Author Topic: Hello from Lynda  (Read 3929 times)

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Online Lynda Bradford

Hello from Lynda
« on: Jan 28, 2010, 08:08 PM »
I was so pleased to find your QE2 web site and to know that there are so many people who like me have feelings for this magnificent ship and want to keep her memory alive. 

I was born and brought up in Clydebank where the QE2 was built.  I was working the day that she was launched so I did not have the opportunity to watch from a vantage point like many people did.  But at the moment when she was launched I remember the sound of works horns being sounded up and down the Clyde and it was then that I knew that she was something special.  When I went home I told my Dad that I had never heard such a reception for the launch of a ship and he said that the reception she got was fit for her status as a Queen.  My Dad was a Managing Foreman in John Brown’s and he asked me if I wanted to go into “the Yard” (John Brown’s) at the week-end to see the ship.  I jumped at the chance and I was fortunate enough not only to see her close up and get some photos but to stand on her decks when she was just a shell, which was a special moment for me.   

When she was fitted out, like many people in Clydebank I got tickets to see round the QE2.   I was so impressed with the modern décor of the ship and in particular the twisty staircase which appealed to me. (This was the stainless steel spiral staircase linking the Double Up room to the dance floor below).  I was only eighteen at the time, and I felt that just like me she was young and trendy and also like me she had her life in front of her.  She was a thoroughly modern lady and I fell in love with her.   

I thought that luxury cruise liners like the QE2 were “not for the likes of me” and when she left Clydebank I never thought that I would see her again or have the chance to sail on her.  But fast forward to 1997 when we were looking for a special holiday for my husband’s 50th birthday. My husband suggested that as I had always wanted to sail on the QE2 and he had wanted to see New York we should book the transatlantic crossing on the QE2.  The trip was a dream come true for me.  The QE2 was all I hoped she would be (apart from the twisty staircase which had been removed in a refit). The trendy young ship had matured into an elegant lady and I thought she was magnificent.   

We had intended the transatlantic trip to be a one off for a special occasion.  But we were hooked on cruising on the QE2 and we sailed on her several times.  I have many happy memories of sailing on the ship, of the places we have visited and the people we have met on board.  The reception she received sailing into ports and when she sailed away was different than on any other ship. When she visited Quebec on her last transatlantic season in 2003 not only were we accompanied by a flotilla of small boats on our approach to Quebec but there was a spectacular send off from the people of Quebec when she sailed away.  The people of our next port of call, St John’s New Brunswick had seen this reported on a news programme and said to us that although they were a smaller town they would match Quebec’s send off which they did.  I know that the trend today is for ships with balconies but I felt that with the majority of the staterooms on the QE2 not having a balcony more passengers were on deck talking to people during the voyage and definitely on deck for the sail away which added to the atmosphere on board the ship. 

 I am saddened at what has happened to her in recent years.  She is an old ship and although she cannot cruise the seas forever I do feel that Cunard could have negotiated a better ending for her as she has served them well and indeed the standards that they aspire to now have been set by the QE2.  I am glad that to date she has not had her funnel cut off or her body cut in two to be lengthened.  But her future is still uncertain. A friend, who we had met on the QE2, is currently on the QM2 world cruise. She has been sending email correspondence on the progress of the cruise and when she was in Dubai she sent the following message. 

"Yesterday our tour guide told us that QE2 was going to South Africa & not coming back. However, when we got back on the ship, the Commodore told us that he had spoken to the company which currently owns her & she is not going to South Africa, even though she is flying the South African flag. He says she may yet go the Jumeriah Palm islands or may even sail again. It seems nobody really knows.
 
When we were ready to leave, they moved Queen Mary 2 back to sit immediately alongside QE2. The 2 ships then exchanged horn salutes for a long time. Never thought I'd hear QE2's horn ever again & it is so much nicer than QM2's. Lots of QM2 crew members who had once worked on QE2 came out & lined the decks. There are quite a few people working on QE2, though I'm not sure what they're actually doing."
 
If her cruising life is over I would like to see her brought home to be a hotel ship in Southampton.  I would love to visit her every time I am cruising from Southampton and I am sure that many other people would feel the same.  But in this current economic climate this may not be possible. 

