The QE2, Pics of her Launch, 1967.

Alistairr

Alistairr

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Here are some pictures my father took of the launch of the QE2 at John Brown Ship Builders 1967.

Sorry for the poor quality, but they were taken 40yrs ago. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

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For her first voyage in 1968 she was towed to a Dry Dock at Greenock, the following pics are of her on her way there, and in the dry dock.

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And returning to her birth place for the final time.
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Hope you liked them, My father loves the ship and he and my mother are due to sail with her for the 3rd time boarding in Southampton today at 2pm for the final sail to Dubia.

I've asked hime to e-mail me pics form the ship as soon as possible, wether he does or not, I don't know.

Cheers

Al.
p.s. its my mother and granny sitting in the car!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Magnificent pictures Alistair.

I find it quite strange that the phrase "bygone era" can be applicable to something that happened in my lifetime but looking at the shipyards it is exactly that.

I remeber the day well, I was at junior school and my best friend who had relatives up in Glasgow took time off to visit them and see the launch, they may even have been near where your parents were.

A few years ago we were on a cruise and moored in Pisa (or whatever the nearby port is called) and the QE2 came in and docked next to us. What a beautiful sight. They left before we did and everyone on our boat, crew included, went to watch her literally sail into the siunset. A memorable moment
 
Brilliant pictures. I remember the day she was launched, because we were all gathered in the Hall at School, and allowed to watch the TV coverage. There was a lot of excitement, because up to that point, nobody knew what she was going to be called. There was a slight sense of anti-climax when the Queen pronounced her name, because I think we'd been expecting something a bit less obvious.

[trivia] Before the launch, iirc, she'd just been referred to as "Q 4" (the Queens Mary and Elizabeth had been Qs 1 and 2 before being named, and there was a proposed Q3 that never got built). [/trivia]

Love the picture of the 1100. I had one of those for my first car, but it was the boy racer MG 1100 version, with twin SU carbs. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Well I can say, I can't remember the launch, as i wasn't even thought of in those days. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

My mother was actually pregnant with my older brother in that pic.

Cheers

Al.
 
Thanks Al. Wonderful pictures. Have never been on her but have sailed close to her in docks and anchorages many times over the years.

What's the story of the funnel being white and then changing to red? Was the red paint job later on in her life? Also why, in your 2008 Clyde pics, is she wearing her ensign on the forward mast and not off the stern, apparently?

Hope your parents enjoy the trip
 
[ QUOTE ]
Love the picture of the 1100. I had one of those for my first car, but it was the boy racer MG 1100 version, with twin SU carbs

[/ QUOTE ]

My first car was the Austin 1330GT, which I presume was similar? A 100 mph engine in a 60mph chassis. To be fair, it always felt fairly safe as it did have 100mph brakes too; my other transport at the time was a H1A Kawasaki motorbike, which had a 100mph engine in a 60mph chassis and 40mph braking system - now that was a scary bit of kit!

So's not to hijack the thread completely, I would record having onced sailed on the QE2 in I think 1987? It was it's second 'maiden' voyage, from Bremerhaven around to Southampton (It was a freebie as I was then employed by Trafalgar House who owned Cunard at the time) I do remember that her being sent to a German Yard for refitting was not a popular decision with the British Public at the time; nor subsequently by the Company either. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
Thanks for posting Al.

Still such a magnificent looking ship.

I went on her when she'd returned from the Falklands. The mess on board was truely unbelievable. Carpets absolutely sodden in seawater, rusty metal everywhere. It looked ready for the scrap heap. Amazing what a lick of paint can do!

First we lose Concorde from that era, now this. What's next I wonder?
 
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My first car was the Austin 1330GT, which I presume was similar?

[/ QUOTE ] Same car, bigger engine. The MG 1100 was uprated to a 1275 (same engine as the Mini Cooper S, I think) and subsequently called the MG 1300. It then transmogrified into the Austin 1300 GT because BL (or BMC, or whatever they were called at that time) were trying to get away from the same car having lots of different names.

I once drove an MG 1300, owned by an affluent friend. Although modest by today's standards, it went like stink /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif.
 
Great pictures.

Once again strange feeling to know it came (well, just before me) and went in my life time.

Thanks for sharing those with us.

Your parents are real fans.
 
Great pics. They've only given a link to this thread, which is in the public domain anyway, so haven't done anything untoward. Anyone who gets the newsletter, will already be signed up to ybw, so they can all read the thread anyway
 
While we are all thinking about our old cars, my first car at 16 was a mini 1275gt clubman, wow what a car, ive been looking for one recently and there worth a fortune compared to the 425 quid I got for it when I sold it.
 
For my 50th birthday i flew with swimbo to Paris via the Bay of Biscay on Concord and back from Le Harve on QE2. The latter was on its return from the D day beaches just after the Solent Navy revue the w/e before. More of an ocean racer than the modern cruise ships if i remember.
 
great, great pictures, being a bit aged makes them more realistic. Many thanks, enjoyed that. We saw her moored up at Southampton, don't know about you but any boat you are on mostly looks far larger than any you are looking at, QE 2 was similar, course it was from a distance.

Will be interesting what happens in Dubai with her, I'll no doubt be involved in that.
 
I watched the launch from the top floor of my primary school. It always amazes me when the subject of the QE2 launch pops up in life how many people were actually at the launch or remembers where they were when it was launched !!!!
 
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