Unseen slides of QE2 being built, fitted out, on trials and early years.

[Rob Lightbody]

Hi all,

I've just added another set of slides to the album and there are some fascinating wee snippets of life on board in April 1969.

I don't have time just now to put proper titles in, I'll come back to do that, but for now they're just titled "April 1969".

https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=207

Enjoy!

- Rob

[pete cain]

Gobsmacking, just lovely, a brand new QE2, a joy to behold in these horrid times (have I said enough),
beautiful lady with so much in front of her, thanks Rob.....

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Gobsmacking, just lovely, a brand new QE2, a joy to behold in these horrid times (have I said enough),
beautiful lady with so much in front of her, thanks Rob.....

I totally agree! And I wonder whether some of our Forum members, who were among the earliest travellers on board, would recognise themselves in these photos. They might be able to add to the stories behind these pictures.

[Rod]

Picture 1, Second Electrician George Spicer is on the left, Chief (First) Electrician is the Officer on the right Bill Blood. Was Bill Blood's last ship I believe he retired in 1972. George went on to become "The Boss Leccie"

[Rod]

Picture 13. Notice NO trapshooting screens on the back end.

[Rod]

Picture 22 On the left  Hughie Cameroon 3rd Electrician in picture later to be come Boss Leccie after re-engining.
Other person is Bryan Carlile who became Boss Leccie.

[Rod]

Pic 45 Brian Carlile., as is pic 46.
Pic 56. That furniture had gone by the time I got there in 71.
Pic 107 Commodore Bil Warwick.

[Rod]

Pic 45 Brian Carlile., as is pic 46.
Pic 56. That furniture had gone by the time I got there in 71.
Pic 107 Commodore Bil Warwick.
Pic 111 Bil Warwick again.
pic 118 Bil Warwick, I don't know, next ti I don't know is Jack Marland Chief Engineer.
Pic  134 Don't know any of the people, but venue is the Sound Reproduction Room (SRE Room) located on 3 deck.
Pic 134, same place.
It always makes me wonder when I see pictures like this, why on earth did they not put the red on the chimney from the get go?

[Rob Lightbody]

Rod,

Your memories and names are absolutely priceless - thanks for taking the time to do this.

I've updated the relevant photos but I have some questions!

Hughie Cameron presumably, rather than Cameroon?   

Also do you think its Brian or Bryan and Carlile or Carlisle?   Brian Carlisle would be the most common spelling I suppose.  Would be awesome to track him down, he looks quite young there.


And Regarding the SRE room - FANTASTIC!  The chap that took the slides, and kept them, worked for Tannoy and we see in other slides this equipment being built ashore before being assembled on the ship.  I wonder what became of the SRE room in later years as componentry shrunk?

[Rod]

Sorry Rob. Yes his name is Cameron a Scot. Cameroon is the way we pronounced his name because he didn't like it!
Interesting fact about Hughie.....although he was one of the electricians he was very, very wary of electricity! He used to wear gloves to change his flashlight batteries! Then, after re-engining he had to deal with 37,000 volts???
Regarding Brian Carlisle? You may well be right about the spelling.
I believe he died some years ago. He would have been in his early 50's in the pics. Very nice guy BTW! I had a lot of time for him, as I did Hughie. Hughie is on FB  can I send him some of these pics?

[Rod]

SRE was also the radio/television station and clock central where they advanced/retarded the clocks. (That was fun doing that!) Also a nice place to get a cuppa if you were in the area!

[Rob Lightbody]

Sorry Rob. Yes his name is Cameron a Scot. Cameroon is the way we pronounced his name because he didn't like it!
Interesting fact about Hughie.....although he was one of the electricians he was very, very wary of electricity! He used to wear gloves to change his flashlight batteries!
Regarding Brian Carlisle? You may well be right about the spelling.
I believe he died some years ago. He would have been in his early 50's in the pics. Very nice guy BTW! I had a lot of time for him, as I did Hughie. Hughie is on FB  can I send him some of these pics?

Thanks Rod.   I thought Cameroon was just a typo, thats funny.

I'd love to know what Hughie remembers about these very early years, and if he recognises anyone else in the photos.  I still have quite a lot more to upload too.

Please don't send him the photos as copies - just send him this link - it will work for him directly - https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=207

[Rob Lightbody]

Can someone with an original deckplan please pickout the SRE for us please?

[Rod]

Entrance was on 3 deck, portside between E & G stairs. It was a while back, but definitely 3 deck port.

[Thomas Hypher]

SRE was also the radio/television station and clock central where they advanced/retarded the clocks. (That was fun doing that!) Also a nice place to get a cuppa if you were in the area!

Rod, in later years (at least 90s onwards) they seemed to change the clocks individually as shown in the 1992 French documentary. Was this central clock timing system more hassle than it was worth, and did it become such quite soon after her build?