Rosie, great initiative!
Could you let us see what came of it -- who attended, what memories were raised and what the general atmosphere was? I would love to hear some more.
Hello Isabelle,
There had been an email to every head of Department on the ship with details of the gathering, and a request for the HODs to allow crew wherever possible to join in - I knew that waiters and cabin stewards would need their valuable sleep-time; my expectations weren't very high.
Briefly, we were allowed just under an hour up on Deck 10 in Hemispheres. Approximately 80 people came including about 40 passengers; all, bar two, had sailed on board, knowing and holding great affection for QE2. They included stewards, bar tenders, and housekeeping crew, engineers and several senior officers (approx ten), as well as Commodore Rynd. He arrived late, saying he preferred others to speak.
Fascinating stories were told by passengers, thoughts and hopes expressed - and I'd had Rob's statement of the recent status of QE2, as well as recent images, laminated - these were passed round, much to the enjoyment of many. Maria (Cunard Singer, on QV and formerly on board QE2) was on hand with the second Mic.
Mark Oldroyd -Executive Chef on QV, previously senior chef on board QE2 provided superb small eats (' If it's for QE2, it has to be Caviar!!'), these appeared in great quantities soon after lunch, and although they were enjoyed in Hemispheres (our meeting place), there was quite a lot left waiting to be eaten later, and I made sure that the remainder were distributed amongst Crew eating places! No food on a Cunard ship lasts beyond four hours - after that time it gets trashed).
There were a good few stories told by the Officers - there was the recall of the various Big Waves, Leaks, and other dramatic events - and others that were hilarious and 'irregular',at least one that had probably be best kept 'under wraps'!
Our time together seemed to go well - there was much laughter, and real camaraderie, particularly amongst those men in whites!
There are a few images - however, my iMac has fried - so these will need to wait till I have more time.
All the best
Rosie
