging bones can stand. The ship has been expertly decorated for tonight’s Halloween fun by Thomas Quinones.

We hosted the Hotel Managers table again for dinner and the company and conversation were excellent and most enjoyable only to be interrupted by the terrifying arrival by a marauding band of ghouls and the living dead, admirably played by the Cruise Staff.

Day 5: At Sea

Major emphasis on developing sporting skills today.  The mid morning Croquet competition saw the Cunard Ambassador’s wife on the winning team due mainly to the expertise of Steve, her playing partner, rather than any deference by the other participants to her elevated position on board!  This was followed by a lively and well attended game of deck quoits where I was unceremoniously dumped out in the semi finals. In the afternoon Caroline participated in the darts game known as ‘Golf’ and gave a less than commendable performance.  We have been speaking to a large number of guests since joining and despite us requesting details of any issues they may have, everyone appears very happy with all things Cunard and one guest remarked that he feels so much at home on board that he expects his slippers will be waiting for him at the gangway when he returns from ashore.

Dinner tonight was at the Hotel Manager’s table where we were joined by loyal Cunarders and good friends Mr & Mrs Yates.

Day 6: At Sea

Today is to be a cultural and educational day.  After breakfast we discussed some tour options in Israel with Mrs Yates. We sat in on the excellent Haifa port lecture which proved to be as much a lesson on history as a lecture on the points of interest. Caroline managed to sneak in the table tennis tournament while I attended the ‘Suez Crisis’ lecture by modern historian Derek Fraser which provided a superb and concise insight into this troubled part of the world. After lunch the classical concert harpist Fiona gave an excellent (virtuoso) performance of works by among others Beethoven, Zabel, and Rossini.  Our cultural afternoon was complete after a wonderful performance by the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Company of Shakespeare’s ‘Twelfth Night’.

Tonight we assisted   with hosting the Chief Engineer’s table where Mr Gardiner entertained the table with stories of his voyages to far flung remote islands and Mr Stratton with stories of his newfound career of shipbuilding – albeit in bottles!

Day 7: At Sea

After late breakfast (the hour forward having taken its toll) we attended the morning croquet session which is drawing an increasing number of participants as the voyage progresses, although the genteel play of earlier days has been replaced by more cunning and strategic moves in an effort to win.

We attended the fruit and vegetable flower carving demonstration where the members of the F&B department produced some absolutely amazing flower and creature figures from everyday fruit and vegetables.

The afternoon shuffleboard competition proved to be a very lengthy affair due to the large numbers in attendance where ‘sudden death’ had to be called upon to bring play to a timely conclusion and allow participants to disperse for afternoon tea.

The afternoon was concluded with  a game of  ‘Baggo’ which was expertly conducted by Shan and has been added to the growing list of sports which we are ‘determined’ to take up when we return home.

Tonight we hosted the Captain’s table for dinner.

Day 8: Port Said

Queen Elizabeth arrived in port very early morning and we assembled 0645 as escorts for ‘Just the Pyramids’ tours.  The trip to Cairo was three hours long encompassing a wide range of scenery including a drive along the banks of the Suez Canal.  Not often do you find yourself in a coach, in the middle of the desert, overtaking a very large container ship! The Pyramids themselves were fantastic and we spent almost an hour and a half in the area with my wife Caroline actually venturing inside one of the smaller ones.

After a lovely lunch at the Meridian Hotel we visited the Papyrus Institute where everyone had a chance to see the ancient craft of papermaking at first hand and a chance to do some last minute shopping. Then it was time to negotiate the busy Cairo streets which seem to contain the largest selection of old VW vans I have ever seen, all in varying states of repair. Many of them appeared to be trying for an entry in the Guinness Book of Records for the greatest number of passengers they could accommodate. The long return journey provided some Formula 1 type speeds and manoeuvres by our driver but nonetheless we arrived safely  back around 7pm tired, but feeling  it was all well worth the effort.

Day 9: Limassol Cyprus

After a marathon sleep and an equally marathon breakfast, we caught the shuttle bus into town. We chatted to a large number of guests during the morning including Mr & Mrs Goodman who are first time cruisers and are really enjoying the experience.  We had a very nice traditional pub lunch in the Golden Lion on board (which was a first for both of us in all our combined years at sea). This was followed by a very competitive game of deck quoits where Mrs Stratton provided a shock result by beating the large assembly of very experienced players of both genders. We then tried a sneak practice on the croquet court to try to raise the quality of our game – with very limited success.

Saw a superb evening show with a combination of music and comedy from the excellent Jon Courtney who joined the ship today.

