Author Topic: Steven Adler, QE2 Waiter, Queen's Grill 1981-1985 (Read 20349 times)

adlersc · « **on:** Feb 08, 2010, 05:01 PM »

Hello

My name is Steven Adler and I worked aboard the QE2 from 1981-1985.

I was a waiter for most of that time in the Queens Grill under Ron Pitcher (The Lord) as Restaurant Manager. I have fond memories of those days and have remained in contact with a few ex-QE2 crew members including Kevin Dunn, Jeremy Leatherbarrow, Gary Marsh, Stuart Barton(DJ), Maggie O'Donnell(Croupier) and Paul (The Printer) Tennant who has very recently sadly passed away.

I have posted some short video clips featuring the crew and passengers on board the QE2 at this link:- https://www.youtube.com/user/adl21er Please feel free to rate and leave comments on these videos

I am also in contact with Scott Becker and have contributed to his QE2 website with photos and text:-
http://www.rmsqueenelizabeth2.com/index.html

Note Link not working

Anyone who remembers me or some of the other names in my list then I would love to hear from you...

Let's keep the QE2 flag flying

Louis De Sousa · « **Reply #1 on:** Feb 08, 2010, 05:45 PM »

Hello Steven

I was a crewmember too from 90-98, glad you found your way here.
Feel free you post any stories on the Crew & Worker Memories Board.
I invite you read my blog at

https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,404.0.html

Have a good time here

Louis

Rob Lightbody · « **Reply #2 on:** Feb 08, 2010, 06:32 PM »

Welcome Steven! Great to have you here!

Are you able to post a link here to some of your photos on Scott's excellent site?

ralph · « **Reply #3 on:** Feb 09, 2010, 05:50 AM »

hello steven
worked with you many years ago on qe2 .Also live in dorset,What ever happened to the lord.

Twynkle · « **Reply #4 on:** Feb 09, 2010, 06:25 PM »

Hello Steven and Welcome, too!

Hopefully you will find lots here that will be of interest to you!
Like Rob has mentioned - it would be great to see some pics,
if you are able to share them with us here on The QE2 Story!
Rosie

adlersc · « **Reply #5 on:** Feb 19, 2010, 11:38 AM »

A selection of video clips taken on board the QE2 during the 1984 World Cruise. A lot of them feature the crew so see if you can see yourself. I was on board as a Queen's Grill Waiter at the time and have make a "small" appearance. Any comments would be much appreciated and please spread the word.......

Link to videos here :- https://www.youtube.com/adl21er

Rob Lightbody · « **Reply #6 on:** Feb 19, 2010, 11:55 AM »

Hi there,

We all know & love Scott's site, but I was wondering if you could link directly to your photos there - I couldn't find them when I went looking for them...

Love the Whickers world stuff - Dad made us watch it when it was on telly the first time to show us the ship that he kept jetting off to around the world (i was 10 i suppose) and it is ingrained in my memory - and may well have been what set me off on my QE2 journey that leads me here!

- R

adlersc · « **Reply #7 on:** Feb 24, 2010, 11:39 AM »

As promised some old photos from my time on board in the 1980's. Hope you can recognise a few people. Comments welcome....

I'm the one with the moustache on the far left as you look on the third photo and at the back in the Queen's Grill group photo in the 4th photo.....

Beardy Rich · « **Reply #8 on:** Feb 24, 2010, 12:07 PM »

Memories eh? I didn't know many crew from 'topside' but the chef on the far left in the second photo I recognise.

adlersc · « **Reply #9 on:** Feb 24, 2010, 02:30 PM »

Think his name was Rob. Terry Greenhouse is the other chef with the bottle to his mouth. All from the Queen's Grill

Peter Mugridge · « **Reply #10 on:** Feb 24, 2010, 03:00 PM »

Steve, in your photo why is there a tender half lowered when that is the side against the quay?

Chef named Rob - wouldn't be from Glasgow by any chance? Used to be in contact with a chef from Glasgow named Rob Mc...... ( can't remember the surname! ); he made a name for himself on the e-Bay forums a few years ago. Wondering if it could be him???

adlersc · « **Reply #11 on:** Feb 24, 2010, 04:58 PM »

Good question about the tender.... unless they were carrying out repairs? This guy wasn't Scottish and I'm not sure it's Rob

adlersc · « **Reply #12 on:** Feb 24, 2010, 05:03 PM »

A selection of video clips taken on board the QE2 during the 1984 World Cruise. A lot of them feature the crew so see if you can see yourself. I was on board as a Queen's Grill Waiter at the time and have make a "small" appearance. Any comments would be much appreciated and please spread the word.......

