Father Christmas paid several visits to Cunard ships during the 1960’s. This photograph is one of several showing Father Christmas boarding the Queen Elizabeth, bringing presents to passengers on the Queen Elizabeth in December 1961.

Cunard often ran special Christmas Cruises and as part of these hosted events for passengers. On board, staff decorated Christmas trees and hosted special parties and was as much for the passengers as it was for the Cunard staff who were away from their families over the festive season.

This daily programme for a children’s Christmas party on board the Queen Mary is part of bundle of publicity material relating to the Las Palmas Christmas Cruise in 1963.