The DCDR gang on the Bridge of the Saga Rose From L to R - Gerry Cochrane, Adrian Fitzgerald (Chief Officer, MS Saga Rose), Bill Brown, Bob Edwards, Jim Sheridan, John Wilson (kneeling), Colin Holiday, Michael Collins, Edward Duly, Jan-Luke Taylor, Billy Glenn, Heather Taylor, John Henry, and Ian Davis

The DCDR gang on the Bridge of the Saga Rose From L to R – Gerry Cochrane, Adrian Fitzgerald (Chief Officer, MS Saga Rose), Bill Brown, Bob Edwards, Jim Sheridan, John Wilson (kneeling), Colin Holiday, Michael Collins, Edward Duly, Jan-Luke Taylor, Billy Glenn, Heather Taylor, John Henry, and Ian Davis

It’s not often that we get to sample a vintage mode of transport other than trains, but today 14 of our volunteers were invited by Adrian Fitzgerald, a volunteer from our early days, to join him for a tour of the MS Saga Rose.

Adrian, who is originally from the Downpatrick area who now has a life on the ocean waves (and thus has a very valid excuse not to turn up every Saturday!) as the Saga Rose’s Chief Officer.

The Saga Rose is on a cruise round the British Isles, but was built in 1965 as a trans-Atlantic liner, and as you can see is like a smaller QE2 (indeed was operated by Cunard before being sold) with very graceful lines compared to modern cruise ships.

She is due to be decommissioned at the end of the year.

After a tour of the ship, Adrian provided us with a fantastic sample of the cuisine on offer on board – make a change on a Saturday afternoon to sandwiches in the tarry coach!

We are extremely grateful to Adrian for inviting us along to see him on his rare stop-offs back home in Northern Ireland!