Cruise Talk: Two BBC QE2 Specials

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Topic: Two BBC QE2 Specials

Patsy
First Class Passenger
Member # 5611

posted 09-30-2008 04:11 PM

I almost literally bumped into BBC South Today transport correspondant Paul Clifton in the crew area on QE2 at lunchtime. He and his cameraman were being taken around by Thomas the heritage trail guide and came through a door as me and my crew member just reached it on our way out. They told me they were filming for an hour special in this region only to be shown on the 11th November. No time yet but at least if anyone not local has Sky they can watch it via that. For sailaway there was a crew from BBC2 at the marina also filming. They knew about BBC South's one. The BBC2 programme will be shown in March or April, probably on a Saturday. They may interview the son of the man who designed the ship. We were chatting to him before they went to them and the producer was very interested in his story. You heard it here first!

Posts: 2023 | From: Hythe, Hants | Registered: Apr 2005 | IP: Logged

joe at travelpage
Administrator
Member # 622

posted 09-30-2008 04:47 PM

Patsy,

Since you have gotten to know some of the crew, do you know who has served onboard the longest?

We had a waiter named Michael in Princess Grill during our first crossing in 1990 and I remember seeing him still onboard a few years ago. He had also been on during her Falklands tour. Trying to remember his last name.

Joe at TravelPage.com

Posts: 29976 | From: Great Falls, Virginia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Patsy
First Class Passenger
Member # 5611

posted 09-30-2008 04:55 PM

Hi Joe,

Not off hand but I'll ask. I know Thomas has been there over 20 years. My steward Fidel last year was the same.

Posts: 2023 | From: Hythe, Hants | Registered: Apr 2005 | IP: Logged

Patsy
First Class Passenger
Member # 5611

posted 10-29-2008 04:21 PM

Hi again Joe,

I haven't been able to find out yet. My crew member's friend Stevie has worked on and off since 1982. He did say he'd ask around.

Posts: 2023 | From: Hythe, Hants | Registered: Apr 2005 | IP: Logged

joe at travelpage
Administrator
Member # 622

posted 10-29-2008 05:10 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Patsy:
Hi again Joe,
I haven't been able to find out yet. My crew member's friend Stevie has worked on and off since 1982. He did say he'd ask around.

Patsy,

I think Michael's last name was Hay or Hayes.

Joe

Posts: 29976 | From: Great Falls, Virginia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Patsy
First Class Passenger
Member # 5611

posted 10-29-2008 05:20 PM

Thanks Joe,

I'll pass that on and see what he says. I was surprised Stevie had no idea who'd been there the longest when he would have worked with so many over the decades.

Posts: 2023 | From: Hythe, Hants | Registered: Apr 2005 | IP: Logged

Brian_O
First Class Passenger
Member # 3910

posted 10-30-2008 12:00 AM

How about Maureen Ryan? She worked on QE2 from 1969 until QM2 entered service, with the exception of just under 2 years between late October 1977 to early October 1979 when she was not working for Cunard. That would make almost 33 years.

Brian

[ 10-30-2008: Message edited by: Brian_O ]

Posts: 2698 | From: Pointe-Claire, QC Canada | Registered: Jun 2003 | IP: Logged

Patsy
First Class Passenger
Member # 5611

posted 10-30-2008 10:12 AM

Joe, that was just the kick up the rear he needed to actually do something instead of saying he would.

Michael retired last year. Did he ever tell you he worked at Buckingham Palace before the QE2?

Brian, I think if I mention Maureen he'll get confused! If she was still on Mary during the first part of 2006 he may know her since he joined in LA and was on Caronia in 2004, his first Cunard job.

[ 10-30-2008: Message edited by: Patsy ]

Posts: 2023 | From: Hythe, Hants | Registered: Apr 2005 | IP: Logged

joe at travelpage
Administrator
Member # 622

posted 10-30-2008 11:41 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Patsy:
Joe, that was just the kick up the rear he needed to actually do something instead of saying he would. Michael retired last year. Did he ever tell you he worked at Buckingham Palace before the QE2?

Yes, he was our waiter during our honeymoon crossing when we were in Princess Grill. We had a seat up high just past the spiral staircase to the Princess Grill Lounge. He was a very nice man who had done many things. At one point he told us he was working on a children's book. I think I saw him working in the Lido (?) at lunch during our last trip a few years ago but when I went to look for him he was gone.

Joe at TravelPage.com

Posts: 29976 | From: Great Falls, Virginia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Patsy
First Class Passenger
Member # 5611

posted 10-30-2008 04:39 PM

It's nice when you get crew like that because you always remember them. I was delighted to see my first waiter Francis when I was having lunch in the mess on Monday. Such a shame his settling down plans came to nothing and he still has no idea what he'll do after Dubai.

He thinks the continual longest serving crew member is John Davies who is Staff Rooms Manager. Worked for Cunard before 1969 and joined the ship in 72/3. John Duffy (Hotel Manager) joined in 1976. He had to get clearance from both for me to eat in the mess. I'm guessing he never asked about showing me the Pig & Whistle and a few other places otherwise he wouldn't have been so nervy telling me to hide the camera.

Posts: 2023 | From: Hythe, Hants | Registered: Apr 2005 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 10-30-2008 04:47 PM

This posting reminds me of a former CGT deck steward who was famous for years. My parents first met him on the early post war crossings of Ile de France and Liberte. We again met him on later crossing on France. His name was Joseph. Everyone knew him a/b. Anyone here ever met him on a CGT crossing?

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Cunard Fan
First Class Passenger
Member # 7530

posted 10-30-2008 05:52 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Brian_O:
How about Maureen Ryan? She worked on QE2 from 1969 until QM2 entered service, with the exception of just under 2 years between late October 1977 to early October 1979 when she was not working for Cunard. That would make almost 33 years.
Brian
[ 10-30-2008: Message edited by: Brian_O ]

I believe she also worked on the first Queen Mary and the QE. So shes worked on every Cunard Queen so far unless she didn't do QV.

Posts: 2327 | From: Pasadena just north of Queen Mary | Registered: Sep 2006 | IP: Logged

Patsy
First Class Passenger
Member # 5611

posted 10-31-2008 09:31 AM

I was sent this today. It's John Davies, longest serving crew member who joined in 1971 (he asked).

I did meet him on Monday as he thought. He'd been off for a while and was back to complete the cruises.

Posts: 2023 | From: Hythe, Hants | Registered: Apr 2005 | IP: Logged

Patsy
First Class Passenger
Member # 5611

posted 11-05-2008 02:21 PM

Just a reminder. BBC South next Tuesday 6.30pm-7.30pm. Sadly they'll cut off before the fireworks but it's meant to be online as well on the South Today site.

Posts: 2023 | From: Hythe, Hants | Registered: Apr 2005 | IP: Logged

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