Four Years Tonight

[Michael Gallagher]

Well it's four years today / tonight that QE2 said goodbye to Britain.

I'm sure Myles will never forget leaving the Yacht Club just before sailing.

And I've just watched the whole farewell and fireworks in real time as I have on 11 November ever since. The emotion is as raw tonigt as it was then. I was right back on that bridge wing. I miss her. God save the Queen.

[Twynkle]

 

Hello - and Thank you.
I think QE2 was Exceedingly fortunate to have you as a friend - See! 
Have you got a recording of Cunard's very own fireworks, too?
And the music - have you got the 'playlist'?
Expect it all took a while to plan and write...
Come to think of it - have you got a journal / note-book about the plans you'd made for her farewell, (only if it isn't personal and private)?
Even a few hints would be so wretchedly sad and good!

Thank you, too - for your thousand-plus posts, each and every one adding to such a valuable account of her time in service.
Rosie.

[Lynda Bradford]

It was a sad night for all of us who love QE2 and we had never expected that four years on her future would still be undecided. 

It must have been difficult for you Michael to organise the PR for the event but with a heavy heart knowing that she was being decommissioned. 

[Rob Lightbody]

Thinking of her tonight.

Even though I wasn't there in person four years ago, I had an emotional evening I'll never forget.

Still hope she can have a fitting future. Amazed her lum is still reeking to this day.

[Michael Gallagher]

Rosie - I had not even noticed I'd passed the 1,000 mark!

The BBC gave me a copy of the complete broadcast from 1800 to around 2030 (BBC1, BBC South and satellite). It was one show and that shows everything including cast off, the two firework displays and then the sail down Southampton Water. I watch it from 1800 every 11 November to relive that short period over again.

What was already a long, busy and complicated day became more so when we had confirmation it was to be a Royal Visit. I have attached the schedule for that (with some columns missing I'm afraid). I issue Working Documents in the weeks beforehand for events and then a Final Schedule. The Final for the Duke's Visit was 50 pages when all the detail was put in. On top of that everything else had a Schedule (events in Terminal and Mayflower Park, the military bits and then the Interview Schedule as every media it seemed wanted to Speak to the Captain so that is all pre-planned).

I do have the full playlist somewhere but I did a CD which Captain McNaught played as we backed from the Terminal and headed for the firework position and that was played on the open decks. That featured: Isnt She Lovely, You're Beautiful, Forever Young and The Day Before You Came.

All of this nearly went out of the window of course when I received the call (while on the way to the Terminal that morning) to tell me she was aground!

[Michael Gallagher]

Watching the BBC thing last night I somehow forgot about Captain McNaught's broadcast. I had written the following for him:

For almost forty years, QE2 has been acclaimed all over the globe as a symbol of British excellence.

And throughout her life, imprinted firmly on this symbol of excellence for all the world to see, has been one word: Southampton.

QE2 belongs to Southampton; this is her home, just as it is now the home of Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria.

She has put into her home port more often than she has visited any other port in the world. Wherever she has been, she has always come back here: home to Southampton.

But the day which had to come some day has come today, and when QE2 leaves home tonight she will not be coming back.

For this time, her 726th time, is the last time.


For forty years QE2 has striven to serve Southampton and serve her country with flair and fortitude. But now her sea days are done, and she passes on to a new life in a new home.

We wish her well.

On behalf of QE2 I bid Southampton farewell and thank you for all the affection you have shown her.

He amended it slightly when she said it to camera:

For forty years, QE2 has been acclaimed all over the globe as a symbol of British excellence.

And throughout her life, imprinted firmly on that symbol of excellence is one word. And the word is Southampton.

QE2 belongs to Southampton; this is her home, just as it will be home to Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria.

She has put into her home port more times than she has visited any other port in the world. And after every voyage this is always the port that she comes home to: Southampton.

But the day has come today which had to come. And this time, her 726th time, is the last time. For when QE2 sails tonight she will not come back home again.

For forty years QE2 has striven to serve Southampton and the country to her best. But now her sea days are done, and she passes on to a new life in a new home.


On behalf of QE2 I bid Southampton farewell and thank you for all the affection you have shown to her over all those years.