Link to videos here :- https://www.youtube.com/adl21er

Isabelle Prondzynski · « **Reply #13 on:** Feb 24, 2010, 05:07 PM »

Quote from: adlersc on Feb 24, 2010, 05:03 PM

A selection of video clips taken on board the QE2 during the 1984 World Cruise. A lot of them feature the crew so see if you can see yourself. I was on board as a Queen's Grill Waiter at the time and have make a "small" appearance. Any comments would be much appreciated and please spread the word.......

Link to videos here :- https://www.youtube.com/adl21er

Steven, are these the same as the ones you refer to in Reply 5 above and in these two messages :

https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,149.msg18066.html#msg18066
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,1027.msg18065.html#msg18065

I am really enjoying the clips -- particularly since I never had the chance to see the film when it made its original appearance. Thank you for having prepared them for YouTube and made them available to us!

Do you have great memories of Alan Whicker and his team on board? The way he comes across in the clips, he must have been quite a personality! Was he dining in the Queen's Grill, and were you his waiter?

Twynkle · « **Reply #14 on:** Feb 24, 2010, 05:49 PM »

Hi Steven,

Thank you very much for posting these.
Did you have to do special training in another restaurant, before working in the Queens Grill -
Or maybe, did you go there straight away when you started on QE2?
It looks as if it could have been good fun as well as very, very hard work!
Rosie

adlersc · « **Reply #15 on:** Feb 24, 2010, 06:45 PM »

Quote from: Isabelle Prondzynski on Feb 24, 2010, 05:07 PM

Steven, are these the same as the ones you refer to in Reply 5 above and in these two messages :

https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,149.msg18066.html#msg18066
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,1027.msg18065.html#msg18065

I am really enjoying the clips -- particularly since I never had the chance to see the film when it made its original appearance. Thank you for having prepared them for YouTube and made them available to us!

Do you have great memories of Alan Whicker and his team on board? The way he comes across in the clips, he must have been quite a personality! Was he dining in the Queen's Grill, and were you his waiter?

Sorry yes but I added some more today

adlersc · « **Reply #16 on:** Feb 24, 2010, 06:53 PM »

Quote from: Twynkle on Feb 24, 2010, 05:49 PM

Hi Steven,

Thank you very much for posting these.
Did you have to do special training in another restaurant, before working in the Queens Grill -
Or maybe, did you go there straight away when you started on QE2?
It looks as if it could have been good fun as well as very, very hard work!
Rosie

I was lucky that I started in the Columbia restaurant for 2 months and then I was asked to be relief Captain's tiger serving Capt. Ridley. All went well for that month and because of my previous experience working in 4/5 star hotels shoreside I was asked by the F&B manager to go to put in for the Queens Grill. I didn't however go straight in and spent 2 months as a bedroom steward looking after the entertainers on 5 deck.

I moved to the Queens Grill and loved it there so much....here I am with two of my passengers and my great working partner Terry (the silver fox) Dowding

Twynkle · « **Reply #17 on:** Feb 24, 2010, 07:19 PM »

Er....Captain's tiger... ??!!!!

Thanks Steven - and really hoping that you won't mind a few questions from this curious lower-deck inhabitant!
I would guess that the Queens Grill would be a very sort of exacting place to work
and bet the hours were long too!
Was there a time when Guests were expected to have finished eating in the evening?
'Spose it could have been an 18+hour working day with no days off!
Rosie

adlersc · « **Reply #18 on:** Feb 24, 2010, 07:30 PM »

Captain's Tiger is the nickname used for the Captain's personal steward.

Working in Queen's Grill could be long hours depending on what time your customers (punters as we used to call them) came in for their meals. Their choice was endless and they were used to a very high class of service. If they wanted to sit there till 1.00am then they did!! although our Restaurant manager had a way of moving them into the lounge for coffee and liqueurs/brandies etc.

