Author Topic: The date of the laying of the keel (QE2)  (Read 11285 times)

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Online Lynda Bradford

Re: The date of the laying of the keel
« Reply #15 on: Jul 05, 2018, 12:04 PM »
5 July 1965 the day QE2's Keel was launch and a day to remember in the history of QE2.  The date for laying the keel was to be 2 July but because of difficulties lifting the keel into place as explained in this post the ceremony was aborted and the keel laying took place on 5 July.


Excellent video footage:
Q4 (QE2) Keel Laying Videos.




« Last Edit: Jul 05, 2018, 12:06 PM by Lynda Bradford »
I was proud to be involved with planning QE2's 50 year conference in September 2017 in Clydebank

Offline Clydebuilt1971

Re: The date of the laying of the keel
« Reply #16 on: Jul 05, 2018, 01:16 PM »
Love these films - especially the part looking down the slip and ss Sheildhall sneaks past :)

Offline June Ingram

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Re: The date of the laying of the keel
« Reply #17 on: Jul 05, 2018, 08:03 PM »
Great to remember our QE2 on her anniversary.

Starting right with the laying of her keel, she did it her way !  :)
QE2 - the ship for all of time, a ship of timeless beauty !

Online Barumfox

Re: The date of the laying of the keel
« Reply #18 on: Jul 07, 2018, 10:12 PM »
Great footage - although I thought the original keel laying date was 4th July - 125th anniversary of Britannia maiden voyage?

And yes - the footage of Clyde-built Shieldhall - performing her unglamorous but essential role is fitting at QE2's birth having been aboard her for QE2's final departure from UK on 11 November 2008 - cannot believe nearly 10 years ago already!

Gary

Offline June Ingram

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Re: The date of the laying of the keel
« Reply #19 on: Jul 07, 2019, 03:02 PM »
I am a couple of days late with my good wishes, but Happy Keel Laying Day to QE2 !  :)
QE2 - the ship for all of time, a ship of timeless beauty !

Online Lynda Bradford

Re: The date of the laying of the keel (QE2)
« Reply #20 on: Jul 06, 2023, 09:03 AM »
58 years ago this week was the ceremony for the laying of QE2's Keel, which didn't quite go to plan but

Quote from Michael Gallagher former Cunard Historian:
Quote
Originally the keel was to be laid on Friday 2 July 1965. The prefabricated section of the new ship's keel consisted of three 60-tonne sections 35.7 m (117 ft) long, 7 m (23 feet) wide and 1.9 m (6 ft 3 in) high.

Unfortunately it had not been stipulated that the prefabricated section being built in the workshops should weigh just 40 tonnes, to be within the combined lifting capabilities of two tower cranes adjoining the ship, which with the aid f a powerful winch would lift and pull the keep section into place. A rehearsal of the ceremony on the Wednesday evening before had gone very well but this good omen turned out to be misleading.

Lady Aberconway, the wife of John Brown's Chairman, was to perform the ceremony at 1000 hours, and more than a score of press and TV cameraman and about 30 journalists were there. Also present were Lord Aberconway and Sir John and Lady Brocklebank.

As the process began it rapidly became clear that something was wrong. Although the keel section initially moved a few inches it then stuck and refused to moved any further. Seemingly the weight of the keel was greater than the two cranes could manage, and the strain on the winch threatened to tear its concrete base out of the ground.

The embarrassing ceremony ended abruptly and the guests were quickly taken away to be entertained; fortunately press coverage was sympathetic.

The keel section was moved without fanfare into position onto the building docks on Monday 5 July.

Britannia left Liverpool on 4 July 1840. Those notes came directly from Cunard's Annual Report so even Cunard got the anniversary date wrong by a day!

Question for the technical minded people on the forum.  On the board with the keel number 736 - it says 1/2 inch per foot. Any idea what this calculation is based on e.g.  is it the footage of the length of the ship
I was proud to be involved with planning QE2's 50 year conference in September 2017 in Clydebank