QE2 heading downriver from Clydebank to Greenock 1968

[Clydebuilt1971]

Morning Folks,

The attached photo was on my desk when I arrived at work this morning.

According to the stamp on the back its a Scotsman press photo.

I haven't seen one like this before - nice bit of clag coming out of that (brand new) funnel!!

Tugs from the famous Glasgow company of Steel and Bennie in attendance.

On the bow it looks like Chieftan (Scotts, Bowling 1968) on the starboard line and Campaigner (James Lamont, Port Glasgow 1957) on the port line and at the stern its looking like Wrestler (James Lamont, Port Glasgow 1957) on the starboard line and Warrior (Scotts, Bowling 1935) on the port line.

Apologies - I may have gotten Campaigner and Wrestler mixed up as they are very similar vessels!!

Hope  you like the shot regardless!!

Gav

[Alex Tarry]

Wonderful, for me she looked her best as first built...nothing subsequent improved her in my book...this is a great image 👍👍

[No 736]

Thanks for sharing Gav, great history here with Dumbarton Rock and the River Leven in the background.

[Rod]

And to think....the last time I was on the Clyde was when the big oil slick was moving along it in the 60's. Head of the river rowing regatta. At that time I had not even considered going to sea as a career!

[Thomas Hypher]

Wonderful image! I presume this was during November 1968, not too long before she first went to sea for initial trials on the 26th November?

There is similar film footage of her passage down the Clyde in the documentary, "QE2 The Last Great Liner" produced in 1995. I wonder if this was filmed from the same aircraft/helicopter and also by "The Scotsman" newspaper?

[June Ingram]

Thanks, Gav !

That's our girl with her beautiful yacht-like lines ! 

[Lynda Bradford]

Fifty-five years ago on 19 November 1968 QE2 left her fitting out berth at John Brown's Shipyard Clydebank to sail down the Clyde to Inchgreen Dry Dock at Greenock. 

On a grey November morning people lined the banks of the Clyde to see QE2.

Excellent photo posted in the gallery by Fairfield.

[Michael Gallagher]

Just discovered these images of that day which show Prince Charles on the Bridge Wing, QE2 leaving Clydebank and arriving at Greenock.

[Lynda Bradford]

Historic photos thanks for posting Michael

[Clydebuilt1971]

Fifty-five years ago on 19 November 1968 QE2 left her fitting out berth at John Brown's Shipyard Clydebank to sail down the Clyde to Inchgreen Dry Dock at Greenock. 

On a grey November morning people lined the banks of the Clyde to see QE2.

Excellent photo posted in the gallery by Fairfield.

Hello Folks!

I have been meaning to post this for ages but seeing the photo above jogged my memory just now!

When I was younger (yes a LONG time ago!) I used to do a paper round in West Kilbride. At the end of the round I would drop into the other newsagents in the town and chat a little to its proprietor Donald Ribbeck. He was nice guy, always willing to help folk and was popular in the village. He was also a great painter.
Donald sadly passed away in Dec 2021 - in his memory his son Peter (who is a fabulous photographer) managed to gather his remaining original paintings together (no mean feat apparently as Donald had loaned them out to various doctors surgeries etc etc in the area) and sold them for charity in a pop up gallery in the Main Street of West Kilbride in July 2022.

The minute I walked in there was QE2 in original guise making her way down the Clyde for the first time in 1968. You can even see the Erskine Bridge under construction in the background. The cost? £125 for an original!
Donald was a tradesman at Barclay Curle Shipyard at Whiteinch in Glasgow until he went into the army for a period of time. He painted loads of ships, racing cars and general views. He also made models of some of the Calmac Ferries too.

This location is a little further downriver from the location of the photo above.

I love this painting - its an original and Donald never had any prints made of any of his work so I know that I have the only one!

It hangs in our hall and I see it every day and it reminds me of Donald.

Rest Easy sir.

I hope you all enjoy taking a wee look as much as I do!!

Gav

[Rod]

That is a beautiful work of art!

[Lynda Bradford]

Fabulous painting and good that you managed to purchase it, not only because it depicts QE2 sailing down the Clyde, but also because of your memory of Donald. 

[Joann Scott]

Beautiful picture sailing down the River Clyde. Very good newsletter for Nov showing the last time the QE2 sailed from Soouthamton.
Thank you again for doing the QE2 Forum.

[Rob Lightbody]

Thats really special.