Southampton, I salute you.

I think he always dreaded me appearing in the last months with his speeches for the Cathedral Concert and 11 November as he thought he wouldnt be able to get through them but he always delivered things brilliantly.

[Alistair]

I was in Dubai. I watched what I could of the events unfolding in Southampton on the BBC website and the BBC World News. I didn't want her to come to Dubai as that would confirm that her life as an ocean going liner was over but I also couldn't wait to see her sail proudly into Port Rashid, still the Queen of the Seas. For me one of the most emotional moments I watched was when the Harrier Jump Jet slowly aproached and bowed to QE2 to thank her for her Falklands service. One amazing piece of British engineering acknowleging another. And so the waiting began........

[cunardqueen]

I'm sure Myles will never forget leaving the Yacht Club just before sailing.

   

I wont !!! But as you did say to me it was easier that way, l couldn't see it at the time, but l do thank you for the way you did it.Professional as always. One of my quickest ever disembarkations, up away and off within a very short period of time, didnt know if l should laugh or cry and you know Flagship which one l did. 

Mind you the day turned out nothing like l had sort of planned. I never did get my final walk round the decks but l did meet some crew from over the years, l did get through my final afternoon tea, But best of all l managed a peek inside my very first cabin 4028 from June 15th 1986, it hadnt changed much, but the intervening years flashed through my mind and l really couldnt belive it was all so nearly over.
 It was really for me a day of private emotions, every room held memories from over the years and l was here preparing to say goodbye to a ship that had been a big part of my life.

 The walk from QE11 terminal to the red jet did clear the air before we escorted her down Southampton Water,As QE2s speed increased  l think we were the second but last to turn back.

 As it happened a small group of us met up and headed to a bar where of all things salsa lessons were being given, so we moved on, l missed my last train to london (Iv never missed a train in my life before) and stayed over with a delightful lady lv known for a number of years, she hates these new ships. Caught an early morning train back to London and scanned the various news papers.

Shortly after l cancelled my booking for one of Queen Elizabeths Maiden cruises..and havent looked back, when youve sailed with the best the only way you can go is downwards.

I miss her. God save the Queen

 

[Lynda Bradford]

Watching the BBC thing last night I somehow forgot about Captain McNaught's broadcast. I had written the following for him:

For almost forty years, QE2 has been acclaimed all over the globe as a symbol of British excellence.

And throughout her life, imprinted firmly on this symbol of excellence for all the world to see, has been one word: Southampton..............

..............But the day which had to come some day has come today, and when QE2 leaves home tonight she will not be coming back.

For this time, her 726th time, is the last time.

I have just read Michael's speech for Captain McNaught and needless to say tears were running down my face.
:'

[QE2 Canuck]

ME TOO!!!

QE2 Canuck      Linda C

[LegendOfTheSeas]

I was on Red Eagle, which was doing a special cruise. We escorted QE2 down to the Solent and said our goodbyes between East Cowes and Ryde. As she disappeared into the distance, there was hardly a dry eye on the ferry, including mine. 

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Michael, thank you for sharing with us your 11 November commemorations. What an apt way to think of that day and relive the departure... I saw that same BBC broadcast, webstreamed at the time it all happened... but I doubt I could watch it again... too emotional...

You put together a great programme for the day, and it all went so well -- that departure will stay in many people's memories for many decades to come!

[Rob Lightbody]

My favourite QE2 memory:- 

https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,1335.msg49219.html#msg49219

Which I always return to when I'm feeling reminiscent of happy QE2 times, and which I've re-edited and re-posted tonight.

[Richard]

Can see why it's a favourite memory!!

You can really feel the atmosphere and hear the chatter around the camera and the singing around 08:15 "No awa tae bide awa"?

The officers on the bridge love to show off with that great horn but seem to understand what the ship means to the people in the small boats. And are happy to use the horn to communicate with, and bring everyone together 

Love the west coast accents!!!

A great video.

Thanks

[Rob Lightbody]

Michael,

Thank you SO much for sharing the detailed plan of Her Royal Highness's time on board QE2 on that memorable day - the detail and planning that went into this is obvious!  If you get it right, nobody notices, and nobody realises what a good job you did. 

- Rob