Day 10: Haifa Israel

We arrived in Haifa early morning for a two day stop and departed the ship at 7am for the 9 hour ‘Leisurely Jerusalem’ tour.  We had a 2 hour drive south on the ‘Road of Courage’ and viewed several relics from the 1948 war and also a chance to see the country’s most impressive fruit growing industry with masses of banana, orange, clementine and date plantations which all seem to be so well organised and efficient that we did not see any labourers in the fields. On reaching Jerusalem we visited the area of the Israeli parliament or Knesset together with the site of a huge Menorah nearby, followed by a drive through the Orthodox neighbourhood. It was fascinating to see all local residents dressed in a similar manner.  After lunch at the Grand Hotel we drove around the walls of Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives which offered a spectacular overview of many of the main Christian and Muslim holy sites in the city.

The afternoon ended with a visit to the Wailing Wall where the peace and serenity were interrupted suddenly by the arrived of over a hundred Harley Davidson mounted bikers and a CNN camera crew. They also were there to visit this holy site with all heads being covered (albeit in multi coloured bandanas and leather caps)

Day 11: Haifa Israel

We left Queen Elizabeth around 8am on a tour called ‘Easy Galilee’ which proved to be just that. We again saw a wide variety of fruit growing sites before arriving along the shores of the Sea of Galilee. We continued across the River Jordan to the Mount of the Beatitudes which offered stunning views over the inland sea before continuing to the Church of the Multiplication where the miracle of the loaves and fishes is believed to have taken place. We then drove to a kibbutz at the site of where John the Baptist was believed to have been baptised in the river Jordan and it offered everyone a chance to wet their feet at the baptismal site or do some shopping for souvenirs.  After a superb lunch complimented by a constant supply of excellent wine we drove through Nazareth, stopping at a site overlooking the place where the Angel Gabriel was said to have appeared to Mary. We travelled back through the beautiful Mount Carmel mountains before a final drive – by the  stunning  Bahai Temple gardens where our coach driver  received  some rude hand gestures from other drivers for driving very slowly around the small roundabout at the entrance  a total of five times, to ensure that all his passengers were able to take good  photos. The ship departed at 10pm after a two day stay which has proved to be a most memorable ‘once in a lifetime’ trip.

Day 12: At Sea

An extra hours sleep was required after our two hectic days in Haifa so after a mid morning breakfast we caught the croquet competition but alas all our practice has failed to make any impact on our playing skills. The deck quoits in the afternoon proved to be an equally disastrous story. We had a very interesting half hour by the pool speaking with Mrs Nuth who was almost hidden behind a very large ball of wool which she was using to knit a shawl for a new arrival in her family.  We also chatted with Mr & Mrs Jackson who told us tales of their early experiences on QE2 in 1971. It was quite a rush to get ready for the first of the three Cunard World Club cocktail parties scheduled for this evening. All three were very lively affairs where I presented Mrs Agrafiotou with the award for top sailor with a total of 925 days sailed on Cunard vessels.  The evening was complete with excellent company again at our table where we had birthday celebrations for Mrs Steadman.

Day 13: Rhodes

Spent a very leisurely morning strolling around the beautiful town of Rhodes followed by our departure on the ‘Panoramic Rhodes’ excursion in the afternoon. We visited a local gold factory and museum while successfully avoiding any temptation to purchase the many beautiful items on display. We moved on to the beautiful fishing village of Lindos where no development is allowed within 3km of the village and which has successfully retained its character and serenity. We again found ourselves among excellent company at our hosted table and purely by chance, the entire right hand side of the table were made up of people who are, or were, connected to UK law enforcement.

Day 14: Piraeus

7am saw us tied up alongside in Piraeus and at 9am we departed on the ‘Athens Panorama’ excursion. We visited the Temple of Olympian Zeus  followed by the old Olympic Stadium which has not been used for events since 1896 and which has been completely rebuilt entirely from marble to its former glory. The Olympic torch is always brought to this site prior to its dispatch to the host country. We passed many of the famous buildings in the city including Presidential Palace, Academy, and University Library culminating at the Grand Bretagne Hotel in Constitution Square. Staggeringly beautiful is the only way to describe this magnificent hotel, whose interior has not changed since 1840 and which claims Winston Churchill as one of its many famous guests.  After having refreshments in these elegant surroundings we had a photo stop close to the Acropolis. We had an excellent lunch in the Lido in the company of Mr and Mrs Bringham.  Later that evening we met for the first time Mr & Mrs Alfred Hitchcock, whose business card  showed  that the name was indeed genuine.

Day 15: At Sea

Had a leisurely chat with Mr & Mrs Wright by the pool on a beautiful Mediterranean morning with bright sunshine. They are some of the very few 1^st time guests currently on board and are most impressed with Cunard and Queen Elizabeth.  Mid morning saw Caroline lose again at quoits while I did some last minute preparation for my Q&A session scheduled for this afternoon. The ship observed a two minute silence at noon for Remembrance Day.  The  Cunard World Club wine tasting session was scheduled for 2pm with a large walkthrough attendance over a period of two hours.  All guests left the get together suitably fortified and considerably more knowledgeable about the world of wines.  I had a Q&A session with the Entertainment Director at 4.30pm in the Royal Court Theatre, which was very good  thanks to a very vociferous band of loyal supporters.  For dinner we hosted the Captain’s table, the evening was complete with a visit to the ‘Chocolate and Ice Culinary event’ in the Garden Lounge where lots of chocolates and  ice carvings provided a superb photo opportunity, not to mention a  very serious source of temptation for those chocaholics amongst  us.

