Sir Jim fixes Scarboro' QE2 visit

SCARBOROUGH celebrity Sir Jimmy Savile says he has 'fixed it' for the Queen Elizabeth 2 to sail into the South Bay in September.

Taken from http://www.scarboroughtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=800&ArticleID=1996984

Sir Jimmy has been holding talks with the owners Cunard which has confirmed the vessel will make a detour from the normal shipping route so that locals and holidaymakers will be able to get a close up of the Queen Elizabeth 2 on September 16.

Sir Jimmy, who has a home in South Cliff, said: "The visit should attract tens of thousands of extra visitors to the East Coast.

"The ship will be passing on a Sunday which is a bonus because it will mean a lot of people will decide to make a weekend of it in Scarborough."

He added: "The visit of the Queen Elizabeth 2 will be great for the local economy because there will be so many more people spending money in Scarborough."

Huge crowds turned out in July 2004 to see the Queen Mary 2 visit Scarborough.

Sir Jimmy, who is a regular Cunard customer, said: "It ended up less than a mile from the beach.

"I have been told that Queen Elizabeth 2 will try to do the same, weather permitting."

Large vessels are usually about three or four miles away from land when they pass Scarborough because they have set a course to miss Flamborough Head.

The Queen Elizabeth 2 was the Cunard flagship from 1969 until she handed over the role to the Queen Mary 2 in May 2004.

The Queen Elizabeth 2 will be visiting Scarborough as part of a voyage round Britain to commemorate her launch 40 years ago.

The ship will set sail from Southampton and head for the east coast before sailing by Bridlington, Filey, Scarborough and Whitby.

Before arriving in Scarborough, the ship will have been on numerous cruises to exotic destinations all over the world. The anniversary cruise with 1,778 passengers is already sold out. Prices range from £1,059 for an inside cabin to £8,109 for a guest suite per person.

This time next year the vessel will be on a 90-day cruise visiting South America, the Pacific and the Far East. Prices start from around £6,600.

The QE2 has the largest cinema at sea, with a capacity of 531, and is the fastest merchant ship in operation, capable of speeds of up to 34 knots.

Its nine engines are each the size of a double decker bus.

26 January 2007