Channel 5 Documentary: QE2 -The World's greatest cruise ship

[Thomas Hypher]

What a load of total rubbish.

In what sense?

[Andy Holloway]

In what sense?

In the sense of what was 'Sensationalised'?

It was facts and not sensational headlines that were included in the programme.

[Thomas Hypher]

In the sense of what was 'Sensationalised'?

It was facts and not sensational headlines that were included in the programme.

The extent of the pilfering (I’m not denying it happened however), the story of the middle of that particular carpet being cut out that other members of this forum have said was unlikely for example. A documentary like this relishes “sensational” information such as this - much like a lot of the media. What’s more it depends on the source of said information and whether that source was/is biased or not (which I suspect was/is given the yard’s and Cunard’s working relationship at the time). I stated in my original post on the matter that it could serve to increase interest in the ship and encourage people to learn more and (perhaps) separate fact from myth. However this is my opinion and we all differ!

[cunardqueen]

I know of several pasengers from the UK  on QE2 who always called it Coo nard , all are or were very regular travellers.     

  Pilfering is a common problem worldwide in and around dockyards, i can't remember the number of times we found items 'walking' off the ship, mysteriously hiding in a dockie's tool bag or, cunningly concealed in rubbish bags etc.   

What about the passengers, need we say any more than the Farewell Transatlantic crossings on QE2...and who lets face it hasnt removed a cup or something that perhaps should have stayed on the ship..

[Andy Holloway]

The extent of the pilfering (I’m not denying it happened however), the story of the middle of that particular carpet being cut out that other members of this forum have said was unlikely for example. A documentary like this relishes “sensational” information such as this - much like a lot of the media. What’s more it depends on the source of said information and whether that source was/is biased or not (which I suspect was/is given the yard’s and Cunard’s working relationship at the time). I stated in my original post on the matter that it could serve to increase interest in the ship and encourage people to learn more and (perhaps) separate fact from myth. However this is my opinion and we all differ!

If you don't mind i think that i'd prefer to believe Eric Flounders & Lynn Waring with their versions of events as opposed to your 'assumption', they are speaking from many years of experience and knowledge, which could be sadly lacking in your case.

[Rob Lightbody]

If you don't mind i think that i'd prefer to believe Eric Flounders & Lynn Waring with their versions of events as opposed to your 'assumption', they are speaking from many years of experience and knowledge, which could be sadly lacking in your case.

They're not. They weren't there in the late 60s in Clydebank either.  Cunard's staff knew nothing of what went on.

[dellboy]

The first episode didn't tell us anything we didn't already know. I don't think the second episode titled "Cruise ship, warship" will be any different, with probably no detailed info on Dubai.       

[Lynda Bradford]

Episode 2 features Professor David Humphreys (one of our conference speakers ) and colleagues who had sailed to the Falklands with QE2. I believe there will be previously unseen footage aboard the QE2 from when she was sailing to the South Atlantic,  with the three crew speaking about their experience.   Should be interesting.   Forum member George Griffiths will also be featured in tomorrow's programme. 

[Rob Lightbody]

I'm not watching the programme just now, but I can tell whats being shown by what people are looking at on the "who's online" !

[Robbo]

There was hardly any footage of the conference.
The film crew were there for the two days and took lots of footage but nothing was shown. In fact I don't think they even mentioned the conference

[Rob Lightbody]

There was hardly any footage of the conference.
The film crew were there for the two days and took lots of footage but nothing was shown. In fact I don't think they even mentioned the conference

No mention of the conference, no footage that I saw, and no credit either even though they met many of the people in the programme at the conference.

It was a very, very badly edited programme - it bounced about all over the place with some repetition too. I feel dizzy!

[Trevor Harris]

How disappointing.

[June Ingram]

Very disappointing indeed !

[Lynda Bradford]

I thought there was some good film footage and I liked the section on the ship sailing to the Falklands with David Humphreys.

Disappointed that there was no footage, or reference to the QE2 conference celebrating 50 years since the launch, especially as Channel 5 got a lot of contacts to interview from the QE2 Story Event.  Did anyone notice if the QE2 Story was mentioned in the credits?

Also disappointing that at the end of the programme the commentator said there was no plans for the ship to open (or words to that affect).  The current position of what was happening to the ship should have been researched and the plans for Hotel QE2 opening in the Spring should have been reported.   

The Clydebank Post picked up on last week's programme with a heading "Storm over Channel 5 show's pilfering claims". The Editor had contacted me last week following the programme for a comment and I had stated what I had posted on this topic.  The local MP had also commented that it was disappointing that the programme had chosen to focus on unfounded pilfering claims. 
http://www.clydebankpost.co.uk/news/15991244.Storm_over_Channel_5_show___s_QE2_pilfering_claims/

On this week's programme the shipyard responsible for the disastrous refit at the time of the 1994 refit was not given the same harsh comments as the statements made about John Brown's shipyard.

[Willum]

Looks like the narrator had been corrected regarding correct pronunciation of Q-nard in episode 2. However, the classic this week was the clip of Lord Matthews, Victor Matthews chairman, whose caption was 'Victor Blank' an editor had presumably put in 'blank' in anticipation of correcting it later! How very amateur. - Phil Blank, sorry, Willum.