I look forward to being a member of this forum, to read other people’s experience of life on board the QE2 and hopefully to hear any current news. 
I was proud to be involved with planning QE2's 50 year conference in September 2017 in Clydebank

Offline Isabelle Prondzynski

Re: Hello from Lynda
« Reply #1 on: Jan 28, 2010, 08:22 PM »
Hello Lynda!

What a story you tell  :D  !

I too have often thought that QE2, so young and trendy in the late 60s, grew up and matured with that same generation over the years. I would have loved her design at the time she was created (would certainly love it now, as I also hail from your generation!), and I loved her style in recent years, a bit like my own style now.

You brought tears to my eyes with the story of what happened in Dubai yesterday, how the two sisters exchanged a "nautical hug" with horn blasts and no doubt much waving on both sides. We had already heard how great the meeting had been, and it was lovely to read confirmation from a passenger's point of view. Oh, to have been there...! I do hope we shall get to see pictures and video footage of the event  :D  .

You have jumped in with both feet! Please enjoy the Forum, tell us what you think, recount your memories, and ask as many questions as you like.

Offline Clyde Paddler

Re: Hello from Lynda
« Reply #2 on: Jan 28, 2010, 10:46 PM »

Hi Lynda and welcome aboard - I hope you enjoy this forum.

Your story sounds kind of familiar.  Did you sell me a QE2 brooch on eBay about a year ago, and become involved in quite a number of emails regarding her?  If so, "hello" again   :D
HELEN
Harrogate, UK

Online Lynda Bradford

Re: Hello from Lynda
« Reply #3 on: Jan 29, 2010, 10:13 AM »
Hi

Thanks for the responses to my topic.  It was not me who sold you the brooch Helen.  But I know what you mean about so many people having similar stories. 

Isabelle, I had the same emotions when I read my friend's email about the two ships meeting.  I am looking forward to posting more on the forum once I get to grips with it. 
I was proud to be involved with planning QE2's 50 year conference in September 2017 in Clydebank

Online Rob Lightbody

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Re: Hello from Lynda
« Reply #4 on: Feb 08, 2010, 12:30 PM »
Absolutely fabulous introductory message Lynda, thanks so much for joining us here, and sharing, and continuing your QE2 story!
Passionate about QE2's service life for 40 years and creator of this website.  I have worked in IT for 28 years and created my personal QE2 website in 1994.

Offline Twynkle

Re: Hello from Lynda
« Reply #5 on: Mar 18, 2010, 09:33 PM »
Hello Lynda - and Welcome on board,
It good that you have joined us.
Sorry - this is a bit late!

What a great introduction - and hopefully you will be able to tell us lots more besides!
If you get the time -it'll be good to hear more about your and QE2's time on The Clyde!
You'll find a fair amount here already and we can happily enjoy some more!

In the photographs and videos that you'll find here, QE2 looked so graceful, even before she had her superstructure in place.
Maybe we'll have the chance to chat sometime about the great ships that were very much part of our childhood - yours on the Clyde, mine on the Mersey!
Rosie

Online Lynda Bradford

Re: Hello from Lynda
« Reply #6 on: Mar 19, 2010, 05:24 PM »
Thanks Twynkle for such a warm welcome on board. 

I am enjoying being part of the forum and as I become more familiar with the content I hope to be able to contribute more information about the QE2 on the Clyde and about my experiences sailing on her.  One of my favourite memories was when we were on the QE2 in 2004 when she visited Liverpool.  I have fond memories of that trip and of our day in Liverpool which I hope to share along with other some other stories.  I would love to hear more about Merseyside from you.
Lynda
I was proud to be involved with planning QE2's 50 year conference in September 2017 in Clydebank

Offline Isabelle Prondzynski

Re: Hello from Lynda
« Reply #7 on: Jan 13, 2021, 09:11 PM »
So, Lynda, it is almost exactly eleven years since you joined this Forum -- and you have meanwhile spent the equivalent of many months helping to maintain it and making it what it is today.

I suppose when this Forum was launched, none of us thought what it would be like in 10 or more years' time -- and what a wonderful resource it has become! Rob had an inspired idea when launching it, and another inspired idea when he asked you to be one of the Moderators, which as far as I remember happened very soon after you joined.

But to turn to an entirely unrelated subject, which has only appeared as a result of our virtual dining world cruise -- it is only now that I realise you are a vegetarian! I too eat mostly vegetarian food, but I "cheat" and include fish in my diet, more so during the virtual world cruise than in actual life. It is brilliant that we both had good experiences on QE2 with the special vegetarian menus and the extraordinary willingness of the Indian chefs to provide us with vegetarian food that did not figure on any of the menus.

