It was years in the making, but on November 29, 2010 a magnificent 18′ builder’s model of the renowned former Cunard flagship Lusitania arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia where it will become the centre-piece of a revamped ‘Cunard exhibit’ at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. It was trucked from Toronto, Ontario where since the mid 1960’s it has been in storage in the Marine branch of the City of Toronto Museum. The model was painted white and reconfigured as a sister ship Mauretania after the tragic torpedoing and sinking of Lusitania May 7, 1915.

Below: Sequence showing the off-loading and transport of the encased ‘Lusitania’ from transfer truck, along the boardwalk
past CSS Acadia, and on into her new home in the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic.

Above Right: The moment we have all been waiting for…uncovering the grand builder’s model of Lusitania…
shown here with Dan Conlin, curator of marine history in foreground and Eamonn Doorly, master boat builder in background.

Boatyard at Maritime Museum of Atlantic... Eamonn Doorly, master boat builder at MMA in Halifax, in rear of photo proudly shows his latest restoration to Andrew and Helen (Campbell) McMaster of Glasgow, Scotland and Sydney, Australia where they now make their home... Judith Langley, hostess for a day in foreground. Halifax, October 2009

History will earmark 2009 as the year that Cunard’s Queen Victoria made her maiden call to the Port of Halifax. However, the cruise season also witnessed the flagship Queen Mary 2 in port on a number of occasions… still stopping traffic and turning heads, even though she has been a regular visitor to Halifax since her inaugural visit here in 2004.

It is always a pleasure to meet and greet passenger friends from visiting Cunard vessels…and to help them experience the inherent truth in a popular Maritimes tourism slogan … ‘Nova Scotia…so much to sea!’ And speaking of slogans… getting there is still very much half the fun! (Cunard Line advertising slogan).

In Nova Scotia we never say ‘good bye’, but rather ‘we’ll be seeing you’. And so it was with these Cunard visitors, all of whom made it back to their ship on time!

Kitchen party... Harold Woods of Liverpool, England, retired Cunarder and former standby engineer for Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, Judith Langley, Beryl Woods and John G. Langley in Halifax, Nova Scotia July, 2009.

'With leave of the Captain' ... Christel Hansen, secretary to the Captain aboard Queen Mary 2 spends some time ashore , pictured here with Judith Langley in front of the statue of Samuel Cunard on the Halifax waterfront....what better place from which to begin a tour of Cunard's hometown!

Britannia Cup manufactured by Boston silversmith firm of Lows, Ball & Co., now Shreve, Crump & Low and presented by merchants of Boston to Samuel Cunard in 1842

Britannia Cup: Were you aware that one of the world’s most famous pieces of silverware is displayed aboard the Cunard Line flagship Queen Mary 2?

Cunard Line was launched in 1840 when the company’s first mail steamer Britannia crossed the North Atlantic on her maiden voyage to Halifax and Boston. With the birth of Cunard Line and the advent of steam on the Atlantic, transportation and commerce was transformed between the Old and New Worlds. Boston soon became the western terminus for the Cunard steamships in North America.

The merchants of Boston were most appreciative of the enhancement of trade brought about to their city by Samuel Cunard … and his line of mail steamers of which Britannia was the first. To demonstrate their gratitude they commissioned a renowned Boston silversmith, Obadiah Rich to fashion a large urn or cup out of silver plate. At the time Rich was employed by the Boston firm of Lows, Ball & Company which continues to operate to this day under the firm name of Shreve, Crump & Low.

Official transfer of Britannia Cup from QE2 to QM2, 2004. Commodore Warwick, Master of QM2 accepting the cup from Captain McNaught, Master of QE2.

The piece was finished and delivered to Samuel Cunard via Britannia in 1842. The ‘Loving Cup’ as it was sometime called stood two and one half feet tall and was the epitome of the silversmith’s art. Not much is known about where it was kept post 1842. As the story goes, the cup, which originally had a top disappeared for many years until, amazingly, in 1967 a Deputy Chairman of Cunard Line in United States discovered it in an antique shop in Maryland. That same year it was brought back into service so to speak when it was presented aboard the Cunard liner Franconia on the occasion of her first post wartime visit to Boston. Subsequent to then, it was transferred to Queen Elizabeth 2 where it remained on display until transferred to the new flagship Queen Mary 2 in 2004.

The vase, also known by yet another name…the Boston Cup, represents the very essence of Cunard history and heritage. It has had a much travelled and remarkable history…some of which has yet to be told. If anyone knows more about the cup’s past, we hope that you will share it via this website.

Above Left: Marquee over storefront of present day Shreve, Crump & Low, Boston, Ma.
Above Right: Staff member at Shreve, Crump & Low with old company ledgers.
Note image of Britannia Cup in collage on wall in rear of photo

Dawn breaks as QE2 arrives in Halifax for the last time September 21, 2008

September 21, 2008 was yet another historic day in the life of this Canadian east coast seaport which is the birthplace of Samuel Cunard, founder of Cunard Line.
The longest serving Cunard liner QE2 tied up for the last time at Pier 22, promptly at 8:00 am. Soon thereafter many of the 1650 passengers, most of British descent disembarked the ship to explore the city from which Cunard Line was conceived back in 1840.