I loved my time in the Queen's Grill and will treasure the memories working with my colleagues:-

cunardqueen · « **Reply #19 on:** Feb 24, 2010, 08:33 PM »

Who is the Maitre D pictured second on the left with the glasses. He featured in the Fast Boat to china programme and always struck me as a fearsome devil, well he came across that way the progrmme. It looks like he ran the Grill on a very strict basis.
Great to see some pics the passengers wouldnt normally see, keep em coming..and the stories as well.
Perhaps indeed we should have an Alan Whicker section!!!
Would be interesting to hear if he and his crew paid full price or perhaps had a discount, the publicity of that mini series must have paid Cunard more than they can ever imagine, and its still being talked about after all this time

, now thats publicity !!!

cunardqueen · « **Reply #20 on:** Feb 24, 2010, 08:35 PM »

Dont suppose you remember a Mark Skelton and Peter Luff, waiters from the Tables of the World? My very first two waiters and what a pair !!!

adlersc · « **Reply #21 on:** Feb 24, 2010, 10:43 PM »

Quote from: Cunardqueen on Feb 24, 2010, 08:33 PM

Who is the Maitre D pictured second on the left with the glasses. He featured in the Fast Boat to china programme and always struck me as a fearsome devil, well he came across that way the progrmme. It looks like he ran the Grill on a very strict basis.
Great to see some pics the passengers wouldnt normally see, keep em coming..and the stories as well.
Perhaps indeed we should have an Alan Whicker section!!!
Would be interesting to hear if he and his crew paid full price or perhaps had a discount, the publicity of that mini series must have paid Cunard more than they can ever imagine, and its still being talked about after all this time , now thats publicity !!!

The Maitre D was a Ron Pitcher and he certainly ruled with an iron fist. On the other hand he was so professional that if you worked on his section (as I did) your gratuities were huge (and I mean huge!!)

I believe (but don't quote me on this) that Whicker and his team paid 50% of the full fare but Alan himself paid extra personally to have a large stateroom on 2 deck..

adlersc · « **Reply #22 on:** Mar 24, 2010, 08:51 AM »

A few more photos from my collection.....Great memories

bswan · « **Reply #23 on:** Mar 27, 2010, 10:22 AM »

Hi Steven,

What wonderful memories you must have from you aboard the queen. My father and i made some good friends with the staff when we were aboard and would love to have seen behind the scenes, many fun times had i am sure. Thankyou for posting these wonderful photos,gives us an insight into the differences of the qe2 when you were aboard to when she retired.

adlersc · « **Reply #24 on:** Mar 27, 2010, 04:39 PM »

My pleasure.....It was probably one of the greatest experiences of my life...

Beardy Rich · « **Reply #25 on:** Mar 27, 2010, 05:43 PM »

Quote from: adlersc on Mar 27, 2010, 04:39 PM

My pleasure.....It was probably one of the greatest experiences of my life...

I'll second that. The work was hard and not much time off in between crew leave, but a fantastic experience. Best job I ever had!

adlersc · « **Reply #26 on:** Jul 11, 2010, 04:01 PM »

Some more photos from my time on board....

QE2 video clips featuring the crew on this link :- https://www.youtube.com/user/adl21er

Paul White · « **Reply #27 on:** Jul 11, 2010, 10:49 PM »

Quote from: Peter Mugridge on Feb 24, 2010, 03:00 PM

Steve, in your photo why is there a tender half lowered when that is the side against the quay?

That was quite often done to do repairs to the hull or propellors etc, or to paint the boats.

adlersc · « **Reply #28 on:** Aug 17, 2010, 06:46 AM »

Got a bit nostalgic again on seeing the latest video posted on the site so here's a few more of my photographic memories:-

THE QE2 RUGBY FOOTBALL TEAM 1984

Rob Lightbody · « **Reply #29 on:** Aug 17, 2010, 11:34 AM »

Brilliant photos Steven... yours always take me straight back to the Whickers World programme. In my view, this was the peak of QE2's fame & prestige.

I love the first photo - with the 'black wall of portholes' behind you... oh and the hat suits you

adlersc · « **Reply #30 on:** Aug 17, 2010, 03:22 PM »

Quote from: Rob Lightbody on Aug 17, 2010, 11:34 AM

Brilliant photos Steven... yours always take me straight back to the Whickers World programme. In my view, this was the peak of QE2's fame & prestige.

I love the first photo - with the 'black wall of portholes' behind you... oh and the hat suits you

Cheers Rob...it's always a pleasure

Steve & Mark · « **Reply #31 on:** Oct 09, 2010, 08:47 PM »

Hello Steven,

What great memories came back when we saw your photos on here. !!!!

You and Pepe were our waiters on a Norwegian Fjords cruise back in May 1981 in the Columbia Restaurant.

This was how you used to treat your passengers. !!!!!