Day 16: At Sea

We had breakfast in the Lido in the company of Mr & Mrs Johnston who are first time cruisers and are loving every minute of their cruise.  A spot of mid morning croquet, although very sociable, did little to raise our reputation as a major force in the game. We were invited  to lunch with our old friends  Mr & Mrs Spence in the Britannia and it was the first time in my 37 years at sea that I had lunch in the main restaurant on any ship. We had a second day of hosting the wine tasting in the afternoon which again was a very jolly affair and later that night hosted a table in the Britannia with our namesakes Mr & Mrs Ward and our new found friends Mr & Mrs Gough. We attended the second show in the theatre which featured the magic of Brett Sherwood and was truly amazing.

Day 17: At Sea/Malaga

We had a most welcome clock change in early morning and later attended Remembrance Sunday services in the Theatre. The room was filled to overflowing for this event where the last post was played and it was very dignified and very moving. We acted as escorts for the Puerto Banus tour after docking in Malaga. The size and spectacle of the yachts in the local marina was amazing and gave a brief insight to a lifestyle which I will never attain. We were invited to the Bridge by Captain Burgess for the departure from Malaga where Caroline sounded the whistle while I tried to reacquaint myself with the operation of podded propulsion systems. Later we had a drink with the Hotel Manager who I have known for many years.

Day 18: At Sea

 There was a significant downward change in the weather when we re-entered the Atlantic, which made participating in any sports activity somewhat challenging. I attended an excellent lecture on the Cutty Sark and later were invited to a lovely lunch with our old friends Mr & Mrs Yates in the Verandah Restaurant. The food, ambience and company were all 5 star – it really was most impressive. A brief respite in the weather allowed us to attend the shuffleboard competition where we met Mr & Mrs Hockin who were most upset that they had just found this excellent outdoor activity for the first time. During early evening we met friends Mr & Mrs Steadman in the Commodore Club for farewell drinks before attending the Senior Officers Cocktail party.  Afterwards we co-hosted the Hotel Manager’s table which sadly was the last of what has been a very memorable series of  dinners throughout the voyage.

Day 19: At Sea

The notorious Bay of Biscay is nice and calm this morning although somewhat overcast with rain again making outdoor activities somewhat difficult. We had breakfast with Mr & Mrs Paterson who recall seeing the QE2 when it was launched in 1969.  I then made a long planned visit to the Engine Control Room with Chief Electrical Officer Martin O’Rourke  where we exchanged stories of technical ‘challenges’ we have faced in our respective careers and I also dispensed some first- hand advice on the benefits of retirement! Afterwards it was time to ‘assist’ Caroline with packing our bags so I left her to it! After lunch we had a final visit to the Baggo and deck quoits competitions primarily to say goodbye to all our sporting friends. Our final evening on board was  spent visiting all the bars and public rooms in turn to say goodbye to all our friends both old and new .

Day 20: Southampton

We had a very smooth and unhurried disembarkation in Southampton, the logistics of which are something to behold.  Our stay on board has been most enjoyable and rewarding and we can honestly say that the White Star Service we have experienced  throughout  is indeed,  Legendary, Elegant and  above all Memorable .

We would like to thank all the Officers, Crew and of course the loyal Guests of Queen Elizabeth for making it so,  and Louisa Gould for her excellent  help and assistance with all the arrangements .

 

Thank you so much Ciaran – great read – and of course it would have been even better if we could have heard it in your marvellous Irish accent. That’s all for now.

Best Regards

Peter

Guest Blog: Mike Pearse, ITV News

We left Southampton for Queen Mary 2’s latest voyage to New York on a dark and damp Thursday, November 10th, 2011. But this trip has been anything but dark and damp.

This is the first time I have travelled on the ship since her fifth birthday trip around the UK. And first impressions are that standards are higher than ever and have not only been met but exceeded. From the moment you board the ship you are treated with first class service.

Staterooms are spotless and those who attend to you could not be more friendly. They are happy to bring you anything you require and nothing seems a fuss.

I am on this crossing to film some reports for ITV News in the UK. They will be broadcast next April as part of a series looking at how safety and travel from Southampton to New York by sea has changed over the years since the Titanic one hundred years ago.

Many of the fellow guests have been on QM2 many times before and they tell me they can’t wait to get underway. The safety drill over it is time to change for drinks and dinner. In the Britannia Restaurant we are greeted, just like everywhere else on this ship, with high quality service, smiles and a first class attitude. As ever our food and wine is what you would expect in a top London hotel and when one in our party asks for something not on the menu it is never any trouble. This ship has a very can do attitude you do not often experience even in many of our top dining places at home.