QE2 turning in Halifax harbour with site of original Cunard wharves, now Canadian Naval Dockyard, visible to extreme right. (photo by Andrew K. Langley)

Meanwhile, civic, government and port officials had been invited aboard the ship for a reception and luncheon. During the reception Captain Ian McNaught, Master of QE2 presented John G. Langley, Q.C., Chairman of Cunard Steamship Society with the QE2’s paying off pennant for Halifax, Cunard’s Canadian homeport. The tradition of the paying off of a ship, the taking of a liner out of service, has long been a part of the Cunard tradition. The pennant embodies the history and heritage of both the ship and the company. This one has special significance to Halifax and will be shared and preserved on behalf of all Canadians by the Cunard Steamship Society.

A new generation of ‘Cunarder’ – Cunard Steamship Society Chairman John G. Langley, Q.C. with granddaughter Elle Adison Langley and Captain McNaught onboard QE2 in Halifax, Nova Scotia September 21, 2008	Captain Ian McNaught addressing reception aboard QE2 in Halifax September 21, 2008
QE2 Captain Ian McNaught presents John G. Langley, Q.C., Chairman of Cunard Steamship Society with ship’s paying off pennant for Halifax, Canadian homeport for Cunard Line and birthplace of company founder Samuel Cunard – onboard QE2 in Halifax, September 21, 2008	Queen Elizabeth 2 moves off the Halifax seawall for the last time with the aid of the indefatigable harbour tugs. (photo by Andrew K. Langley)

Cunard Steamship Society Chairman John G. Langley, Q.C. with QE2 librarians Carmel Rogers (L) and Jayne Downey (R) onboard QE2

The Isle of Man Post Office, working in conjunction with Cunard Line and other Cunard enthusiasts has produced a number of spectacular stamps and commemorative covers to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth 2 in her final year of service.
The Cunard Steamship Society was pleased to collaborate in the production of a Limited Edition Commemorative Cover ‘The QE2 bids farewell to Canada’ which was released aboard QE2 September 21, 2008, the very day that she made her final port call to Halifax, Nova Scotia, birthplace of company founder Samuel Cunard.

Copies of this cover, signed by the Chairman of the Cunard Steamship Society, along with a varied assortment of other limited edition items produced by the Isle of Man Post Office in conjunction with Cunard Line are available as part of a Queen Elizabeth 2 –The Farewell Season Luxury Box Set . Orders may be made for a limited time online at: www.iomstamps.com or by emailing: stamps@iompost.com

Front piece of commemorative envelope ‘QE2 Farewell to Canada’ released onboard QE2 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada September 21, 2008

Reverse side of IOM commemorative cover ‘QE2 Farewell To Canada’

This year 2008 marks ten years since the Cunard Steamship Society was incorporated in 1998.
Originally set up as a means of preserving and promoting Cunard history, the Society has been very active pursuing this mandate and during this time has participated in many initiatives which have helped to make the public more aware of the significant role in maritime history played by Halifax native Samuel Cunard and the Line which continues to proudly carry his name throughout the world.

In June of 2008 the Cunard Steamship Society attained another milestone when it was granted charitable status under the Income Tax Act (Canada). This new status is of particular importance to the Society in achieving its mandate of preserving and promoting Cunard history and heritage. Henceforth the Society may issue charitable receipts for bona fide donations of cash or for the appraised value of artifacts in the nature of Cunard ephemera. (The onus is on all donors to satisfy themselves as to the applicability of their local income tax rules to any individual donation to the society.)

Some of the enormous crowd gathered on Sydney waterfront February 24, 2008 to take in the ‘Royal Rendezvous’ – final meeting of QE2 and Queen Victoria

In February of 2008, while on her Maiden World Cruise, Cunard’s newest liner Queen Victoria made her inaugural port call to Sydney, Australia. Meanwhile, Cunard’s former flagship QE2 was on her 26th and last World Cruise and making her final port visit to Sydney. Both ships…the youngest and the eldest Cunard monarchs met for a memorable weekend in spectacular Sydney harbour.
The entire city, which has had a long association with Cunard Line, particularly during WW2 when Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth were there as troopships, was in a mood to party, as only the Aussies can.

Final parting of the Queens – QE2 and Queen Victoria passing in Sydney Harbour February 24, 2008

On a beautiful sunny day February 24th, 2008 the Sydney waterfront was the scene of tens of thousands people gathered to watch the much-anticipated ‘meeting of the Queens’. Shortly after 6:00 pm QE2 and Queen Victoria passed each other in mid harbour to the deep, resonating sound of horns from each ship, to the delight of all those watching from shore and aboard the large flotilla of pleasure craft which encircled the Queens. There were more than a few tears shed by rapt spectators both young and old. It was a special moment… another chapter in the rich heritage which is uniquely Cunard.

QE2 berths in Sydney, Australia for the last time February 24, 2008

‘Royal Rendezvous’ – Sydney Ferries Corporation brochure advertising final meeting of QE2 and Queen Victoria, February 24, 2008. (Click to Enlarge)