QE2 launch photos

[Rob Lightbody]

Absolutely AWESOME photos!  Boy did they have the ride of their lives!!

Also nice to see the royal box from this angle simply to see more of what it was like!  It gives a much better idea.

What a difference 43 years makes...

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Final one taken as the vessel was manouvered into the fitting out basin.

I totally agree that these are excellent and give another view of the scene on launch day.

And here we see, on the right of the pic, the famous notch in the fitting out basin, ready to receive QE2.

[Bob C.]

Absolutely AWESOME photos!  Boy did they have the ride of their lives!!

Also nice to see the royal box from this angle simply to see more of what it was like!  It gives a much better idea.

What a difference 43 years makes...

If you want to see some rarely seen footage of the launch and launch day preps, check out the newsreels on this post:  British Pathe newsreel 44917 and 44918

[Cruise_Princess]

What fab pics....thanks for posting the link!!

[Twynkle]

http://pudzeoch.smugmug.com/gallery/3620601_j9Agk#P-1-15

These are superb - Thanks to you and specially too, to your colleague, Mr Cameron
Does he know about the Forum?
It would be interesting to hear of his thoughts as he took the photographs.

These seem to be incredibly poignant - somehow she looks quite vulnerable
All those cranes and the tugs waiting....
I wonder when her name was painted on her stern - maybe they had to do that quite some time after her launch
Rosie

[cunardqueen]

Gav
 What an amazing range of photos and such unusual views
 Thanks for sharing them, wonder how the men felt going down theslipway..
 Cheers

[Beardy Rich]

What a fantastic collection of photo's!!!

[Clydebuilt1971]

Hi Gav
These are superb - Thanks to you and specially too, to your colleague, Mr Cameron
Does he know about the Forum?
It would be interesting to hear of his thoughts as he took the photographs.

These seem to be incredibly poignant - somehow she looks quite vulnerable
All those cranes and the tugs waiting....
I wonder when her name was painted on her stern - maybe they had to do that quite some time after her launch
Rosie

Hi Rosie,

Stuart is a member of the forum but has only posted once to date. Hopefully he will have time in the future as I know work keeps him busy these days!! 

Gav

[Clydebuilt1971]

Thanks folks,

Some shots were taken by Stuart the others by a Mr William Davies. I especially like the shots of ps Caledonia turning with all those people on board! I only wish our river was that busy now.

Gav

[Youngesteverpassenger]

I like this picture although the ship does look a little naked...

Lisa

[Bob C.]

Anyone know the purpose of the flare on the bow?  I just noticed thIs not to long ago.

[Alistair]

Yes. I remember that event. They were firing lines out to the attending tugs to tow her into the fitting out basin.

Alistair

[bobso]

Regarding the picture of the launch of the QE2-- it brings back happy memories for me.I had been married for 18 months and my wife Margaret had presented me with our son not long before the QE2 was launched.We decided to go and see the new liner and carried our new baby over the stubble field just across the river from John Brown's.To see the picture of the QE2 brought back happy memories of the day. We also returned to Greenock later on when the QE2 was in the dry dock, and could hardly believe the size of it. I have a number of pictures and slides of the QE2 taken at the field across from John Brown's and also taken in Greenock, and if i can find them i will put them on a future post for you all to see.

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

What a beautiful memory, bobso!

I always love to hear of times when QE2 was an important part of a special day, a special occasion, a special meeting and wonderful memories. Just shows what a very special ship she was and is. Not just an object of beauty, of technical perfection, of robust construction and long life, but also an object that got entwined with people's lives and fates, sometimes even making things happen that might not otherwise have done so.

What a lovely thought that the two of you wanted your young baby to see this very special ship!

Looking forward to seeing your photographs when you find them.

[bobso]

Further to my earlier post regarding the slides/pictures of the QE2 just after launch and in the dry dock at Greenock. I have found the first lot of slides showing the QE2 after the launch at John Brown's taken from the stubble field just across the water. I will have to see if i can make pictures from the slides then i will post them for you to see.