Seaford Museum & Martello Tower

June 2012

Seaford Martello Tower
Copyright Seaford Museum & Heritage Society

The gun on the top of the Martello Tower

View from the top of the Tower

Seaford Museum

Seaford bay looking west to Newhaven

Seven Sisters to the east of Seaford

'Seven Sisters' leaving Newhaven

Vice Admiral James Walker's plaque in Seaford Church - he sailed with distinction with Admiral Lord Nelson

Thames Jubilee Pageant 3rd June 2012

Thames Jubilee Pageant
Sunday 3rd June 2012


Planning, perseverance, determination, weather, tides and luck all came to my assistance on Sunday 3rd June. As an ardent Royalist, I desperately wanted to be beside the River Thames in London to see history being made, with an incredible 1,000 vessels taking part in the Jubilee Pageant in honour of the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The previous week I was on a cruising holiday with the Ocean Liner Society on board HORIZON in the western Mediterranean and due back into Marseilles early on the 3rd June. The weather and good luck ensured we arrived before schedule, and one of my travelling companions had asked that three of us be allowed off the ship immediately after arrival and immigration clearance, and so we were soon stepping ashore and being waved off by our other companions on deck. A taxi took us to the airport, luggage was checked in and handed over and two of us were soon flying off to London Gatwick Airport, bound for the Jubilee Pageant and unable to believe our good fortune.

We took the train to London, left luggage at a rail terminus, and set off into the gloom and damp of a London truly en fête for the Diamond Jubilee. It was so exciting to be there, amongst what we later found out was 1.4 million people standing along the sides of the River Thames and the Pageant route. Lambeth Bridge was closed so we stood on the South Bank with as good a view as we could manage. This was one of the times when I did regret being of a shorter stature than some. However, people moved or went for food or even went to queue for an hour to use a Portaloo, so eventually I could take photographs.

Down river the Thames Barrier had been closed so the water was relatively smooth for the tiny vessels taking part, which had been assembling at noon. The boats were in nine groups:

1. Man-powered boats
2. Commonwealth Flags
3. Royal Squadron
4. Dunkirk Little Ships
5. Historic Boats. I was particularly interested in seeing this group as one of my retired maritime friends was crewing on JOLLY BRIT. Now privately owned, she was the Jolly boat on Her Majesty’s Yacht BRITANNIA, taking the Royal Family ashore when needed.
6. Working Boats
7. Leisure Boats
8. Narrow Boats
9. Passenger Boats.

In addition to these, there were also several Music Boats interspersed in the Pageant, carrying an orchestra or band playing pieces specially composed for the Jubilee. I also found out that underneath Tower Bridge there were 47 tall ships, yachts, Thames barges and historic craft forming the Avenue of Sail; this included ARTEMIS, previously seen recently in Hamburg.

The weather was incredibly chilly for June, the clouds were low and threatened rain any moment, but the excitement was mounting and soon we could hear cheers and bells as the Pageant came near. That was the start of several absolutely glorious hours of pageantry which probably hadn’t been seen on the River Thames in London since 1747. We were so thrilled to be part of it – an island race rejoicing in our heritage and so happy to be showing our affection and respect for Queen Elizabeth II on her Diamond Jubilee.


Beside Lambeth Bridge, which was closed


The crowds around us


One of the big screens on the other end of Lambeth Bridge


My view to the right


Lambeth Palace behind me


Unexpected sight


Royal Jubilee Bells - a floating Belfry of 8 new bells, including 'Elizabeth' weighing in at nearly half a ton - and all ringing!


Tug Steven B pushing the Royal Jubilee Bells


The Gloriana, which led the oar-powered section of the Flotilla


Some of the rowers


More rowers


Edwardian, one of the Music vessels


Trinity 500s, each carrying a Commonwealth flag


Livery Companies


Spirit of Chartwell, with Her Majesty The Queen, His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, HRH the Prince of Wales, HRH the Duchess of Cornwall, HRH the Duke and HRH the Duchess of Cambridge and HRH Prince Henry


The Queen waving to me


Havengore, with the Duke of York, Princesses Beatrix and Eugenie and other members of the Royal Family


Havengore heading towards the Houses of Parliament


Eastbourne's new Lifeboat 'Diamond Jubilee'


Oooh, that's not Prince Philip


Some of the Dunkirk boats


Crowned heads


Another of the Music boats


London tugs


Historic boats


Historic Boats - Jolly Brit


Historic boats - Jolly Brit, previously from HMY Britannia


Historic boats - Jolly Brit, and 441 - one of the last surviving WWII rescue craft


Fisheries boat


The Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers


Umbrellas

After the Pageant we walked back towards an Underground station, passing one hotel which had a band and bar on the pavement. The rain was pouring down, everyone we passed was smiling and the band played, oh so appropriately, 'Singing in the Rain'.

Hamburg Harbour 823rd Birthday

Hamburg Harbour 823rd Birthday
Day 3, 13th May 2012 (the final one)

I stayed in the city last night, and arrived by train back at the harbour this morning. Luckily my camera was ready as I stepped off the train onto the platform:

Grimaldi's Grande Africa was way over the other side of the River Elbe, with Grande Togo nearby

Queen Mary 2 arrived, with much whistling and cheering

Stern view, right in front of me

Waving

Deutschland was at the cruise ship quay, but it was almost impossible to get near her.

QM2 Day Village and Viewing Point

Goodbye QM2, I'm off to see other things

Brickwork

A mass of masts, with the last of the sun glinting on them

I was so pleased to have been part of the Hamburg Harbour 823rd Birthday celebrations, and the AIDA MAR christening ceremonies which we viewed from SEUTE DEERN on Saturday. One of my friends has given me the link to Aida's video of the event: http://www.aida-kuesst-hamburg.de/ The fireworks were fabulous - difficult to photograph but memorable for all that.

I had seen hundreds, if not thousands, of all sorts of vessels on the River Elbe, and travelled on many of them, and being part of the Parade was great fun on Friday on board CAP SAN DIEGO.

The weather had been warm, cold, dry, sunny and overcast during the three days, but that didn't stop us in any way. The Sunday morning was fascinating from the moment I stepped off the train and watched an Aida ship sailing away, QUEEN MARY 2 arriving, another Grand Parade forming up and STAR FLYER preparing to sail. I'm told that over a million people attended the events over the three days, and I am so pleased that I was one of them.