Farewell To A Queen

A year ago today, 16th October 2008, a regal lady of the sea took her final bow and made a very emotional farewell departure from the bright lights of New York City. After 39 years of transatlantic crossings and world cruises the elegant Queen Elizabeth 2 blasted her resonant horns for the last time, echoing through the skyscraper caverns of the Big Apple as she sailed down the Hudson River. With an escort of tugs and a fireboat in the lead, her paying off pennant half blowing in the chilly Autumn air, she glided past her younger Cunard sister Queen Mary 2 with hundreds of well wishers waving and cheering.

She then slid past the Statue of Liberty for the last time, recalling memories of so many visits. How many early morning arrivals were there before the break of dawn? An irreversible destiny one last time to catch a current past Miss Liberty, her torch a welcome beacon revered by so many seeking a new life in America. Contemplating the endless romantic sunset departures that marked the beginning of a lifelong dream for so many. To be one of the lucky ones "Crossing the Pond" on one of the truly great ocean liners bound for Southampton, following in the wake of regal liners before her. Never again. One last sigh as she passes beneath the mighty span of the Verrazano Bridge into the great expanse of the Atlantic and dark of night with a lonely bell tolling.

On this day I stood on the front Observation Deck of Queen Mary 2, video camera in hand, capturing the sights and sounds of this exhilarating and desperately moving moment for an upcoming documentary. The end of a legend. History in the making. I knew that for the next few days I would still see QE2 at our side, each day switching from Port to Starboard as she sailed in tandem with us, or should I say us with her. But, for the moment as the sun faded from the sky and the blue grey smoke swept eastward from her classic red and black funnel, it felt as if we would never see this venerable lady again.

New York would bid a final farewell and we would only have a few more days ourselves until a heart wrenching salute, privately, two huge ocean liners alone a few hundred miles off the coast of England. A Mother saying goodbye to a Daughter. Dear friends waving so long with tears in their eyes, heading towards an unknown future, never to meet again.

We say farewell Great Queen with love, respect, and thanks for your journeys, leaving memories that will never fade.

Three Queens - An International Rendezvous

Back From The High Seas

Back from a spectacular three weeks on the High Seas and in the UK both Lecturing and filming the one and only Bill Miller in action for MR. OCEAN LINER. Week One was primarily spent on board the Queen Mary 2 from NY to Southampton. Excellent interviews with Commodore Bernard Warner, Chief Purser Jonathan Leavor & Assistant Entertainment Director Amanda Reid, all of whom have known Bill for many years. Each provided new insights into the dynamic personality and vibrant aura that is Mr. Miller. Jackie Chase, Cunard Line Public Relations Manager & Laurel Davis, PR Coordinator were on board and provided magnificent assistance arranging schedules and locations. Other filming included fun cutaway shots of Bill walking about the majestic Queen Mary 2 as well as a series of several of his live lectures in Illuminations, a wonderful art deco theatre on QM2. All this was shot in between delivering my own series of talks for Cunard Insights and DVD signings!

Once in the United Kingdom for Week Two I took a train up to Shrewsbury in Shropshire to interview Howard Franklin, a dear friend of Bill's for over 30 years. Howard is also a shipboard lecturer on subjects of Royalty and Design and was personal florist to Princess Diana and the Queen Mother. The evening included a special birthday bash for Howard given in a country estate with over 70 of his closest friends who also constitute the top of Shropshire society. Quite a spectacular event and really lovely people.

After a couple days in London & Portsmouth to catch up with several dear friends, it was back across the Pond for Week Three, this time on Queen Victoria. This voyage was busier than the outbound with multiple interviews that included Captain Ian McNaught, who was final Captain in command of the Queen Elizabeth 2 as she made her way to Dubai. Other fine subjects with Bill Miller stories to share for the camera included Singer Paul Ritchie, Entertainment Director and author of the "We Are Cunard" blog Alastair Greener, ship's Doctor Martin Carroll, and the one and only Thomas Quinones, best known for his vibrant and dramatic Heritage Tours on board QE2.

A great deal of time was also spent transferring video images from tape to computer hard drive so that I had an immediate back up and could also start initial editing. I could not resist capturing footage of Queen Victoria herself, quite a beautiful and comfortable liner.

We still have much more to film with several interviews coming up over the next few months with more graphic work and image scanning as well. Using a still frame from on board Queen Mary 2 we now have a mock "Poster" as a teaser that is now a marker for the project website now open www.MrOceanLiner.com. Not much there as yet, but more images and an initial video trailer to be added soon! More details to follow....