PRINCESS AND DUKE ABOARD PAMIR

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25435, 5 March 1948, Page 2

PRINCESS AND DUKE ABOARD PAMIR

HOUR’S INSPECTION OF N.Z. BARQUE

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, March 3.

Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh spent an hour on the New Zealand barque Pamir in the Shadwell docks this afternoon, watching the crew at work and inspecting the vessel. From the poop and foredeck they saw sails being set and furled .and in the sailmaker’s section they watched members of the crew repairing canvas. It was their first visit to a squarerigged ship, and they showed great interest in all details, of the vessel.

The Princess, early in her tour of inspection, visited tile galley where she found the ship’s cook, M. Montgomery, putting the final touches to a specially organised afternoon tea which would have done credit to any expensive restaurant. Her Royal Highness expressed astonishment that a sailing ship’s galley, with no provisions for special passengers’ food, could produce chocolate eclairs and cream cakes. The Duke, who followed her, carried out a friendly .naval officer’s inspection and then complimented the cook on the cleanliness of his galley. “It is better than on a destroyer,” he remarked, and he was plainly interested when he learned that the cook had served in the Royal Navy during the war and had been wounded at the Salerno landing.

Duke’s Knowledge Conducted by the master, Captain H. S. Collier, and the managing director of the Union Steam Ship Company (Mr J. N. Greenland), the company’s London manager (Mr A. A. Powell), and their wives, their Royal Highnesses met the officers of the ship on the foredeck and then carried out a thorough tour of the vessel. The Duke stood with the first officer, Mr A. S. Keyworth, of Auckland, while the crew went aloft and broke sail, and he showed close interest in all the orders given.

“He never asked an unseamanlike question.’’ said Mr Keyworth. “He had not been on a square-rigger before, but he had been on fore-and-afters and he knew a good deal about it.”

The Princess and her husband heard details of the Pamir’s voyage from New Zealand, and the Princess asked Mrs Collier, the wife of the master, many questions about life on board from a woman’s point of view. Princess Elizabeth told an officer of the Pamir: “We both hope to visit New Zealand one day.” “The. Princess was fascinated by the wheel, and when we showed her how to work it she grasped the spokes and gave it a few turns,” said Mr Keyworth.

Captain Collier told a reporter: “Th; Duke showed remarkable knowledg< of sailing ships. We all think he is < good square-rigged man who has gum turbine-minded.’’