It's the end of an era at Cunard, which has just announced the retirement of Commodore Ronald W. Warwick, who first joined Cunard as third officer in 1970 -- the same year his father, Commodore William E. Warwick C.B.E., became the first captain of the QE2, toward the end of his own career.
Commodore Warwick got his first captaincy in 1986 aboard Cunard Princess, and also commanded the Cunard Countess and Crown Dynasty before becoming master of QE2 himself in August 1990. From April 1996 he sailed permanently as senior Master on board Queen Elizabeth 2 until his appointment as Master-designate of the new Queen Mary 2 in 2002. In December 2003 he was promoted to the rank of Commodore of the Cunard fleet. In June 2005 he received the Order of the British Empire for service to the Merchant Navy.
Special events are planned aboard QM2 in June and July, leading up to the official retirement date of July 31.
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