But this is just the start and I am pleased to report as we near the end of our trip things have not changed but got even better. Staff right around the ship maintain the highest standards and are a credit to Cunard.

The Master and officers have kept us fully informed all the way of our progress and the Captain’s Reception saw drinks and canapés of a mouth-watering standard. Captain Kevin Oprey took time to talk to guests and pose for photos and then spent far longer than I had expected talking with those who attended.

As the days have continued we have dined in Todd English and found the food exceptional. The staff were, as we have come to expect, expert in knowing what is on the menu. A nice added touch was meeting the chef who prepared our meal. The chicken and fish courses are to be recommended.

At every step of the way we have found standards maintained and exceeded. My uncle has a saying “keep it First Class” and it certainly has been that.

As for things to do on board the problem is fitting them into your busy schedule.

Eating plays a great part from the buffet breakfasts to full English, lunch at a number of venues to the formal evening meals food is one thing you can not fault.

Lectures have been extremely informative.  From one about earthquakes and tsunamis by Dr. Keith Johnson to the work of the RNLI by Martin Woodward MBE, they have been well attended and liked by fellow guests. Classical performances by Kerenza Peacock and Alison Farr were brilliant and the vocals of David Shannon showed West End quality. We have also heard international band VIBZ and Roger McQuinn from the Byrds has been telling us about the history of the band.

Many varied films on board have entertained cinema goers but one very good event was the Bizet Opera Carmen in 3D. It was nothing short of brilliant and sure to be a big hit. Harry Potter is also being shown before we arrive in New York, again in 3D.

It was pleasing that we marked Remembrance Day both on November 11th, at 11am and with a special service on Sunday. Many of us on board were determined not to forget. We were allowed to remember with pride.

You have to mention the weather. It was a little rough during the first couple of days but soon became calm with a mostly moderate sea. A very good crossing for the time of year.

One could go on forever writing about every minute of every day but being on QM2 is something you have to experience. What is so impressive is how many people on board have been not once, or twice but six, seven or eight times. Some will only have a few hours in New York for lunch and return straight away. That is how much they love this ship.

Dining on the Captains table was a great end to our week at sea. A visit to the Bridge to hear the whistle blown at noon was also very exciting. Another visit was behind the scenes to the kitchens on board. It is a massive operation to cook and prepare so many meals and the planning is often done weeks in advance to make sure everything remains up to standard. By my maths an average crossing has 3,700 passengers and crew and totals some twelve thousand meals a day. It is a major challenge but one executed so well.

So to sum up this has been a trip which has seen Cunard keep up its exceptional service and standards. Cunard does keep it First Class and does rule the waves between Southampton, New York and the rest of the world.

Hello All

At the time of the sad passing of Sir Jimmy Savile I wrote a brief blog to say how much all of us at Cunard would miss him. He hailed from Scarborough – as does our Head of Public Relations Eric Flounders. Eric was a close friend of Sir Jimmy and he attended both the funeral and burial – both as a friend and to represent all of us at Cunard Line. As you can imagine being in Public Relations, Eric has a very special way with words and he has written of his experience up in Leeds and Scarborough and I want to share it with you all……..

Sir Jimmy Savile, whom I knew for over 25 years, was a bit like Marmite; people either loved him or loathed him. And then again, he was a bit like The Queen; even the most avid republican goes a bit weak at the knees when about to be introduced to The Queen and comes away grumbling that maybe she’s not so bad after all. Jimmy was like that; the people who loathed him wallowed in all sorts of misconceptions, but having met him they were completely won over.

He was an enigma, of course, with a fistful of contradictions between his public image and the private person.

In public he was flash, with the clanking gold jewellery, expensive cigars and the Rolls Royces, but his home life was frugal.

He cultivated an image of being a thrifty millionaire Yorkshireman, revelling in the story of taking his sister for a meal at Harry Ramsden’s in Guiseley and who, when she asked for plaice, was told she could only have cod as his money-off voucher was just for cod. At the same time he was unstintingly generous – not only with his own money, which he gave away in great quantities to causes he felt should be supported (and that apart from money he raised for charity), but also with his time; whenever he was approached by a member of the public, no matter where or under what circumstances, he always had time for a word. He spent endless hours as an unpaid hospital porter, and helping out in various ways at Broadmoor and Stoke Mandeville.

He was a DJ – arguably the very first – and yet he had no records, no CDs, nothing in his homes to tell you how he first made his mark other than an array of awards in cases.

In his early career he was dismissed by intellectual snobs as a fool, doing little more than gibbering meaningless catchphrases; but in reality he was an extremely intelligent man, and as shrewd a person as you could wish to meet. 

He gave the impression that he was a loner, devoid of emotional ties (other than the great love he had for his mother), and yet he was unfailingly kind and considerate to everyone who knew him – and to a great number who didn’t. I well remember when my father was terminally ill, Jimmy went unannounced to visit him in hospital; he’d never met my father, but he went anyway – and cheered up not just my dad, but the entire ward.

