By David Raven and Henry James

The Queen Victoria in Liverpool. Picture by John Swift

Residents were treated to a spectacular sight on Monday morning when the Queen Victoria cruise liner passed through the Mersey Estuary.

Around 200 people gathered on Crosby beach to watch the ship glide past Anthony Gormley's statues as it carried on to dock in Liverpool later that morning.

The ship, which weighs 90,000 tonnes, is on a historic tour to mark the 170th anniversary of this first vessel to leave Liverpool in 1840.

Photographer Ron Davies seized the moment to capture a picture, shown below, with his camera.

He told the Champion: “The ship was very impressive. I've photographed both Queen Elizabeth and St Mary's ships and although this wasn't quite as long, I think it was still taller than them both and it was a joy to watch.”

West Lancashire’s town crier, Don Evans, was in the centre of the action when the liner berthed into Liverpool this week.

Don is a greeter of cruise line passengers to the city and he was working at the cruise terminal when the Cunard liner made her debut appearance in Liverpool on Monday, July 26, 2010.

During the day the colourful character got to shake hands with Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

He said: “The Duchess of Cornwall shook hands with me and spoke to me, telling me ‘I looked very splendid.”

Don was at the cruise terminal from the early morning and gave the traditional town crier greeting to the passengers on the ship. He also told them of the places to go in Liverpool.

He told The Champion: “There is something special and majestic about Cunard ships. The company seems to have the edge. It was also a special visit as Cunard’s home used to be in Liverpool.

"If you look up at the Queen Victoria you get dizzy. Although the 90,000-tonne ship is not as big as the 132,000-tonne Crown Princess, which has also been into Liverpool.

“I told the passengers about the city and the best places to go. I told them it was sad they were only here for the day as there is so much to do in Liverpool.”

Don added he got to speak to the captain of the Queen Victoria, captain Paul Wright.

When summing up the day, Don concluded: “All in all, it was a fantastic day. Everyone was really happy and I was thanked hundreds of times, by passengers, for giving them a warm welcome.”

Ron's image will be included in his Anthony Gormley's Another Place calender due out for 2011.