April 1969 : Memories of QE2's Trials Voyage or Mini Maiden Voyage

[Alan Hughes]

April 1969. I was about 3 and a half and my father, after working on the contract in John Browns in Clydebank as Insulation Foreman, was given a free passage on the trial cruise to the Canaries and back to Southampton. Along with my mother and 2 of my older brothers were on-board for 10 days.

My dad was on call and had to attend a few call-outs but mostly it was the holiday of a life time that we'd never be able to afford.

This type of voyage not only allowed them to test the engines (which broke down if I'm not mistaken) but also to test the functionality of the the whole experience before the fair paying passengers were brought on board for the actual Maiden Voyage. We had a nice double cabin with adjoining double and twin bed arrangement which allowed sleeping for my parents and my two brothers - I was 'put up' in a make shift bed in the adjoining bit which I suppose would be perfect for a kid my age.

Although my memories are a little vague I do remember some things. I remember being in the lifeboats at the Canaries as they tested them. We actually sailed away from the boat and I remeber refusing to wear a life jacket. This pic is of me and my older brother.

It was always my ambition to one day take my wife and kids to New York on the ship but I was never able to achieve that.

I'll just be satisfied with my memories.

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Hello Alan,

Great to have you here! I am not surprised that you have pretty substantial memories of this trial voyage on QE2, despite your young age at the time. And you even managed to track down the photographs taken of you on board -- thank you for sharing them with us.

You will find this voyage mentioned in the Forum under "Service Life" and you may relive some of your memories there too.

Welcome aboard the Forum -- enjoy the memories and the more technical facts which we are assembling here .

[Jane Crosthwaite]

Hi Alan,  I am also very new to this forum and think I was on same trip and was same age as you!  My father was an engineering officer on QE2 and reason why my mum and I were on board for this trial.  Dad passed away at end of July this year and some internet searching led me to this forum - glad I found it as very interesting.

I have to go through my mum's slides at some point so am sure I will also find some photos from this trip so when I do I will share them.  I mainly remember the paddling pool and kid's play area.  I have found some daily programmes from the trip which mentions all the activities for the children supervised by 'Uncle Reg' and 'Auntie Jane'!!!  I spent hours in that paddling pool I think with a plastic model of the QE2 which sadly must be long gone.

We were lucky to be on board weren't we?  I think all the engine troubles must have gone over my head at age 3 and half but no doubt my dad was stressed!

[Jane Crosthwaite]

In amongst all the (as yet) unsorted 'Cunard memorabilia' I have acquired after clearing out dad's home I have been able to quickly get my hands on this and scanned it to share.

[Alan Snelson]

Hello again Jane,

It looks as though you have found some very interesting memorabilia and it will be fascinating to see all the things you discover.

I know it isn't easy going through all the things that made up someone's life, my Mother died last year aged 89, but it can be quite special to discover all the things they considered important enough for them to keep and cherish.

Look forward to hearing more from you.

[June Ingram]

In amongst all the (as yet) unsorted 'Cunard memorabilia' I have acquired after clearing out dad's home I have been able to quickly get my hands on this and scanned it to share.

Hi Jane - That is a fabulous find to still have the program !

[June Ingram]

Hi Alan H. - Welcome to The Forum.  And thank you very much for sharing pictures and commentary !

[Rob Lightbody]

Hi,

This is one of the most remarkable postings on the forum, I think.

Those photos are so fresh, so clear.   Are there more?!  Are there photos from onboard the then brand new QE2?  I'd be excited to see whatever you have.  I don't think I've seen photos from this voyage before - a turning point in QE2's bumpy life, as she 'came good' and started to become a success.

The fact that two forum members were both on board as children is amazing.

Please share with us whatever you both have from this voyage, and please don't hesitate to ask for help if you need it scanning, uploading etc.

I was somewhat older (14) when I "met" QE2 in 1987 however I believe that meeting QE2 as a child connects lots of members of this forum, and causes her to form a special place in our minds.

Waiting to read more with anticipation, and thanks so much for what you've shared so far.

[Rob Lightbody]

In amongst all the (as yet) unsorted 'Cunard memorabilia' I have acquired after clearing out dad's home I have been able to quickly get my hands on this and scanned it to share.

Fantastic little nugget of a memory.  "printed in England" it says, rather than printed on board, which is interesting.  Where was the childrens paddling pool?

[Jane Crosthwaite]

Hi Rob, I have a load of images that I found from this time.  However frustratingly they are on slides so I will have to get them scanned but am very excited to share them in due course. 

My dad has taken a load of photos in April 1968 up in Glasgow which show the QE2 not quite finished and also show them winching the funnel in place with a huge crane.  The next batch are in March 1969 and were taken by my uncle when the whole family were all given a guided tour round the QE2 by dad - uncle took loads of interior shots of all the public rooms etc but from what I can see they are a bit dark so hope they can be manipulated to give a better view.  Finally there are loads from this sea trial trip but mostly exterior shots.  Amusingly there are a couple of good images of a load of smoke billowing from the funnel.  Presumably evidence of the problems encountered.....

I really am excited to share them with you as I have also not seen them for over 40 years!  Just bear with me and I will get them on here asap.  Jane.

[Jane Crosthwaite]

Rob, think your last post came on whilst I was typing mine.  I have a feeling the paddling pool and children's play area were situated high up towards the front in the area which later had penthouses built on it.

[Rob Lightbody]

OK so I think we need to clear something up.  In December 1968, QE2 had a trials voyage to the Canaries, during which the ship encountered problems and limped home.   In April 1969, QE2 had a successful 'maiden' cruise, during which no problems were encountered and the ship was then handed over to Cunard for her real Maiden voyage to New York.   I think you and Alan are referring to each of these trips - his in April, yours in December.    We should maybe split this topic up so that memories aren't confused!

Jane your photos and slides would be exciting to see.  It should be possible to use slide-scanners to get really high quality captures from the slides.  I did this with some slides of my Mum's from the 1960s, and they look like they were taken yesterday, quite remarkable.  My fingers are crossed!

Photos of Brand New QE2 are fairly rare - interior photos moreso.  The best ones I've seen are from Bob C on this forum.

[June Ingram]

This is so very interesting and exciting.  I, as I am sure we all do, look very much forward to more information and the new images !!

[Jane Crosthwaite]

I must apologise if I have confused matters and don't think you need to split this thread.  It was definitely April 1969 that I was on board as my mum kept meticulous records in her diaries.  It is my ignorance regarding engine problems which has caused confusion - for some reason I thought it was the trip I was on which had the mishaps, but I was only three!  From my mum's diaries it seems we went down past Gibraltar, Las Palmas and Tenerife.

I have dug out my old slide scanner and have managed to scan some images.  It is a laborious task and although I have tried my best to make images look OK, I realise I am no expert so will be sending everything off to a professional company in the New Year.  I do not relish scanning about a thousand family slides myself - will take me most of 2014!  However I was beyond excited about getting these posted up here so hope they will do for now.  It is a lot of fun for me doing this as such a fabulous trip down memory lane.  The interior shots are not terrific as doubt my mum was able to use a flash.  I think most of them are self explanatory but I do have descriptions for each image.

I see I am not able to post more than 8 at a time so if OK then I will post others separately.  Sorry if I am bombarding you.....

[Jane Crosthwaite]

Second lot....