And, of course, he cultivated the image of being an eccentric; but he wasn’t eccentric at all – he was shrewd and he knew exactly what he was doing all the time. Which is precisely why he was a friend of Prime Ministers and Royalty.

I shared two passions with Jim over those 25 years – Scarborough, where I was born and brought up and he lived, and Cunard, who I worked for and whose ships he loved. He was especially fond of QE2, in which he travelled many times making firm friends with many of the officers and crew, but latterly he enjoyed all three ships in the current fleet. Indeed, his last voyage was on Queen Elizabeth’s Round Britain voyage in September this year. 

Even though when I last saw him he seemed a little frailer than usual, and had trouble with gout and a bronchial infection, he was still spry for a man of his age and still ‘never better’ when asked how he was, It was a shock when he died; he seemed to be one of those reassuring institutions that would always be there. But alas, he wasn’t. Some years ago when a friend of his in Scarborough died, Jimmy paid for a memorial bench to be placed overlooking the sea. Then he decided his friend was lonely there on the cliff all by himself, so he bought another bench to keep him company. He had it inscribed ‘Sir Jimmy Savile – but not just yet’.. Well, sadly, ‘not just yet’ arrived last month just two days before his 85th birthday.

And because of that I found myself in Leeds last week for the funeral which took place in St Anne’s Roman Catholic Cathedral, which Jimmy regularly attended as a devout Roman Catholic. For me, brought up in a fairly austere nonconformist faith, a funeral service in a Roman Catholic Cathedral was fascinating enough but the extra brouhaha because it was Jimmy’s made it unforgettable. Even though I arrived an hour early it was a struggle to get through the crowds to the door, and by the time the cortege arrived – having been applauded through the streets of Leeds – the crowd outside must have been at least two thousand strong. Those of us inside knew the cortege was coming because we could hear the faint ripple of applause as it turned into the far end of the street, a ripple which increased slowly in volume until it reached a crescendo as the coffin arrived at the main doors. 

The huge gold coffin was carried in by members of the Royal Marines. They weren’t asked to do it; they asked if they could, such was the esteem in which Jimmy was held.

And it was only at that point, really, that it actually dawned on me that he was dead; never again would I pick up the phone to hear a voice saying ‘Is that the big tycoon?’, to which I would invariably reply ‘And what the hell do you want?’. It was a sad moment. 

It was a dignified service lasting over two hours, including eulogies from representatives of some of the charities and institutions Jimmy helped for so long. And as we came to the end the choir sang ‘In Paradisum’ which induced tears even in those who had resisted so far.

Although the funeral was in Leeds, Jimmy had asked to be buried in Scarborough in a plot on a hillside overlooking the castle and the sea. He asked to be buried at 45 degrees so ‘he could see the sea’ – not that we could see much on that lovely autumn day as a thin mist hung over the Castle Head. I could see my old school all too clearly in the middle distance but averted my gaze. 

As in Leeds, the cortege followed a circuitous route through Jimmy’s favourite haunts – along the sea front and around the Marine Drive, where he used to run. And again the streets were packed with people wishing to pay their respects; even the local theatre had taken down their ‘Now Playing’ sign and replaced it with a huge ‘Good Bye Jimmy’ across the canopy. Jimmy will be badly missed in Scarborough, a small town on which he made a huge impact in the fifty years he lived there. But you can be sure his grave will never want for visitors.

I left his grave and went off to another, older cemetery near the centre of town. My great grandparents, grandparents and parents all lie there; in my melancholy mood it seemed the right thing to do.

 

Thank you so much Eric. As a small tribute and to make sure Sir Jimmy remains special to Cunard, we have decided to place a framed picture of a smiling Sir Jimmy up in Churchills Cigar Lounge on each of our ships. He spent many hours with us in Churchills and we shall never forget him.

Hope you are keeping well.

Best Regards

Peter

Guest Blog: Maureen Ryan, Former Social Hostess

Over a warm, sunny weekend at the start of October this year, 74 of us gathered at the Mercure Dolphin Hotel in Southampton for the yearly Pursers Reunion – men and women who had been part of the Pursers staff on board Cunard ships over several decades.  They arrived from Australia (Ted Finch), the Irish Republic (Eddie Peregrine),  Canada (Peter Quinn), Northern Ireland (Bertie Hosford, wife of Harry) and from areas throughout the UK, to socialise for a couple of days with colleagues who at one time, years ago, were part of their everyday lives, working together on board the Cunard ships. 

By 6.30pm on Saturday evening the bar was packed – some who lived locally were still arriving and it was great to see David and Margaret Holden, Margaret  Newcombe and David and Carole Taylor. The conversation buzzed and snippets of conversation reached my ears – ‘I remember first joining in 1961 on ‘Queen Mary’, and I was so seasick’………… ‘Do you remember the Lady A/P in the Tourist Class Pursers Office on the ‘Sylvania’ – what was her name?’ ……..’Were you on the ‘Elizabeth’ on her last transatlantic?’ ….. so many memories.  I glance across the room and see Sally Freeman chatting with Frank Heseltine and his wife Pat – ‘Carmania’, winter 1965-66 – great beach parties…..

