If you read some of the early correspondence in this thread, you will be transported back to the "QE2Story Word Cruise 2009", in which many of the then members of the Forum took an active part, with roles on the ship.
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,88.0.html
I still enjoy the memories of that amazing "Cruise"... and I hope that Stowaway2k did likewise...
He was a wonderful asset to our Forum and we shall miss him greatly. The 2018 calendar contains three of his splendid photos, including the cover picture.
Yes, Isabelle,
Also, in the early days - his speedy posting of all the QE2 Anniversaries was incredible.
Whilst searching for each day of the New Year slowly, day by day in 2009 - suddenly and out of the blue, Stowaway2K's full list of every anniversary appeared!
So so sad, I shall miss him hugely, we were in very frequent touch, until early June.
Then after several efforts to contact him, without wanting to be too intrusive, there was 'the information' earlier this week, posted on the internet (social media).
He was a very talented as well as modest person.
I'm not too certain how he would react now, should he be able to read all that everyone has posted.
Here for anyone yet to read it, is his list
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,314.msg3204.html#msg3204And (I'm fairly certain) he wrote this about the first time RMS Queen Mary sailed from the yards down the River Clyde
"With the help of 7 tugs, very carefully...
The Queen Mary was kept as light as possible for the dangerous voyage down the river. She had the minumum possible amount of fuel, and only the two forward lifeboats. Plus, the river channel had been enlarged, 1/2 million tons of sand and sludge were dredged and dumped at sea, and 5 1/2 acres of river bank around the Cart River, opposite the shipyard, were cut away.
On the 24th of March, 1936, an estimated ONE MILLION people lined the banks of the River Clyde to view the Queen Mary departing her place of birth, for her life of fame and glory. The day declared a holiday, shops and schools closing for the historic occasion.
Even with the help of 7 tugs, one of them brought up specially from Southampton, the Queen Mary grounded. Twice. As seen in this photo, a gust of wind sent the Queen Mary's bow onto the bank, and the current of the river put her stern on the opposite bank. She was held fast for about half an hour on the two opposite river banks.
With the dropping tide and the pull of the current, the Queen Mary had only minutes more to be brought free before the stresses she was being subjected to would have broken her keel. Queen Mary would had to have been scrapped on the spot, closing the Clyde to river traffic for months.
As we know, RMS Queen Mary was freed on time, and went on her way to become the greatest merchant ship in history".