By royal appointment
Penny and I should surely be wearing tiaras and tinsel by now because we’ve both had VIP experiences this week. Hers was a flirtation with HRH Prince Edward, while mine was a flirtation with the high seas.
Penny met the Earl of Wessex in her role as team leader in charge of catering for the North Dorset Rugby Club, which has been shortlisted for a Volunteers of Great Britain award.
Prince Edward is clearly a royal who appreciates a hearty dish and was keen to know what Penny serves up to the teams. Penny tells me he was practically dribbling at the description of her bacon butties, and ‘Rugby Roast’ dinners.
For the next home match, Penny has designed a new sign: ‘Bacon butties by royal appointment’.
A toast to Independence
I confess to having something of a right royal time myself when I attended the launch of Royal Caribbean International’s biggest ship, Independence of the Seas.
Having been part of the panel to choose the godmother, it was lovely to be at the ceremony when winner Elizabeth Hill let go of the bottle of champagne. Good job they didn’t ask me I’m not sure I could have done it.
The ceremony was witnessed by guests from all over the world and included celebrities from the worlds of stage, screen and sport. I have attended naming ceremonies in the past but none has been quite as affecting as this.
The proceedings started with Kerry Ellis and members of the Independence crew singing Wonderful World. Their moving rendition of the song was followed by the godmother procession and a stirring performance from the Highland Players and International Highlanders, whose bagpipes raised goosebumps among the crowd.
The volume then increased as Irish dance company Celtic Feet took to the floor to raise a thunderous beat.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line chairman and chief executive Richard Fain introduced the godmother. He reminded guests that Royal Caribbean had been looking for an ‘ordinary’ woman who had done extraordinary things, and how Elizabeth had fitted the bill with her work among disadvantaged young people.
Perhaps the most moving moment came when children with special needs, representing the Steve Redgrave Fund, presented Elizabeth with a bouquet of flowers at which point the women in the crowd delved into their handbags for tissues.
Richard presented her with his own gift, which must have been a corker, because the woman nearly passed out. Rumour had it later that it was a diamond necklace. He also presented Elizabeth’s daughter, who had nominated her mother, with a special gift to mark her 13th birthday that day. More tissues.
After the ceremony, we dispersed to enjoy all this special ship has to offer over its 15 decks as we started a two-night cruise to Jersey.
Over the two days I met other travel agents, one being Silvia Feldman of Travel Counsellors, who offered her advice on tackling the climbing wall: “Don’t do it with false nails, you’ll never get a safe grip.”
Fortunately, acrylic nails are no impediment to lifting a glass in the champagne bar located on the Royal Promenade and a few bubbles put us all in the mood for the evening entertainment.
World of Adventure on Ice was thoroughly engaging and had us on the edge of our seats, gasping and whooping in awe. And nobody gasped or whooped louder than Gabi Birbeck who had recently returned from Majorca complete with a hearing problem, so she couldn’t tell quite how many decibels she was emitting.
The little people were well catered for too and I enjoyed watching the Madhatter’s Ball parade with its stilt walkers and high-wire flyers as much as the children did.
There isn’t enough room for me to elaborate on all Independence has to offer, but suffice to say it is a flawless beauty and to be aboard was a remarkable privilege.
Congratulations to all at Royal Caribbean.
Maureen Hill works at Travel Angels, Gillingham, Dorset
