The Chart Room, Quarter Deck.

[Twynkle]

The Chart Room

One of the most popular places on board QE2
Maybe, was it where Rob, Isabelle and Ali first met and started plotting the birth of The QE2 Story?
There is an image of the three of them taken by Isabelle in 2008 - it'll take a while to find it - so in the mean time, enjoy these - and every single one of your happy memories!

'The writing on the wall' included the following:
'We shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we  started and know the place for the first time'. TS Eliot

'The Anchor heaves, the ship swings free, the sails swirl forth - To sea, To Sea!'

Michael - Please, sorry to trouble you!
Wasn't there something by Sir Francis Drake on the walls, too?

There are many other posts that refer to the Chart Room here too, when time permits maybe we can do some cross-referencing!

Isabelle's  photographs in Flickr are superb!

I have now uploaded all my photos of the Chart Room calligraphy, with its many layers of writing in many different styles.
Lovely artwork, and lovely poetry as well.
I wonder what is known about the artwork and the history of these panels?

Here are the broader views :

https://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/3800972983/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/3800976139/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/3801800046/

and here some details :

https://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/2970642703/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/2971487004/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/2971488958/

(Image removed from quote.)

Thank you!

[Twynkle]

Hello Michael,

The Armillary Sphere in the Chart Room, still.
From Alex' photos, this is a gem!

Reply #12 the top image

Illuminated pillars!  I take back my comments!  How lovely they are.
And of all the miles of beige carpeting fitted to QE2 now, I think it works best in the Queens Room, more like her original colours.

Unfortunately it's not quite possible to read the plaque, and if there is information regarding both the donation (?), as well as its history, it could be very interesting.
(It's a type of sundial - and invented by the Ancient Greeks). 

Rosie

[Michael Gallagher]

The sphere has been on board since 1969 and shows the relationship of the planets and earth and the signs of the zodiac. It was presented to Cunard by the Institute of London Underwriters.

[Alex Tarry]

Does this help too...

[Twynkle]

Alex - It Does!
Thank you - and Michael.
This and the Leather picture of Galleons - both must be unique to QE2.
She is still full of treasures which might have been exceptional distressing if they were All in the Cruise Terminal - or worse still, completely off-board!

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

I have a very special memory of the Chart Room.

In July 2008, when I had not yet met Rob but had corresponded quite a lot with him, I put a little gift for him into this chest of drawers, which would have been designed to hold the various sea charts :



This is one of Ed Derbyshire's photos from his recent visit to QE2 Hotel -- apologies for that, but I am not aware of any other photos of this particular chest of drawers.

Rob was on board only a couple of weeks later, and we believed that no one would ever look into the drawers, so my little package would be quite safe in the meantime. When Rob searched the drawers, however, there was nothing there for him... and the Purser's office was not aware of anything either... We had our suspicions, and I would be curious to know what happened... but there we are! It was always a slightly risky business.

A very special chest... with some very special memories! Good to see it again .

[Thomas Hypher]

I have a very special memory of the Chart Room.

In July 2008, when I had not yet met Rob but had corresponded quite a lot with him, I put a little gift for him into this chest of drawers, which would have been designed to hold the various sea charts :

(Image removed from quote.)

This is one of Ed Derbyshire's photos from his recent visit to QE2 Hotel -- apologies for that, but I am not aware of any other photos of this particular chest of drawers.

Rob was on board only a couple of weeks later, and we believed that no one would ever look into the drawers, so my little package would be quite safe in the meantime. When Rob searched the drawers, however, there was nothing there for him... and the Purser's office was not aware of anything either... We had our suspicions, and I would be curious to know what happened... but there we are! It was always a slightly risky business.

A very special chest... with some very special memories! Good to see it again .

Hi Isabelle, a lovely, true story! It got me wondering if you were onboard QE2 on her 20th July 2008 to 31st July 2008 "Mediterranean Mosaic" cruise? Small world if so!

[Michael Gallagher]

The chest when QE2 was in service...

[Michael Gallagher]

The chest was actually a reproduction commissioned by Cunard in 1994 (for the new Chart Room) from Douglas Hosking Oak Furniture

The concept: the drawers contained charts of eight ports QE2 visited. There were three charts for each port – one contemporary, one for the early part of the twentieth century and one from the mid-nineteenth century. Passengers were able to remove the laminated charts and see how the ports had changed since the foundation of Cunard in 1839.

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Oh, thank you, Michael! Great to see the pictures and also to realise the thinking behind the charts, which I did see there but did not take time to study properly. And yes, my little offering was even placed underneath some of those laminated charts...

Thomas, it was immediately before your Mediterranean cruise... mine was a mini cruise (17 to 20 July) to meet up with some members of the Ocean Liner Society. We had a great time working our way around the ship with our cameras -- and as a "bonus", we had a meeting with Queen Victoria, then just a few days old, in Zeebrugge. Only top dignitaries, such as Stephen Card, were allowed on board to have a look at the brand new (and, in our QE2-accustomed eyes, extraordinarily ugly) ship.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/albums/72157606096822947

We may well have passed each other in Southampton .