Dinner followed and then Jon Firth said a few words, followed by John Butt who thanked Jon for doing such a great job over the year, getting in touch with so many people for the reunion. Then George Read told of how he joined the Pursers Office on Queen Mary in 1946, after returning from war service in the Far East.  He travelled home on the ‘Georgic’, a Cunard-White Star troop ship. Margaret Newcombe also joined Cunard after war service, in 1948, on the lovely Aquitania, the last of the four funnelled ships, which was in service from 1914-1949.  Also present was Barbara Peden (Moore, wife of Harry) who was in Queen Mary in the early 1950’s.  She had brought to the meeting a small album of black and white photos – it was like stepping back into another age. Lovely to see Muriel Arnold again who, after many years with Cunard, has become a published author, one of her most successful books being ‘Tiaras and T-Shirts’, a story of life on a great ship. Also, Jeff and Barbara Baggot (Sennitt) who sailed together on ‘Mauretania’ as Assistant Pursers and are one of the many couples to ‘tie the knot’ after life on Cunard. I remember sailing with Tony Babington on ‘Queen Elizabeth’ – he came to the Reunion with his wife Josephine. They met on QE2, during the Maiden Voyage when Josephine was one of the first Computer Experts on board in 1969. So many people gathered together, with such a wealth of experience and knowledge of Cunard Line.  As ever, conversation and clinking glasses lasted well into the night!

From left to right: Jeff and Barbara Baggot (Sennitt), Jill Jones (Williams) with Tony Babington, Jon Firth and Peter Quinn

And suddenly, it was over.   Sunday morning, long good-byes in the lobby, cars disappearing into the distance, everyone departing to their own lives.

But what a tribute to Cunard Line that so many of us, in our mature years, still feel part of the company, hold such memories, and have sustained special friendships, that we travel  long distances to be together.

Many thanks again to Jon Firth, who is returning to Australia for the winter, where he lived and worked for 25 years after leaving Cunard – have a great time Jon meeting up with all the ex –Pursers Staff who are now living ‘Down Under’! 

And a big ‘thank you’ to Jill Jones (Williams) for all her hard work helping to arrange the weekend.

Finally, thank you to Hemione Dormer (Pantling) for providing the great photos of the Reunion.  Harry Dormer was a Deck Officer and met Hermione, a Lady A/P, on ‘Queen Elizabeth’.

Until the next time……….

(Atlantic  Hotel, Liverpool – 11/12 May 2012)    (Park Hotel, Southampton – 28/29 September, 2012)

SEE YOU THERE!

               

I left you last after my and the National Symphony Orchestra’s first performances of our American Evening on board the magnificent Queen Mary 2. It was appreciated by all the guests, but most of all by the many Americans travelling with us.

Our next performances were as keenly looked forward to, not just by the guests but also the orchestra. This was going to be a British Evening and therefore would comprise famous music from the United Kingdom, finishing with “Jerusalem,” “Rule Britannia” and “Land of Hope and Glory.” We would turn, temporarily at least, The Royal Court Theatre into The Royal Albert Hall.

To help us, the orchestra and I had two volunteer choirs, made up of guests on board who rehearsed and then performed before their friends and family and other guests. We were wonderfully inundated with volunteers and in the end had nearly 200 guests singing in the two choirs. The second rehearsal was no different from the first, which I talked about in Part One. There was lots of laughing and good-natured banter between the choir members and me, but ultimately lots of work to prepare them for singing in four-part harmony – some of them for the first time!

The song I had chosen for them was the Cunard anthem: “Amazing Grace,” that extraordinary hymn to freedom, written by John Newton. The last rehearsal was with the orchestra, and in the afternoon of the final sea day, we were ready!

At the first performance, the Royal Court Theatre was packed with guests waiting to hear 90 of their fellow guests give their all. I was nervous for them, as many were singing in public for the first time. But I need not have worried – they were magnificent, as I knew they would be!

For the second performance, word must have spread, as guests started finding their seats fully 50 minutes before the performance was due to begin. The stage was even more crowded for the second performance – never has the stage been so packed! They were equally magnificent as the choir in the first performance.

All too soon the shows were over and everybody had to go back to their staterooms and pack their bags. The orchestra and I loved the whole experience. The enthusiasm with which the audience joined in with the participation numbers, the joy with which the two choirs sang, and the feeling of elation we all had afterwards with two shows well performed and brilliantly received, was wonderful.

In fact, I enjoyed the voyage so much, I returned on Queen Mary 2’s 23 October Crossing to do it all again.  This time with my wife and children, I had as good a time as I did on the previous voyage.

Hello all.      

A few things to catch up on and inform you of on today’s blog. Firstly, a few weeks ago we held a retirement dinner for the three Cunard Captains who retired during the year.       

