The origins of what became The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company and roots of P&O Cruises can be traced back to 1837.

In this film, specially commissioned by P&O Cruises, we explore the founding of P&O and the early days of line voyages. Looking back at enthralling archive footage of the liners and life at sea of past eras, the film re-lives that 'golden age' of travel and reveals how the company evolved and developed over the decades to become Britains's favourite cruise line today. Features exclusive and compelling interviews with officers and crew, both past and present.

Duration approx. 56 minutes. Broadcast quality.

Writen & Directed by David Ellery

Available on board ships of the P&O Cruises fleet on DVD and exclusively at the Viewpoint Productions on-line shop. Click HERE.

Kingswear Castle is Britain's last coal-fired paddle steamer. Beautifully restored the ship now steams from The Historic Dockyard Chatham and from Rochester on Kent's River Medway. In this programme see the ship today sailing on the Medway and discover the steamer's origines on the River Dart in Devon, where she was built in 1924 and was operated until 1965.

We see the ship's restoration through historic archive footage and meet some of the people key to bringing 'KC' back to life.

Produced by Chris Phillips. Running time approx. 50 minutes. Filmed & Edited by Viewpoint Productions for CPA

 Waverley is unique... she is the last sea-going paddle steamer anywhere in the world. In this programme we sail along Dorset's Jurassic Coast, with commentary by Chris Phillips. We pass Old Harry Rocks, enjoy the first call at Swanage by Waverley for four years and steam past Durlston Head, Dancing Ledge, St Alban's Head, Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door to Weymouth.

We join local historian Richard Clammer, for a 'walkabout' of Weymouth Harbour and discover the history of paddle steamer operations in the area. Any sailing on the Dorset Coast by paddler would be incomplete without flashbacks to the days of Cosen's steamers: the programme includes rare footage of PS Consul in 1962 and PS Embassy's final day in service in 1966.

Produced by Chris Phillips. Running time approx. 53 minutes. Filmed & Edited by Viewpoint Productions for CPA

 Balmoral, motor ship consort to paddle steamer Waverley is Britain's most widely travelled excursion ship. In this programme we join the ship on 27th June 2009 for a sailing around the Isle of Wight to celebrate the 60th anniversary ofher launch.

As well as key interviews with passengers and former crew from Balmoral's Red Funnell days, the programme includes quality archive footage and rare views of public rooms, engines and bridge. Running time approx. 40 minutes.

Produced by Chris Phillips. Directed, Filmed & Edited by Viewpoint Productions

 Waverley is the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world. In this programme we take an informative guided tour of the Isle of Wight's historic coastline aboard the paddler, with locally based commentator Chris Phillips. The spectacular Needles and its lighthouse, the towering cliffs of Tennyson Down and St. Catherine's Point; Waverley steams on past Ventnor, Bonchurch and Sandown en route for Yarmouth, past Osborne House and the world famous waterfront of Cowes.

Sailings round the Island from places like Southampton, Southsea and the Island's resorts   were once a regular feature. Recent decades have seen only occasional sailings, which have been made by Waverley.

Produced by Chris Phillips. Running time approx. 47 minutes. Filmed & Edited by Viewpoint Productions for CPA

To receive one Royal Television Society Award is good; to receive a second is a real honour. On 18th February 2011, at the annual RTS awards ceremony David Ellery of Viewpoint Productions received the RTS Award for Best Non News Multi-Skiller.  Viewpoint previously won Best Factual Programme.

Ellery was nominated after a panel of judges viewed a portfolio of work demonstrating his abilities in Directing, Camerawork, Editing, Scripting and Narration/ Presenting. Says David, "I'm absolutely delighted. It's very affirming and certainly adds extra credibilty to all that we do."

David Ellery is responsible for Viewpoint Productions' broadcast output and works freelance on other programmes like the BBC's Great British Home Movie Roadshow.

Filmed during August and September 2008, Joe Crowley makes a journey around central southern England and discovers firsthand how Beeching's axe changed people's lives and the very landscape itself. Key locations include East Grinstead, where Dr Beeching lived, and the former site of of the carriage works at Lancing, which closed as a result of the restructuring in 1966, making nearly 2000 people redundant.

RMS Queen Mary is the last surviving 1930s 'superliner'. Viewpoint Productions has produced Regal & Retired - the Story of RMS Queen Mary for BBC Television. The programme includes a significant amount of quality archive footage from Movietonenews, much of which is new even to those familiar with the ship's long history. The programme was shot on location in California (where the liner remains today), Scotland and Southampton in the UK, and features 20 exclusive interviews. Viewpoint intends to release the programme on DVD as part of a double-disc package, in 2012. Further details will appear on this website. Written & directed by David Ellery

Writer and documentary maker David Ellery regularly gives presentations and talks concerning RMS Queen Mary and deals with hundreds of diverse questions about her design, build, career and current status. To complement Regal & Retired he has written RMS Queen Mary - 101 Questions & Answers, published by Anova Books (Conway). A beautifully produced hardback, packed with facsinating facts, figures and dozens of excellent photographs. Available now through the Viewpoint on-line shop, priced £9.95 Click HERE

Regal & Retired the Soundtrack: This audio CD is based on the original music written for the BBC programme by Laurence I. Dunsmore. It features 13 tracks that reflect aspects of the ship's history, which Laurence has re-worked for this special collection. Viewpoint's breif was to produce a stylish programme reflecting the grandeur and significance of the magnificent liner. An original soundtrack would be a vital component. Larry frantically wrote seventeen pieces of music for the programme in less than three weeks! Viewpoint Productions is fortunate to have such a talented writer as Laurence Dunsmore on hand to produce tracks like this (or so he keeps telling us!) Available from the on-line shop priced £9.95