6 QUEEN MARY 2
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
★★★★
PORTHOLE: A view of the liner through the Old Hall Street porthole Picture: GAVIN TRAFFORD
TOWERING: The Queen Mary 2 dwarfs the riverside office buildings Picture: GAVIN TRAFFORD
SPRAY: The liner receives a maritime welcome as it enters the Mersey
Picture: COLIN LANE
● From Page 4 naturally, are sophisticated supporters,” said Commodore Warner. “We’ve got a tremendous atmosphere on board because our guests knew we were coming to Liverpool.” There were a few LFC strips being dangled from balconies and one big banner across the rails, but otherwise the football branding was discreet. The Cruise Terminal’s loudspeakers blaring out You’ll Never Walk Alone was balanced by an equally loud rendition of Johnny Todd for Evertonians. Peter Shanks, Cunard Line president and managing director,
said: “It was fabulous to be up on QM2’s bridge and see the Cunard flag flying from the Cunard Building. “I couldn’t believe how many people were watching us come in. We’ve taken QM2 on a lap of honour around Britain. “There has been a sense of excitement on board as we approached Liverpool, which is the highlight of our trip. “We had a lovely day in Greenock, on the Clyde which was our previous port of call. “That was a place also with great Cunard connections as 120 of the line’s ships were built at Clydebank. “I am Scottish myself so that makes me particularly proud. Samuel Cunard got much of his
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financing from Glasgow shipowners and he was the visionary to whom we owe so much. “But it’s particularly emotional coming into Liverpool as Cunard Line was founded170 years ago here. There is a mutual respect between Cunard and the City of Liverpool.” Aboard Snowdrop, Len Jones, of Aintree, and Frank Kenny, of Maghull, are shipping enthusiasts who had planned this trip for a year. Len worked in the galley of Canadian Pacific’s liner Empress of Britain during 1960, on the Liverpool - Quebec - Montreal service. “We saw the last voyage of the QE2 going out, so we wanted to see the first arrival of QM2. It’s great to
see the biggest liners back in Liverpool,” said Frank. Many people on board Snowdrop were in mobile phone conversations with friends and relatives sailing on QM2. Doris “Tiny” Jones and her husband Peter, from Litherland, were chatting to her brothers Ron and Alan Bunn, who were travelling aboard. Remarkably Alan’s 63rd birthday coincided with QM2’s day in Liverpool. He works in the Royal Liver Building and is a keen ship photographer from his office. “We joked we’d arranged with Cunard especially to have the ship arrive in Liverpool for his birthday,” laughed Doris. “Alan, who’s been on QE2, told me
on the phone that this is a far more exceptional ship.” Christine and Dave Holloway, from Bromborough, were in touch with their friends Paul and Carole Molyneux, from Heswall, who were travelling with Carole’s mother Lydia Wilkinson. The cruise was a 92nd birthday present for Mrs Wilkinson, who had always wanted to try a cruise. “They’re having a brilliant time and everything onboard is terrific,” said Chris. Lilian Piercy, from Tranmere, could not get over the size of the ship and added: “She looks like a great big wonderful floating hotel.” At the Cruise Terminal, Liverpool’s great and good were waiting to go aboard for a