Remembrance Sunday

Good Day Everyone,

The Magnificent Palladium Theatre is where we put on the big production shows and this is where our Remembrance Service was held. 760 seats over three deck and two 'Royal Boxes' matching any West End Venue. There is a lot of ship's space taken up behind the scenes and also below the stage with a full orchestra pit, revolving stage and a lift pit platform. There are four passenger staircases in the Theatre, one on each corner, and the seating is over three decks. Passengers can enter from any of these decks 1,2 and 3. The sound booth and lighting controls are on Deck 3 and the Theatre is high tech - gone are the days when it was up with the curtain and a couple of spot lights! Now it is all digital and built around a strict safety culture as there are so many movable items and potential hazards if not managed correctly. The Production Manager is IC the Theatre with a team of Stage Staff.

Pictured here with me us Captain Ian Walters and Sally Sagoe Cruise Director.

At 1745 Captain Walters conducted the Remembrance Service in The Palladium Theatre and I was playing the Grand Piano to set the mood before the service and accompany the hymns. They were all well known and easy for the congregation to sing - O God our help in ages past, The Lord's my shepherd and Abide with me and as is our tradition we close with the first verse of the National Anthem.

Sally Sagoe, Cruise Director and Ross Thomas our Front of House Manager did the readings. We had Val our trumpeter to sound The Last Post, followed by the two minutes silence and The Reveille. It was standing room only with 800 plus in the Theatre with a mixture of the ship's company. Can you imagine the singing? It was such a joy for me to be leading the praise on the Grand Piano - pictured above! Captain Walters does the service with such dignity and style, Ross read 'Who are these men'? and Sally read 'Why wear a poppy'? I could feel the tears in my eyes. Val excelled himself on the trumpet.

I requested the Florists to create some red flower arrangements for the stage and they excelled themselves. A collection was taken at the end for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

So many of the Ship's Company said they were sorry that they could not come for the act of remembrance as they would be preparing for first sitting dinner and keeping our services running, so we arranged to record the service and show it on the Crew TV Channel this evening on a continuous cycle. They will have time to pause and reflect when they finish for the evening in the privacy of their own cabin or in the crew mess or recreation rooms.

It is good to slow down and appreciate the power of silence.

In thoughtful remembrance,

James

'At the going of the sun and in the morning we will remember them'