VOLUNTEERS were treated to a special afternoon on board of one of the world’s most glamorous ships.

The group of Southampton Pride helpers were given a tour round Queen Elizabeth as part of Cunard’s support of the August bank holiday festival.

After a tour of the cabins, indoor and outdoor areas and the theatre the group of volunteers were served a gourmet three-course lunch in one of the restaurants.

As previously reported Cunard are Southampton Pride’s official sponsors this year and have pledged to support the event alongside dozens of other Southampton organisations.

With pop sensation Sinitta and Sonia taking to the stage on August 26 the event will be headlined by 90s boy band 911 - with an additional stage inside the Guildhall for local and acoustic acts.

Organiser Julianne Watling-McCarthy, who also runs the Stage Door ,is expecting 7-9,000 at this year’s event.

She said: “It was amazing. We were given a full tour of the beautiful ship in small groups and then served a gourmet three course lunch. The service was outstanding and it made us all want to book a world cruise. We got to see inside some of the cabins and all of the indoor and outdoor areas and the amazing theatre.”

Theparade will run from West Marlands Road to the Bargate and back on August 26 at 2pm.

There will be food and market stalls along West Marlands Road as well as after parties at the London Hotel, the Stage Door, The Edge and The Box. It will be opened by Southampton’s culture chief Cllr Satvir Kaur.