Songs of Praise on the QE2

[Lynda Bradford]

Thanks Michael. Would love to see the Spithead Review photos when you have time to scan them. 

Do you know if the QE2 was the only ship where passengers have participated in Songs of Praise? 

Couple of things could be added to the QE2 Story timeline such as the Songs of Praise filming and opening the Ringaskiddy Terminal in Cork.

[sotonsean]

Think it was 1990, Myles
Wasn't it produced by Alan Titchmarsh?
And yes, any pictures / other memories anyone?

Songs of Praise was also recorded onboard QE2 during a 4 night cruise from Southampton to La Coruna in September 1986 with Harry Secombe as the host, many of the passengers were taken to Santiago de Compostela for a church service as well.

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Songs of Praise was also recorded onboard QE2 during a 4 night cruise from Southampton to La Coruna in September 1986 with Harry Secombe as the host, many of the passengers were taken to Santiago de Compostela for a church service as well.

Thank you for this information! That must have been a very special cruise for everyone.

I wonder how many times Songs of Praise was recorded on board QE2?

[Cunarder Man]

I was on the 4 night cruise to La Corunna in September 1984 on which a recording of Highway was made. It featured Harry Secombe, Stutz Bear Cats, Lorna Dallas and others. It was a religious programme and there was filming at The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. I recall Captain Portet being interviewed and I still have a video of the programme.

This cruise started in Cherbourg as it was the time of the Miners' strikes and the Dockers in UK were out in sympathy. QE2 passengers were flown from south coast airports to Cherbourg to meet the ship.

[Rob Lightbody]

I was on the 4 night cruise to La Corunna in September 1984 on which a recording of Highway was made. It featured Harry Secombe, Stutz Bear Cats, Lorna Dallas and others. It was a religious programme and there was filming at The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. I recall Captain Portet being interviewed and I still have a video of the programme.

This cruise started in Cherbourg as it was the time of the Miners' strikes and the Dockers in UK were out in sympathy. QE2 passengers were flown from south coast airports to Cherbourg to meet the ship.

Wow, would love to see that sometime! Well done for hanging onto it! This for me is a fascinating period when QE2 was at the height of her fame and my dad was disappearing off to it increasingly regularly!

[riskygizmo]

A small snippet of Highway, found on You Tube;

[cunardqueen]

Bottom photo also shows seated Pauline Sleigh the Captains Secretary and (JDH) John Hewison
Was it normal to sing seated...
attached a couple of photos of 2 different Cunard song books....

[Rob Lightbody]

A small snippet of Highway, found on You Tube;

Brilliant!

[cunardqueen]

And also great to see Gordon, my first cabin steward in image 9!   Didn't have a picture of him and thought I'd never see him again.     

He featured in some of the brochures in the signal deck suites.

[Cunarder Man]

A small snippet of Highway, found on You Tube;

Brilliant, I remember this being filmed! If only we could turn back the clocks.

[Rod]

Then you had Bob Venning and David Warden-Owen.

[Mike McCann]

Was on my honeymoon on board and was interviewed by Alan Tichmarsh as part of the TV programme. I still have the Songs of Praise 'programme' that was handed out everyone on board. (pic attached) I will dig out the VHS recording I have of the program and convert it to digital when I have time and post it here.

[Lynda Bradford]

As part of Cunard's 150 year celebrations, the TV show Songs of Praise was recorded onboard the ship.  How many people do you recognise from the screenshots that Rob has posted?

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