Book explores Queen Mary's past and future in great detail

Queen Mary, ordered from John Brown’s Clydebank in the early 1930s, was a project of incredible expense and colossal ambition There were difficulties encountered in the construction of a ship of that scale and arrangements had to be made to modify the shipyard.

Her unusual length actually encroached on the normal working space, and in consequence, a bridge had to be specially constructed to facilitate the running of trains and other traffic-bearing materials for the ship.

Excitement and merriment surrounded her launch on September 26, 1934, as crowds waited for QM to travel up from Buckingham Palace. It was estimated 200,000 people had crammed into the area surrounding the shipyard.

“I am pleased to name this ship, Queen Mary. I wish success to her and all who sail in her,” announced King George V.

She left the Clyde on March 24, 1936, her departure watched by one million sightseers who thronged the river bank. She anchored in the deep part of the river where she underwent tests before returning to anchorage to be spectacularly floodlit for the following two nights.

In the early hours of March 26, she set sail for Southampton to arrive off the Isle of Wight the next day.

A similar number of spectators gathered to welcome the liner to her new home port for the first time.

Her maiden voyage was from Southampton on May 27, 1936 - 88 years to this very day - and despite some initial problems, the liner won the Blue Riband in August the same year.

RMS Queen Mary: The World’s Favourite Liner by David Ellery explores the construction, launch and beyond in incredible detail. Dozens of first-hand interviews and more than 400 images, including rare colour pictures from the 1930s, help bring the ship to life.

Originally published 30 years ago but now revised, rewritten, updated and greatly expanded, there’s never been a better way to learn about the beautifully majestic liner.

“The title is the same, but it is very very different,” said David. “It’s like the original book but on steroids.”

“A lot has happened in the last 30 years since it was written, so it was a good opportunity to bring the story up to date.”

I have met and interviewed a lot of other people and it gave me a chance to weave their stories in.”

Queen Mary served as a troopship during the Second World War, relying on her speed to steer clear of U-boats.

Her only wartime scars came from a collision with the Royal Navy cruiser HMS Curacao in October, 1942, which sadly resulted in the loss of many lives.

The cruiser had been sent out to escort QM into Scottish Waters when she was cut in two, resulting in the death of 338 of the crew.

Shortly after the War, Cunard’s plans to use two large, fast liners - QM and Queen Elizabeth - to operate a weekly service to New York, in place of the three needed before the conflict, came into its own.

It was one of the most harmonious partnerships the maritime world had ever seen, with each of the Queens carrying more than 2,000 passengers at almost all times.

Her time in service saw the glamorous heyday of cruising, with her passenger list often boasted well-known names from Hollywood as well as sporting heroes and royalty.

Once jet aircraft began flying the route high above the Atlantic, the fate of the ships was clear.

Queen Mary was sold off to Long Beach where she became a tourist attraction, floating hotel and conference centre.

Her delivery voyage on October 31, 1967, took place from Southampton to California and was marketed and sold as a cruise. This had the added attraction of a trip through the Strait of Magellan into the Pacific, as the liner was too big to go through the Panama Canal.

Many of those who made the final voyage were past cruisers on QM and the ship’s last master, Captain John Treasure Jones, retired after the handing over.

RMS Queen Mary: The World’s Favourite Liner by David Ellery is a definitive look at one of, if not the, greatest liners of our time and a must-have for anyone with even a vague interest in her long and varied life.

Published by Seaforth Publishing RMS Queen Mary: The World’s Favourite Liner is available from all good bookstores.

Despite this being a revised and updated version of the book, David’s research and insatiable thirst to uncover the stories of Queen Mary continues. He invites all with memories, tales and information on the great liner to share them by visiting his website davidellery.co.uk .