Queen Mary 2 draws crowds of onlookers to Egremont Promenade

Oct 21 2009 by Kevin Core, Birkenhead News

SHIPPING fans lined Egremont Promenade yesterday morning to watch the Queen Mary 2 sail into the maritime town.

From 9.30am enthusiasts from all over Wirral gathered to give a hearty welcome to the prestigious visitor and board the specially organised ferries to take a closer look.

The welcoming party included David Neild, 81, who travelled from Duddon in Chester to witness her arrival.

He said: “It something I had to do. I It is a fantastic spectacle in terms of engineering and it’s great to see her on the Mersey.”

Jonathan Lamkin of Mersey Ferries said: “We were very busy and the morning went really well. She’s really captured everyone’s imagination.”

Cunard’s mammoth flagship, all 148,528 gross tons of her, was first seen properly off Formby foreshore by 10am yesterday. Rising more than 200ft high from the waterline, she was visible long before on the horizon.