The Upper Deck Library

[Adam Hodson]

The Upper Deck Library looked like a fantastic space. How many of you used the original upper deck library, and what were your thoughts on it? The VADS journal has a good page of info about it if anyone is interested:

http://vads.ac.uk/diad/article.php?title=244&year=1969&article=d.244.39

(I hope this does not cause any copyright issues but I have attached the page from the VADS journal to save people going to the website and looking for it. Please note the image come from the VADS journal website.)

[June Ingram]

Thank you, Adam !

[Adam Hodson]

No problem June. This really was a fantastic room.

[Adam Hodson]

Anyone got any memories or stories of the original upper deck library?

[Twynkle]

Does anyone have a few photos of the original upper deck library?  From the few photos I've seen, it looks superb - spacious and luxurious.  Terrible shame that special spaces like this were lost as the ship became more and more open plan - far too much in my view.

Rob's question above relates to the following request!
Please - when someone with deck plans and history has just a little extra time,
might it be possible to discover more about the Upper Deck Library?
It looks dark, and probably First Class!
https://vads.ac.uk/diad/article.php?title=244&year=1969&article=d.244.39
Did the two Libraries co-exist?
Was the Upper Deck one sacrificed before the 1987 refit?
Very many thanks in anticipation!
Rosie

[Louis De Sousa]

QE2 had 2 libraries when she entered service check photo below.The Upper Deck Library in red square was short lived and removed in 1972 to make place for the Casino.The Quarter Deck Library and Card Room in blue square survived until 1994 refit.Here then the library stayed but fully renovated the Card Room was removed and replaced by the Book Shop

[Michael Gallagher]

The Upper Class Library was also Tourist Class!

[Michael Gallagher]

Here...

[Michael Gallagher]

Here...

[Michael Gallagher]

Here...

[Louis De Sousa]

Here is a black and white photo of the Upper Deck Library

https://cunardqueens.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/qe2-1969-upper-deck-library.jpg


http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/16th-april-1969-the-comfortable-seating-of-the-upper-deck-library-on-picture-id3094458?s=594x594

[Rob Lightbody]

An amazing space.

I would so love a time machine (or some sort of amazing virtual reality thing...) to allow me to go back and explore her original interiors and see them for myself.

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

An amazing space.

I would so love a time machine (or some sort of amazing virtual reality thing...) to allow me to go back and explore her original interiors and see them for myself.

Yes indeed... looking fabulous...

I wonder why there were two libraries, what was the difference in function between them?

[Michael Gallagher]

One was for first class and one was for tourist when QE2 was on the Atlantic. Quarter Deck was Fitst class and Upper Deck was Tourust,

If QE2 has been built as a three class ship, as planned, there would have been three Libraries.

[Twynkle]

Hello Michael, Thank you So much!
This is a real gem of a space, and to look into those photos feels like a huge privilege - and Like Rob, it would be so good to have a walk-about calling at all the original areas - including The Chapel, The Princess Grill, The Captains Quarters etc, both those above, as well as below decks.
We are so fortunate to be able to visit your Great Archived Collection, it's difficult to express real heartfelt gratitude without seeming patronising.

Just beginning to wonder - and please, try not to groan too loudly (?!)
What would you think about having a Grand Exhibition of Photos, as well as Paintings etc for QE2 - rather like the 175 Cunard Exhibition (in So'ton) in Liverpool, and or Southampton?
Maybe to commemorate 'QE2 -The Maiden Voyage'? /The Golden Years, etc etc
Perhaps there could be matters relating to copyright, and curating etc - Just a thought, though!

[Lynda Bradford]

I have a vivid memory of seeing the Upper Deck Library when viewing the QE2 in November 1968 and was very impressed.  There was such a lot to take in that evening as I followed the procession of people viewing the ship but this library was amazing and I could not believe that it was deemed necessary to remove it to make way for a casino. 

Thanks for the photos, which bring back so many memories. 

[Michael Gallagher]

Rosie

Pleased you liked the Upper Deck Library images. It looked like a stunning room - maybe one of the nicest Librarys to go to sea?

I don't think you can have enough QE2 Exhibitions but it all comes down to cost - the 175 Exhibition in Southampton cost a small fortune believe it or not. We may look at doing something similar in the City in 2019 to mark the 100th anniversary of the express service being relocated there in 1919.

Michael

[Michael Gallagher]

More images of this beautiful room including the artists impression for it

[Brandon Sterkel]

Wow! I never knew how beautiful the Upper Deck Library looked! This (in my opinion) should never have been removed from the ship.

[Thomas Hypher]

More images of this beautiful room including the artists impression for it

Wasn't this library designed by Dennis Lennon? I seem to recall hearing this in a QE2 documentary, maybe "QE2 The Last Great Liner". I think I used it as a sneaky means of travelling through Upper Deck at least once, but in casino form - obviously not allowed as a child! Personally I found the flow of Upper Deck very disjointed when onboard...