SHIPS MAIL
The wee Queen Mary
I recently returned from Glasgow and saw the old steamer Queen Mary II while I was waiting to board Waverley for a very enjoyable cruise of the Clyde estuary (see Letter of the Month, SM, Oct). I spoke to a local about Queen Mary II, and brought up the name issue and its history. He replied that, in Glasgow, they avoided the issue entirely and simply referred to her as ‘the wee Queen Mary’. Having subscribed to Ships Monthly for over 40 years, I thought I would share this insight. Your magazine is one of the few periodicals that I read every word of, in every issue. Thanks for a great publication!
Peter Ewell
New Mexico, USA
Pipes exposed
When the first impressions of the new Isle of Man ferry Manxman were released, they showed a pleasing, but rather plump, ship with a large traditional funnel, only spoiled to ahas, however, dispensed with half of the funnel casing, exposing a mess of pipes and metal. Such a shame and, in my opinion, totally unnecessary.