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Liverpool Pilots celebrate 250 years of service

Liverpool Pilots celebrate 250 years of service
Port of Liverpool river pilots(Liverpool Pilots) who have played a pivotal role in the development of the city’s cruise business are this weekend celebrating the 250th anniversary of their service being founded in 1766.

A series of events are marking the milestone reached by one of the world’s oldest pilotage services.

Today,  a major new exhibition In Safe Hands The Story of the Liverpool Pilots opens at the city’s renowned Maritime Museum. The expo traces the history of the service from its early days right up to the Pilots’ involvement in last year’s gathering of Cunard’s Three Queens on the River Mersey in a special salute to mark the 175th anniversary of Cunard’s first Atlantic crossing which departed Liverpool in 1840.

This year, Liverpool Cruise Terminal is scheduled to handle 57 cruise ship arrivals and departures – each overseen by a Liverpool Pilot.

Chris Booker, chair of Liverpool Pilotage Services, said: 'This is a special year for the Liverpool Pilots and we are delighted that the public will get an extended chance to learn more about the work we do through the exhibition opening today.'

Booker led the team of Liverpool Pilots involved in more than two years of planning and preparation for the Cunard spectacular which saw Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth perform a 'river dance' in the Mersey in front of the Cunard Building, former world headquarters of the line. More than 1.4m spectators turned out to see the unique salute which included a synchronised swing by the three ships in close formation.

'The Three Queens attracted enormous attention on the city and the work of the pilots and we are pleased now to be able to celebrate our anniversary as well as let people know more about the work we do day in and day out in the Port of Liverpool.'

Cunard honoured the pilots involvement in its own anniversary and the Liverpool Pilots 250th with a reception on board Queen Elizabeth in Liverpool earlier this month. Saturday evening, a black tie celebration dinner will be held by the Pilots and next week they will receive the Freedom of the City of Liverpool, an honour bestowed on Cunard Line itself last July.