It was a long day, one which I'll probably never forget.
We, that is my son, his wife to be and my mother arrived in town a couple of days before the 11th. Much as I would have loved that we all joined QE2 this was impossible.
On 10 November 2008 we were fortunate to attend a lecture by Stephen Payne in the QE2 terminal about the QE2. A friend who was First Officer, then Navigator on QE2 in the eighties was due to join us, but unfortunately he couldn't make it at the last moment.
I don't think I slept all that well the night before in fear I would miss her last arrival into Southampton. Like many others I had a ticket on the Ocean Scene which left around 0530 to head out to meet up with QE2. Those who had booked on SS Shieldhall were not so lucky.
It was very dark and the cold wind bit through you! The Captain of the Ocean Scene provided a useful commentary as we headed south and in due course QE2 became visible heading in, or was she, somewhere near the Brambles.
Ocean Scene slowed down and an announcement was made that Solent control had stopped all vessels heading out as QE2 had been blown onto the sandbank. Tugs had been dispatched from Fawley and the rescue mission was on to see her free. I recall our Captain saying that 'we' we're fortunate to be where we we are and we probably had the best view of what was going on.
Later that day I was due to meet a friend who was a reporter and I wondered if he had heard this news. I phoned his mobile and asked if he had heard anything? He had not, but he said he would get back to me soon. Of course, this is when you realise that it would have been a good idea to charge your phone overnight! However, I received his call and I was told that 'I' was now the reporter, quite literally on scene, and would I mind going live on the news? So there I was, and the rest is history. Over the next hour I was interviewed live on TV and radio. Indeed, later whilst having breakfast I was on BBC Radio Belfast!
QE2 was free and heading to her home port for the last time; she looked magnificent, proud and a true Queen of the Seas just as she always did.
Later that morning we all stood on Town Quay to watch the poppy drop. Silence fell over the waters at 11am.
Around lunchtime we all headed to QE2 terminal where my mother and I checked in. My wife does not share the obsession I have for the ship and she was quite happy to stay at home with our daughter who was then still at school. They has strict instructions to watch and record the BBC South News broadcasts!
On board we caught a glimpse of HRH Prince Phillip and the Harrier saluting the ship. I met a couple of celebrities who had been closely associated with the ship over the years. They were on board for lunch and no doubt, this too was a memorable day for them all.
About 3pm a Royal Navy flotilla sailed by and saluted the ship in recognition of the valuable contribution she had made complementing the fleet in 1982. A small poppy wreath had been placed on one of QE2s rails in memory of the soldiers who had been carried on QE2 and had not returned from Mount Tumbledown.
Later on the open decks there was celebration of her 40 years; nobody on board wanted her to go, but she had to. Captain McNaught paid a most fitting tribute to her and thanked the City of Southampton. Their Queen, who called this city 'home', was leaving.
The band played on the quayside, the ropes were wound in and tugs pulled her off. Search lights beamed to the sky and floodlit the ship as she pulled out. She reversed down to Mayflower Park where thousands gathered to say their goodbye. The fireworks were magnificent and somewhere in the myriad of small vessels around us my son and his fiancée were on a Blue Funnel vessel. Eventually we made contact and flags waved good style!
Navigating through the flotilla of vessels must have been a challenge. Mind, there are rules and small vessels tend not to mess with The Queen. Fireworks shot into the sky from Hythe Pier and from numerous locations along our route out to sea. The small vessels began to turn and head home - their lights getting smaller as we progressed and our speed increased. The decks began to clear as fellow passengers headed in to warm up, prepare for dinner and unpack. I recall venturing out on deck later and still fireworks could be seen on the Isle of Wight and to the north around the Southsea area.
The pilot disembarked and we were on own with an expert crew under the command of the best Captain ever. What lay ahead was her last 16 days during which we would savour and treasure what this fine and mighty liner had to offer.
Topic: QE2 Final day in Southampton and final departure (11/11/2008) (Read 66082 times)
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Oct 04, 2011, 07:44 PM