The one-time ‘Miss Fishguard 1954’ who danced with a leading member of the cast of Moby Dick at Fishguard Town Hall has expressed her delight on learning the 70th anniversary of the cinematic release of John Huston’s classic movie will be marked by Fishguard and Goodwick’s Ar Ymyl y Tir/On Land’s Edge Festival in September.

Now a 91 year-old widow living in Gloucestershire, the former Elizabeth Sambrook this week re-called how – having been persuaded to attend the dance in October 1954 – she found herself quite literally rubbing shoulders with Hollywood royalty.

“I’d been teacher-training in London when I went back to my home village of Trefin for a holiday and didn’t know anything about Moby Dick,” recalls Elizabeth Hoonanian, speaking from her home in Tetbury. “I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into!”

Having been crowned ‘Miss Fishguard 1954’ the 20-year-old Elizabeth Sambrook dances with Hollywood star Leo Genn at Fishguard Town Hall.
Having been crowned ‘Miss Fishguard 1954’ the 20-year-old Elizabeth Sambrook dances with Hollywood star Leo Genn at Fishguard Town Hall. (Mike Lewis)

The then 20-year-old had ‘very reluctantly’ accompanied her cousins to the dance Fishguard Town Hall at the last minute when she unexpectedly found herself thrust onto centre stage.

“The hall was very, very crowded and everybody there seemed to know what was happening except us,” she continued.

“Then my cousin from north Wales – who I still haven’t forgiven to this day – pushed me into this melee of young ladies, despite all my efforts to get away.

“I always hated beauty contests, but before I knew what was happening I was announced the winner.

“There was all this talk of the star of the film, Gregory Peck – Captain Ahab himself – appearing to present me with my prize, although that never actually happened.”

Elizabeth now: Now a 91-year-old grandmother living in Gloucestershire, Elizabeth Hoonanian can look back wryly on the night she found herself taking an unexpected starring role. Images: Elizabeth Hoonanian.
Now a 91-year-old grandmother living in Gloucestershire, Elizabeth Hoonanian can look back wryly on the night she found herself taking an unexpected starring role. Images: Elizabeth Hoonanian. (Mike Lewis)

What did actually happen was that Elizabeth danced with illustrious British actor Leo Genn, who played the loyal first mate Starbuck in the classic movie, prior to being whisked down to Fishguard Bay Hotel to meet Hollywood A-lister Peck in person.

“Gregory Peck was absolutely charming – very tall and very wide with an absolutely beautiful voice,” she remembers. “I was introduced to him, we chatted for a bit, and that was pretty much that.

“According to one newspaper I was ‘The girl who had a dinner date with Gregory Peck’. Yet I did no such thing. The whole article was made up!

“I find it amazing that the filming of Moby Dick is still remembered after all these years.

“It certainly put Fishguard on the map at the time and I’m sure the Ar Ymyl y Tir/On Land’s Edge Festival will introduce Moby Dick to a new generation.”

Moby Dick, Herman Melville’s great white whale, is poised to breach the waters of Fishguard Bay again seven decades after Fishguard and Goodwick proved a memorable setting for the film.

Moby Dick, Herman Melville’s legendary whale, returns to Fishguard Bay for the 70th anniversary of John Huston’s classic film, celebrated at the Ar Ymyl y Tir/On Land’s Edge Festival.
Moby Dick returns to Fishguard Bay for the 70th anniversary of John Huston’s classic film. (Hanes Abergwaun)

Scenes showing Ahab’s ship, the Peqeod, were filmed in Fishguard Bay with many locals drafted in as extras, while the Fishguard Bay Hotel and Fishguard Arms were taken over by the cast and crew.

The autumn ‘Edge Festival’ will feature a giant model whale heading a lantern parade, literary talks on whaling, plus an augmented reality great white whale out in the bay.