[Thomas Hypher]

Oh, thank you, Michael! Great to see the pictures and also to realise the thinking behind the charts, which I did see there but did not take time to study properly. And yes, my little offering was even placed underneath some of those laminated charts...

Thomas, it was immediately before your Mediterranean cruise... mine was a mini cruise (17 to 20 July) to meet up with some members of the Ocean Liner Society. We had a great time working our way around the ship with our cameras -- and as a "bonus", we had a meeting with Queen Victoria, then just a few days old, in Zeebrugge. Only top dignitaries, such as Stephen Card, were allowed on board to have a look at the brand new (and, in our QE2-accustomed eyes, extraordinarily ugly) ship.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/albums/72157606096822947

We may well have passed each other in Southampton .

Ooh I see, quite an experience! My Dad was on the tandem with QV in January 2008, QV having entered service the previous month if I recall correctly.

We may well have passed each other in Southampton, maybe in QEII terminal! Small world yet again, as some forum members here were on the same cruise as me and my parents and some were on the cruise straight after ours 

[Brandon Sterkel]

What an awesome story, Isabelle, however it is sad to know that Rob never found the gift.

I enjoy reading short stories like that!

[Thomas Hypher]

What an awesome story, Isabelle, however it is sad to know that Rob never found the gift.

I enjoy reading short stories like that!

Oh I didn't read properly that Rob never found the gift, that's sad 

[Twynkle]

The chest was actually a reproduction commissioned by Cunard in 1994 (for the new Chart Room) from Douglas Hosking Oak Furniture

The concept: the drawers contained charts of eight ports QE2 visited. There were three charts for each port – one contemporary, one for the early part of the twentieth century and one from the mid-nineteenth century. Passengers were able to remove the laminated charts and see how the ports had changed since the foundation of Cunard in 1839.

Hello Michael,
This is something so important - Thank You.
Very much hoping that the 'three of each' charts of the eight ports that you mention are (either) still on board and in That chest....or, better still, in your own archive.

The reason for getting out of bed (usually just before sunrise!) on board QE2 (and other ships) has always been the same - that is, to look out forward - and try to imagine what the earliest explorers saw, before making landfall....

Your extra-precious 19C charts would make such good sense!

The arrivals in NYCH before the Bridge;  in Sydney before the Opera house, Halifax before the TS Bluenose; before the fort even, in St John's NL - and the arrival before Jesus got put up in Rio - and, the arrival up the Mersey before even those Birds.... before getting too carried away - can I ask, do you know which of the charts of the old Ports were kept in that lovely chest?

[Lynda Bradford]

Thank-you Isabelle for your lovely story and the intrigue about what happened to your little gift.  I wonder who took the item and why? when it was clearly not theirs to take. 

Thanks also to Michael for the history of the chest. 

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Thomas, so you were on board between myself and Rob... you didn't happen to look through the charts in the chest? If you did, and the envelope for Rob was not there, we could time its disappearance a bit better  ...

And yes, Michael, what were the 8 ports?

Let me try a guess : Southampton, Liverpool, New York, Halifax, Quebec, Cobh, Cherbourg, Lisbon.

I am thinking along the lines of the historic ports. If I thought of the modern ports, the list would be different.

[Michael Gallagher]

The charts: Southampton, New York, Liverpool, Hong Kong, Sydney, Le Havre, Montreal and Boston.

[Thomas Hypher]

Thomas, so you were on board between myself and Rob... you didn't happen to look through the charts in the chest? If you did, and the envelope for Rob was not there, we could time its disappearance a bit better  ...

And yes, Michael, what were the 8 ports?

Let me try a guess : Southampton, Liverpool, New York, Halifax, Quebec, Cobh, Cherbourg, Lisbon.

I am thinking along the lines of the historic ports. If I thought of the modern ports, the list would be different.

Directly in-between with no other voyages I think as well! Haha 

[Twynkle]

Thomas, so you were on board between myself and Rob... you didn't happen to look through the charts in the chest? If you did, and the envelope for Rob was not there, we could time its disappearance a bit better  ...

And yes, Michael, what were the 8 ports?

Let me try a guess : Southampton, Liverpool, New York, Halifax, Quebec, Cobh, Cherbourg, Lisbon.

I am thinking along the lines of the historic ports. If I thought of the modern ports, the list would be different.

Hi Isabelle
What a lovely thing to do for Rob...
Just guessing - I wonder whether the Charts are still there...?
Also Who of the TQS Membership might either be on board now - or due to join the QE2 soon?
Maybe there could be a MayDay call out -"Please could you check out All the drawers in the Chart room Chest"!

Thank you, Michael.
This is so good -you are extra kind and thoughtful, with both your time as well as such valuable  information.

[Alex Tarry]

Hi Rosie,

We didn't check all the drawers, but I did check the top one...which I can reliably report, not only didn't have any gifts for Rob in it, but was sadly...empty!

Sorry to be the bearer of chart-free news...

Alex