On the 5th of October 2008, I took my leave of the QE2 forever.
It was a beautiful Autumnal day on the River Clyde, the QE2's
birthplace, and I was with my friends and family. But it did feel
like one very special friend was leaving forever and it left everyone on
the River that day with a lump in their throats.
Links to my photos and videos below.
There was a huge turnout for QE2's last visit home with hundreds
of boats and craft on the water, and thousands of viewers
ashore.
HMS Manchester escorted QE2 into Greenock and a Sea King
helicopter, and press helicopters, hovered overhead.
Her paying off pennant flew triumphantly, and was later
presented to the Mayor of Clydebank, the town where she was
built.
QE2 ties up at Greenock.
The cranes appear to salute the Queen.
QE2 appears off the Esplanade at about 11.15am surrounded by
boats and ships of all sizes, this is the first view from
ashore, and boy is it a view and a half!
My YouTube 'Playlist
for the day. You can select various videos from the
collection. Of special note are the ones of HMS Manchester
and the fireworks display being started by QE2's whistle.
All are available in High Quality via the YouTube site, and all
have quality stereo sound.
After this wonderful happy-sad day, it was time for me to stop
following so closely what was happening with my beloved ship, the ship
I've followed for the past 22.5 years.
What they're going to do to her in Dubai is so awful,
so completely different to anything I'd hoped for, that I'll have to
simply stop watching completely.
QE2, the most wonderful ship of
all time, ceases to exist on November 27th 2008 when she stops in Dubai.
This was my last Goodbye to QE2.