We covered each of these retirements individually on the blog at the time, but as is tradition with Cunard Line we held a dinner in their honour. It was to honour Commodore Bernie Warner, Captain Nick Bates and Captain Paul Wright. We held the dinner at Lainston House Hotel near Winchester and we asked each of the Captains to invite four of their good friends in order that they could share the occasion with them. A number of us from the office also attended and it was a wonderful evening. I thought I would share a few photos of the event: 

          

     

During the evening we presented each of the Captains with a barometer and there were some wonderful speeches around the table. Three great men who each contributed to Cunard magnificently. In their absence I am delighted to report that the new Captains who have come to Cunard Line recently are also very much enjoying their tenure. Captain Inger Olsen, our first lady Captain, is really making her mark on Queen Victoria and earning deserved praise both from the ship’s company and from our guests. Captain Kevin Oprey, currently on Queen Mary 2, has brought his own style and experience to Queen Mary 2 and is also receiving warm appreciation from the ship’s company and from our guests. Both Captain Ian Hutley and Julian Burgess have spent considerable time on both Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth and they, too are now regarded as Cunarders. In addition, our new Commodore Chris Rynd is very much enjoying his role and showing leadership across the fleet. So whilst we were sad to lose three such experienced Captains at the end of their career during the year, we are also pleased that we have such good strength in them and I certainly appreciate the contribution of every Captain across our fleet.       

Turning to a different matter, we were delighted to receive some photos taken by Richard and Barbara Okill, they were travelling on Queen Mary 2 recently and decided to send us their own “We are Cunard” photos. Thank you so much for sharing them with us and some lovely shots of our fine ship.      

  

    

Lastly, I thought I would share with you a photo of what modern day Cunard Presidents get up to at weekends. I play field hockey each Saturday during the winter. I am not sure if it is sensible, but I have always played the position of Goalkeeper. The ball can be very hard but I have padding just about everywhere that it matters – although at least once a season the ball seems to penetrate to places that do hurt somewhat. Anyway I thought I would share with you an excellent shot from Saturday as I was trying to ensure another victory for my colleagues – although on this occasion we came a fine second.       

     

That’s all for now – will be back soon. I hope everybody is keeping well.       

Best regards,       

Peter     

 

Hello all

If – like me – you are a Formula 1 fan then you will recognise these famous words. On very many occasions at 1300 on Sunday these words would burst out of our TV’s as the red lights went out and a Grand Prix started. They are of course the words of our legendary and much loved BBC motor racing commentator Murray Walker. I can remember him describing the moment when Nigel Mansell overtook Nelson Piquet at Silverstone on the last lap to win the British Grand Prix. I can remember him with a very large lump in his throat describing the moment when Damon Hill emulated his father Graham Hill in becoming the World Champion. Murray is also much loved for his unique and famous quotes and misquotes – anyway you look at it – he is a legend.

So we were delighted that Murray accepted our invitation to lecture on board Queen Mary 2 recently as part of our Insights program. And even more delighted when he agreed to write a blog for us. Here is the man himself;

When it comes to ships the word “Cunard” has a very special ring about it. Tradition, quality, prestige and superiority are what it means to me because I’m old enough to have been around when the launch of the original Queen Mary caused such a stir and I’ve done several voyages on both the much loved Queen Elizabeth 2 and the mighty impressive Queen Victoria. In 2004 my wife and I were present at the Southampton ceremony when Her Majesty the Queen named Queen Mary2 and we spent the night on board. She was moved a short distance during the night, which enabled me to say, proudly, “Oh yes, I’ve been on Queen Mary 2 under power.” True but a slight exaggeration!

But now I can really puff my chest out and say I’ve had the experience of travelling on the World’s Greatest Ocean Liner, as a result of being lucky enough to be a guest speaker on her latest Transatlantic Crossing. I was supposed to be doing the round trip – Southampton to New York and back – but a problem (not an “issue” you’ll note. I can’t stand the way the way the good old fashioned word “problem” has suddenly been replaced by “issue”) stopped us doing the outward leg. So Elizabeth and I flew to New York and did the return journey, and what a joy it was.

I am, of course, a petrol head whose world revolves around Motor Sport and the internal combustion engine so what I talk about is my life and times as a broadcaster, which isn’t necessarily everybody’s cup of tea, I was concerned, for instance, that with almost half the passengers on our trip being American that Formula One would be a closed book to them and that I’d be faced with rows of empty seats in “Illuminations”, where I’d be doing my talks. Thank heavens though, I needn’t have worried because we had full houses and hopefully it wasn’t just because the weather outside wasn’t all that inviting!

If you are a TV commentator you obviously don’t see the people you are talking to so it was a real pleasure to be able to meet so many Formula One fans in person and to chat about our mutual passion. And Queen Mary 2 is, of course, something else. She has a dignity and charisma all of her own and I was bowled over by the number of things there are to do and by the never failing friendliness and helpfulness of the crew.