Twynkle · « **Reply #32 on:** Oct 09, 2010, 09:46 PM »

Hi Steven,

This is a fantastic photograph collection - thanks so much for keeping us posted!
Seeing the QE2 Rugby Team is a reminder of watching the QE2 Cricket team in Norway!

Just found your video of Queen Elizabeth's arrival in Southampton - The link on Post #26

Quote from: adlersc on Jul 11, 2010, 04:01 PM

.....
QE2 video clips featuring the crew on this link :- https://www.youtube.com/user/adl21er

It's great, and her whistle well captured - although no whistle can ever be as great as QE2's
it's good to have heard her voice for the first time!
Rosie.

Louis De Sousa · « **Reply #33 on:** May 03, 2011, 11:28 PM »

Sad to inform that our beloved friend Steven has passed away today.His love and passion for the QE2 will be missed.Rest in peace my friend.

Isabelle Prondzynski · « **Reply #34 on:** May 04, 2011, 01:48 AM »

Very sorry to hear this news. He brought a lot to the Forum with his photographs and videos, and we shall miss him here.

Louis, if you are in touch with them, please pass our condolences to his family and friends.

Janice Naylor · « **Reply #35 on:** May 04, 2011, 03:06 AM »

Sorry to read of Steven's passing. His crew videos and photos were great fun to watch and offered a unique glimpse into the QE2 from the crew's point of view. May Steven rest in peace.

Janice

k80 · « **Reply #36 on:** May 05, 2011, 10:15 AM »

I read of Steve's passing in the local paper,
I worked in Casino on board in 1982 and for many years after. I was a team mate of Steve's in Rugby team and enjoyed his company on many "Days out" and Excursions with the Pyramid Club.

There is a top man missing now.

RIP

Peter Mugridge · « **Reply #37 on:** May 05, 2011, 11:39 AM »

RIP Steve.

Casino - is there a link to that obituary online or is it only in the printed edition of the paper?

Twynkle · « **Reply #38 on:** May 05, 2011, 04:08 PM »

Having first found Steve on twitter, then on YouTube and in other places besides
he's been one of the most 'fun' and generous people to show us some of his life
both on and off QE2.
A great guy; he will be missed by very many people.
If his friends read this - Just to say,'Thinking of you,
and hope your happy memories of Steve will help.
Rosie

Mick Johns · « **Reply #39 on:** Apr 10, 2018, 02:40 PM »

Quote from: Steve & Mark on Oct 09, 2010, 08:47 PM

Hello Steven,

What great memories came back when we saw your photos on here. !!!!

You and Pepe were our waiters on a Norwegian Fjords cruise back in May 1981 in the Columbia Restaurant.

This was how you used to treat your passengers. !!!!!

I would have been the ships DJ on the May 81 cruise to the Fjords !

Isabelle Prondzynski · « **Reply #40 on:** Apr 10, 2018, 03:43 PM »

Quote from: Mick Johns on Apr 10, 2018, 02:40 PM

I would have been the ships DJ on the May 81 cruise to the Fjords !

That sounds like a very desirable job to have!

Welcome in the Forum, Mick, and looking forward to hearing more, and perhaps even seeing photos you have kept since then

.

Vincent Scriven · « **Reply #41 on:** May 27, 2020, 09:00 AM »

Hi Steve ,there was Pinky Wine waiter Paul was he the scouser like me ? Dicky Bow. Albert Jamieson, dave Lawler I have some pics but I carnt scan to date and try to reshoot them and post Thers the Pics of the Football team Cew 86 last worldie I stll have them

Vincent Scriven · « **Reply #42 on:** Jun 04, 2020, 01:22 PM »

Hi Steve are you still around I was in Queens Grill with you Albert Jamo and all the Gang Vinny Scrivo

Lynda Bradford · « **Reply #43 on:** Jun 04, 2020, 02:49 PM »

Quote from: Vincent Scriven on Jun 04, 2020, 01:22 PM

Hi Steve are you still around I was in Queens Grill with you Albert Jamo and all the Gang Vinny Scrivo

Hello Vincent

Sad news in that it was reported in the In Memoriam topic that Steve Adler passed away in 2011

Vincent Scriven · « **Reply #44 on:** Jul 05, 2020, 04:05 PM »

Saddened me to hear Steve Adler passed away we had some fun in the Queens Grill 80s Alex Frobershire Chef Albert Jamieson Dick Bow all the Crew up there in QG r.i.p Steve

News:

Author Topic: Steven Adler, QE2 Waiter, Queen's Grill 1981-1985 (Read 20349 times)

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