The Queen Anne

 

On spec, my brother in law Tim , sister Ann and I drove to Liverpool, to wave the newest Cunard liner well on her first voyage. Tied up at the Princess Dock , the ship looked huge and beautiful and I was suddenly  hurled back to my childhood where Shelley Winters got stuck in an ornamental Christmas Tree and Stella Stevens just wore panties “ what else do I need?”
Thousands of people turned up to watch the Queen leave port, and we all waved our phone lights as the tugs pulled her out into the pool and the fireworks magically lit up the sky. 

50 comments:

  1. Anonymous1:02 am

    Do you ever stop doing interesting things ?

    Keith

    Xx

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    1. Anonymous9:05 am

      This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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    2. Anonymous2:43 pm

      Me spies a jealous head

      Lee

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    3. Who wouldn’t go given the chance?

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  2. I should love to see Stella Stevens en deshabille!

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  3. Anonymous3:42 am

    John. Real life. Your siblings are amazing

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    1. Just products of parents who never did anything with us

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  4. Barbara Anne4:05 am

    Certainly a touch of magic!!

    Hugs!

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  5. Well done. I'm sure everyone on board really appreciated that. It must have been a really special moment.

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  6. A special moment to remember!

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  7. I only live a stone's throw away, but I hate crowds. If I could get a view without all the people, I'd have been there! xx

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    1. There were loads there HH EVEN late on

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  8. Not something that many people would get the chance to do ..... must have looked spectacular. XXXX

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    1. I have missed several big events in Liverpool who stage loads….The giant puppets, the tall ships , the Queen Mary 2
      I wasn’t going to miss this

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  9. breathtaking ! x 🛳⚓🎆

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  10. Good for you guys. How special!

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  11. Anonymous10:01 am

    I would LOVE to have seen that! I am fascinated by ocean liners and would love to do a crossing (although I have less than zero interest in Caribbean cruises). One of these days...
    Nina

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    Replies
    1. I’m obsessed with the deco look of the great Queens , Mary, Elizabeth ..il de France , Normande

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  12. Anonymous10:08 am

    I would have loved to have been there, she looks magnificent, truly a special moment. We once sailed beside one of the very large cruise ships and our mast was lower than it’s bow. Queen Anne looks much bigger. Gigi

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    1. How wonderful , sailing in small boats I would hate

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  13. The Queen Anne called into Kirkwall (up here in Orkney) last week. I had a hospital appointment, so I saw her berthed in the harbour as the bus went by :)

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    1. I wouldn’t have thought the harbour could cope with her size, but wartime ships moored there

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    2. We get some pretty big cruise ships calling into Kirkwall, much smaller ones in Stromness where I live. It is something of a double-edged sword to be honest, especially if there are a couple of ships in on the same day!

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  14. How fun, glad you were there for the experience.

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    Replies
    1. We all said that on the way home, it was well worth the effort

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  15. The view from Wirral was superb! X

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    1. We got the best view of the fireworks, with the ship beneath them and L'Pool skyline behind! Liverpool Pier Head is less than 1,100 metres from Woodside, quite a lot closer than the horizon! X

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  16. Anonymous1:27 pm

    Well I've travelled across the Atlantic both ways on the QE2 and the QM2. I doubt I'll ever do this one though - BA

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    1. Omg I so would love to hear your stories

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    2. Anonymous8:31 am

      A lot of water and a lot of gin...BA

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  17. Anonymous1:39 pm

    I love when the big ships sail by all lit up and festive. I’ll check ShipFinder to see this new beauty if she sails to ny
    Lizzy d

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    1. The evening felt rather historic

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    2. Cunard's website says she is leaving Southampton early January '25 and sailing here to NYC! on her first round the world tour. Here Jan 9, I must be watching. The big ships are amazing, lovely to see them again after Covid years.

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  18. Anonymous2:13 pm

    What you saw was her Christening. Gigi

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    1. We missed the naming event ( by 5 Liverpudlian women celebs)

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    2. Why Matt & Emma Willis recorded a message is beyond me, they're from London/Birmingham!
      It was right for Craig Charles to have a role though! Alison Steadman should have been in the naming party, she's a Liverpool girl, as is Kat J.T.

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  19. Watching this majestic ship go out to sea on a first voyage had to be really exciting. You are lucky to be part of the event.

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  20. What a spectacle! As I recall Stella Stevens makes some crack about Shelley's weight, and how she doesn't want to get stuck behind her.

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    1. “ I’m going next , so if old fat arse gets stuck I won’t be caught behind her”

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  21. Jo in Auckland9:49 pm

    You just HAVE to see things like that... it's history in the making and you become part of it. In years to come they will talk about the crowds coming from far and wide to see the spectacle and they will be including you and yours. How wonderful.

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  22. Jo in Auckland9:49 pm

    You just HAVE to see things like that... it's history in the making and you become part of it. In years to come they will talk about the crowds coming from far and wide to see the spectacle and they will be including you and yours. How wonderful.

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  23. Wish I could have been there - glad you enjoyed it John.
    I crossed the Atlantic on the original Queen Mary in 1964 to come home to Devon for Christmas - then returned to the USA on Holland-America's then brand new S.S. Statendam. Both crossings were somewhat rough in Dec. and Jan., the aging Queen Mary being the worst with poor stabilizers - but l loved it all and my life became full of travel on ships of all sizes. Have sailed on Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria - would love to take a trip on Queen Anne next!!!!
    Mary -

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  24. Anonymous1:30 pm

    We love Liverpool a wonderful city. Wish could of seen this. Lucky you
    Irene

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