It has been great fun to see you making very similar meal choices as myself -- if we were really dining together, as we are doing virtually, we would enjoy the same dishes quite often, or we would make happy comparisons as we ate.

Online Lynda Bradford

Re: Hello from Lynda
« Reply #8 on: Jan 14, 2021, 11:16 AM »
OMG I cannot believe that it is nearly eleven years since I joined the forum.  My daughter had found a link to the forum in 2009, but it was not until I retired that I decided to join the forum and wrote my rather long introduction. 

So many memories over the past eleven years, but here are just some of them:

In June 2010, Rob had organised a forum get together where we had the opportunity to meet at the Crowne Plaza hotel for drinks on the Friday evening, a trip on the Waverley on the Saturday, plus a visit to the Titan Crane at Clydebank, on the Sunday. 



... this fabulous get together was followed by many more successful, trips on the Waverley and events like the Tall ships event, where we sailed on the Waverley to Greenock, viewed the ships, had a meal then. sailed back to Glasgow on the Waverley.


....meeting Bob C and his wife when they visited Scotland in 2012;


...2013 get together




....the Liverpool event with the visit to the Queen Victoria, arranged by Michael Gallagher, when  Cunarder Man had a plaque made that Rob presented to Ronnie Kier, Chief Engineer;



....the visit last year to PS Waverley and Fairfields for lunch and slideshow presentations was brilliant.


However, the highlight has to be working with Cunarder Man and Clydebuilt 1971 to organise the conference in Clydebank to celebrate 50 years since QE2's launch. It was such a fantastic event held over three days, which gave forum members and QE2 enthusiasts the opportunity to meet and remember QE2. 



I have met so many people because of The QE2 Story that I would not otherwise have met - QE2 Story members have done a fantastic job of keeping the memory of QE2 alive and helping people forming friendships through their common interest in. QE2 and marine history.  Lets hope the once the Covid 19 virus is under control we can arrange more QE2 Story get togethers. 

Thank-you QE2 Story for eleven wonderful years of QE2 memories  :)
I was proud to be involved with planning QE2's 50 year conference in September 2017 in Clydebank

Online Rob Lightbody

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Re: Hello from Lynda
« Reply #9 on: Jan 14, 2021, 11:45 AM »
Happy anniversary of joining the forum Lynda.  And thankyou for highlighting it Isabelle.

You've been a massive influence in all sorts of ways, so thank you from you all of us.  And thank you for being a true friend too, one of many I've made through the forum. 

What happy memories the get together photos you've shared are.  And my own private memory of our tiny but lovely get togethers on those evenings in the commodore club  :)

Hope you enjoy many, many more years on the forum.
Passionate about QE2's service life for 40 years and creator of this website.  I have worked in IT for 28 years and created my personal QE2 website in 1994.

Offline Rod

Re: Hello from Lynda
« Reply #10 on: Jan 14, 2021, 01:33 PM »
Congratulations, Lynda and thank you for what you do!

Offline Thomas Hypher

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Re: Hello from Lynda
« Reply #11 on: Jan 14, 2021, 03:22 PM »
Happy Anniversary Lynda! Your QE2 Story is wonderful and your work for the forum is too!
First sailed on QE2 in August 2003 aged 6 years old. Last sailed on QE2 in July 2008. Last saw the seagoing QE2 in person from the decks of QM2, on QE2's last Transatlantic crossing (Eastbound tandem) in October 2008. Visited QE2 in her new life, in Dubai, in January 2020 and August 2022.

Offline June Ingram

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Re: Hello from Lynda
« Reply #12 on: Jan 14, 2021, 06:12 PM »
Congratulations, Lynda, for your anniversary of membership in The Forum, and many, many thanks for all of the work you do for The Forum and for our beloved QE2 !  :)
QE2 - the ship for all of time, a ship of timeless beauty !

Offline Pete Hamill

Re: Hello from Lynda
« Reply #13 on: Jan 15, 2021, 06:19 PM »
Congratulations Lynda and thanks for all you do for the forum. Those photos of the various gatherings are a great archive in themselves. Looking forward to the day we are able to meet face to face again with other forum members.