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QE2's 40th Birthday at home on the River Clyde
September 20th, 2007 - a day to remember.
I was one of thousands who participated in QE2's triumphant return to the River Clyde, and welcomed her back 40 years to the day since her launch there.
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I travelled down the River Clyde from Glasgow on the MV Balmoral, passing the former John Browns shipyard where she was launched. We then accompanied the QE2 along the coast as she headed back to the sea, to continue her 40th birthday 'Lap of Honour' around Britain voyage, with her next stop being Liverpool, Cunard's home until 1969.
Being alongside the QE2 as she was underway was something very very special and something I shall never forget. All along the shore, for miles and miles you could see camera flashes from people watching her pass by. The Firth of Clyde was awash with an Armada of boats and ships of all shapes and sizes and I even got a phonecall or two from someone on board the QE2 herself - thanks John!
Being alongside the QE2 as she was underway was something very very special and something I shall never forget. All along the shore, for miles and miles you could see camera flashes from people watching her pass by. The Firth of Clyde was awash with an Armada of boats and ships of all shapes and sizes and I even got a phonecall or two from someone on board the QE2 herself - thanks John!
Videos of the day (Photos are further down this page).
Very special video memories, even if I do say so myself. QE2's foghorns can be heard at close quarters in some of them, and Balmoral and QE2 exchange horn blasts several times - it was really quite special and quite moving.
Apologies for the shaky camerawork but I was very cold, and our ship was moving quite a bit (and listing heavily to QE2s side), and I was in a crowd!
This first video is from 18:37 until 19:00. QE2 sounds her horn twice as a plane flies over, then two more long blasts again, then sounds it twice again as we were right alongside. I pan (shakily) to show the extent of the Flotilla that was accompanying her along the coast. QE2 and Balmoral then exchange Horn blasts and towards the end are really quite close together.
Apologies for the shaky camerawork but I was very cold, and our ship was moving quite a bit (and listing heavily to QE2s side), and I was in a crowd!
This first video is from 18:37 until 19:00. QE2 sounds her horn twice as a plane flies over, then two more long blasts again, then sounds it twice again as we were right alongside. I pan (shakily) to show the extent of the Flotilla that was accompanying her along the coast. QE2 and Balmoral then exchange Horn blasts and towards the end are really quite close together.
My second video is from 19:00 until 19:12. Again, we're alongside in the midst of the flotilla. Balmoral and QE2 sound their horns. Then Balmoral is dead ahead of QE2 (with alarming list), and QE2 sounds her horns right at us - it was quite incredible.
My third video is from 19:19 until the QE2 starts to draw away at 19:38. Despite it being over an hour since she left Greenock, she still has most of her flotilla of small boats with her. I try to show the camera flashes from all along the coast... as far as we could see in each direction. QE2 sounds her horns again in a farewell exchange with Balmoral. After the video finishes, we watched for nearly half an hour as QE2 disappeared to the horizon, looking like the brightest Christmas tree I'd ever seen.
Photos of the day
I took a lot of photos. I've loaded the best
photos onto my flickr photo site. Please click the link below to
access my photos. I may load up more of them in the days and weeks
to follow as I have time.
QE2 40th Birthday Tour - Click here for ALL my photos
QE2 40th Birthday Tour - Click here for ALL my photos
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QE2 Daily Programmes
Enormous thanks to John Little, pictured above waving the Lion Rampant from QE2's bridge, for sending me copies of QE2's Daily Programme from her round Britain voyage. Click each to enlarge.
18th September 2007 - South Queensferry, Edinburgh, Scotland
18th September 2007 - South Queensferry, Edinburgh, Scotland
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19th September 2007 - En Route to Greenock
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20th September 2007 - At home in Greenock, Scotland
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