Highlight of the trip? For me it was, beyond a doubt, being invited up on to the bridge by Captain Kevin Oprey, not just to have a look at all the mind-boggling controls and equipment at his command but also to sound all of Queen Mary 2`s fantastic hooters which, they told me, could be heard ten miles away. I have a powerful voice and when I was commentating I used jokingly to say “no one sleeps when I’m on” but, believe me, no one slept on Queen Mary 2 when I blew those horns!

So thanks Cunard for a fabulous trip on a fabulous ship. It’s one I won’t forget in a hurry.

Thank you so much Murray for adding your own comments – I know that our guests were enthralled. You are welcome to come back and sail with us again.

Best Regards

Peter

Hello All

After a business trip to North America I found myself with a day to spare prior to boarding a flight home to England. A good excuse to go and pay my first visit to Queen Mary in Long Beach, California – and I am so glad I did. It was fascinating – and a story best told in pictures……..

Open Decks…you can really get a sense of what she must have been like from the wide open spaces and from the famous three red funnels. The funnels are so dominant when compared to our current fleet.

The Bridge …I found this fascinating. On the Queen Mary 2 Bridge we have carpets, tea and coffee facilities, heaps of technology, comfy chairs and enclosed bridge wings. Here on the Queen Mary – you slide back a heavy wooden door and move into a very sparse bridge. The controls are marvelous and just as you would expect them to be – gleaming with brass. It must have been freezing in those days – no wonder we see so many pictures of the officers in their thick coats.

Just behind the bridge are the senior officer cabins. Here I am sitting at the Captain’s desk, As I sat there I could not help thinking of the responsibility our Captains had in those days – in many ways the same responsibilities today but with so much less technology and information to guide them.

Engine Room… some of the areas down below are very well preserved. Just look at all the brass instruments – difficult o imagine the noise and steam that the crew had to put up with.

 

Propeller…there is one area where they have cut through the hull and you can see one of the original props in its rightful place.

Strange gym machines …very different top what you find today in Canyon Ranch on Queen Mary 2 – have a look at the rowing machine.

Beautiful cabins…here I am in a First Class cabin – and it is wonderful to be surrounded by so much polished wood. You can get a real sense of what it must have been like – this particular cabin had a small maid’s quarters.

Feeling at home in the bathrooms…in the UK there is a very famous bathroom manufacturer called ‘Shanks’ – or these days ‘Armitage Shanks’. The Shanks factory was based at Barrhead in Scotland and was started in the late 1800’s – going on to be one of the most famous bathroom names in the world. The Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary and even QE2 was fitted out with many ‘Shanks’ baths, basins and toilets. So I thought it would be fun to share a picture of a ‘Shanks’ basin in a first class cabin on Queen Mary.

Actually – it was more than fun – it was quite an emotional and proud moment for me. It was one of my ancestors who started ‘Shanks’ in Barrhead in 1865 and my father  spent his whole career there and went on to be Chairman of the company. So I feel that as a Cunarder today I am able to have some personal links to the past – the past of two famous brands, two brands that serve customers in very different but invaluable ways.

The Verandah Restaurant…I was very pleased to be able to see this, it was the inspiration behind the new and very popular Verandah Restaurant on our new Queen Elizabeth. I was able to look at the original artwork. The artist had to renew some of the artwork – and in doing so left a very small but interesting signature mark of a small mouse – you can see it below.

Crows Nest..I am not sure if that is the right name for it but on the forward deck there is a look-out post. I am told that it was often used – and that as the ship would heave from side to side it must have been a very uncomfortable place to be – the crew on that watch certainly earned their keep.

Main first class dining room…here you can really get a sense of the scale of the public rooms and wonderful art deco designs. I was able to see one of the most famous pieces of Cunard art showing the transatlantic route. We have carefully copied this piece of art for the new Queen Elizabeth – but here I was looking at the real thing.

I found out that many if not all of the beautiful mirrors on board were made with a gentle pink tint of the glass. This was so that when guests looked at themselves – whilst feeling somewhat seasick and looking somewhat green – they saw themselves with a healthy pink glow on their cheeks – marvelous.

I was shown around the ship by the Captain and by a wonderful chap by the name of Everette Hoard. Everette has been associated with the ship for over 30 years and manages a very good memorabilia store on board Queen Mary. He is also one of the foremost collectors of Cunard memorabilia. I was struck by how proud he – and colleagues – are at being associated with such a historic ship. That is the same sense of pride that all of us lucky to be associated with the brand feel today. Everette asked me to sign his prized visitor’s book – and I was very happy to do so. Well done to Everette and all of those involved in Queen Mary – not last the city of Long Beach – for all they do to keep the spirit of Queen Mary so alive still today.

The Queen Mary is run as a hotel and conference centre. If you find yourself with time to spare in Los Angeles then it is well worth this trip down memory lane. I left enthused that – yet again – I had experienced another part of our proud history and determined to do everything I can with my colleagues to ensure the continued success of Cunard Line.

Best Regards

Peter