Marvellous! A moving moment as Cunard Commodore Bernie bows out

Perhaps Cunard wanted to keep the retirement of Commodore Bernie Warner a family affair. Perhaps the man himself didn’t want a big fuss. And perhaps I was a bit unkind to suggest the cruise line had let their most senior captain slip away too quietly last week at the end of Queen Mary 2’s world voyage.
Because a video now posted on Peter Shanks’s We Are Cunard blog pays a fitting tribute to the man, and reveals what an emotional morning it was for Warner, his wife Tina, and all those on the bridge for his farewell after 46 years at sea.
After he had been presented with a ceremonial sword from members of the crew, Warner then received a ship’s decanter from Carnival UK’s chief executive David Dingle. Shanks then presented a signed Gordon Bauwens print of QM2 before Warner made a moving farewell speech.
You won’t be able to watch it without a lump in your throat.