Retired Commodore Ron Warwick to be Honorary Curator.
Anecdotes and artefacts relating to Cunard Line’s three great Queen liners (Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and QE2) will be displayed in Cunardia, the museum exhibit on board Cunard’s new Queen, Queen Victoria.
The new liner will be the first ship to carry a museum-style exhibit of Cunard memorabilia, artefacts and vintage souvenirs including Queen Mary’s log book and her historic Zig Zag clock – the vital timekeeping device which helped avoid World War II U-Boat attacks against the ship. The exhibition is divided into five different areas:
· ‘Creating a Queen’, which details the histories of the three vessels.
· ‘A Queen’s Day’, which traces a typical day at sea from the perspective of both guest and crew members.
· ‘Queens at War’, featuring the role of the Queens as troop carriers during World War II and the Falklands War in 1982
· ‘Queens Do Not Race’, an in-depth history of the Atlantic Blue Riband highlighted by a life-size replica of the famous Hales Trophy
· ‘Inspired by a Queen’, detailing the Queens’ far-reaching impact on many aspects of creativity Taking advantage of Cunard’s extensive image archive, the latest audio-visual technology and contemporary display design, the exhibit immerses guests in the Line’s history.
In addition, retired Commodore Ronald Warwick, former Master of Queen Mary 2 and QE2, will serve as Honorary Curator of the exhibit. As an avid Cunard historian he was a natural choice, not only due to his own place in Cunard history, but also because his father, Commodore William E. Warwick, captained Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and QE2. Interestingly, the two Commodore Warwick’s are the only father-and-son captains in the line’s 168-year history. Commodore Warwick says:
“I am delighted to accept the position of Cunardia’s first Honorary Curator, particularly as the exhibit focuses on Cunard’s Queens. I look forward to sharing the illustrious history of these renowned ocean liners with Cunard enthusiasts sailing aboard Queen Victoria.” Carol Marlow, Cunard’s President and Managing Director, says:
“There is much excitement surrounding this exhibit. Anecdotes, artefacts and memorabilia continue to pour in - a testament to Cunard’s singular place in the hearts of maritime enthusiasts around the world.”
To tap this interest, extensive research was conducted within Cunard’s own archives and public appeals issued to past guests, crew and Cunard collectors in both the United States and Great Britain. According to Martyn Routledge of the London-based Open Agency, which put together the exhibition:
“The timing is ideal as most guests and crew of Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth are now in their 80s or older and are extremely proud of their Cunard experience and eager to share their memories.” Among the most significant pieces to be exhibited are:
- A replica of the Hales Trophy awarded to the winner of the Atlantic Blue Riband. Although Queen Mary broke the speed record in 1936 and held it unchallenged from 1938 until1952, Cunard Line refused to accept the award on the grounds that the Line still followed Samuel Cunard’s instruction to his captains in 1840 to put safety before speed at all times.
- A zig-zag clock from Queen Mary during her wartime service. The clock was kept on the Bridge to tell navigators when to change direction during the operation known as zig-zagging. Regularly changing course was a tactic designed to confuse U-boats. Hitler had put a price on the ship as a trophy of war.
Other exhibits include a section of Queen Mary’s deck rail carved with the initials of some GIs who contributed to her unbroken record of carrying the largest number of people on a ship; the first log book of Queen Mary (handwritten by Sir Edgar Britten, Captain during her maiden voyage); collections of never-before-published images illustrating the celebrity hey-day of Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth; detailed ship models and souvenirs; artifacts and stories related to the ‘Cunard Yanks’, the young crew who brought back the latest New York fashions in clothing and music to post-war Britain.
While focusing on Cunard’s 20th century history, Cunardia also gives a nod to the present with exhibit references to Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, including the cork from the bottle of prosecco that was broken over Queen Victoria’s bow by Maureen Ryan as the ship met open water for the first time. With its typical flair for tradition and ceremony, Cunard chose Ryan, the only known person to have served on four Queens, to serve as the ship’s ‘Madrina’ during Queen Victoria’s float-out celebration. In December, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall will perform the naming of the ship, joining a long line of royals who have launched a Cunard liner.
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