When researching names for this blog, I found it difficult to come up with a unique name that had not already been taken. With the popularity of QE2, it is not amazing that there are a multitude of websites devoted to the ship. I ultimately settled on "QE2 - Pride of the Clyde." Unfortunately, a Goggle search found a Coach for hire company in Greenock using "Pride of the Clyde " already. So much for my unique name. Since I liked the ring to this name, I figured a way around this, which in theory, might add traffic to the site by adding "QE2" to the name. Now I was ready to launch my new blog, thinking I had a somewhat unique name to capture my obsession, the pride of Scotland, and to honor the workers who built the last ocean liner in the UK.
The blog was started long after QE2 had made her trip to Dubai. I had taken one of the final voyages, a very special one that had been shoehorned into the schedule once the announcement had been made that the ship had been sold to Dubai. This voyage was billed by Cunard as the "Farewell to the UK" voyage and this would be a lap of honor for the ship around the UK. When I saw the itinery, I knew the Greenock port of call would be special as this was the closest QE2 would return to where she was built. Unbelievably, the weather was absolutely perfect for our arrival, with an escort my the HMS Manchester. People were lining the waterfront as we arrived, along with our flotilla of small craft that accompanied us up the Firth of Clyde and eventually into Greenock. My initial perceptions of Greenock were spot on.
The photo above was taken along the Esplanade, with the docks in the background. QE2 had obviously not yet arrived, but as the photo shows, there was quite a turnout for QE2's final homecoming of sorts. We unfortunately never got to see this display and it wasn't until months later did I find photos posted of this tribute. Once the ship docked, we eventually got off and took a Cunard shore excursion to Glasgow to see the Transport Museum, which has a vast collection of shipbuilders models, but the main reason why we took this excursion was to visit the site of the former John Brown Shipyard to see QE2's birthplace. I knew that there wasn't much left, but I was still shocked to see utter distruction. Basically, the only thing left is the Titan Crane as discussed in the previous post.
This special day was full of a wide range of emotions. For us, there was the initial excitement on the approach to Greenoch, seeing Scotland from the sea for the very first time. Then, there was the feeling that we were experiencing something very historic. It is not everyday that a non-military ship gets a naval escort into the pier. The sense of pride was palpable. People were lining the streets to see the ship all day. After the euphoria of our arrival, seeing the remains of the John Brown yard later in the day brought the complete opposite emotion of incredible sadness.
So many countless times I have heard that QE2 was the last great ship built in Scotland, but on this day, there was no escaping why this ship is extremely special, much beloved by so many, and the "Pride of the Clyde." The once great yard that built her is gone along with industry that the Clyde was famous for. At the peak of the shipbuilding industry in the UK, "Clydebuilt" meant the finest in shipbuilding, known worldwide. The opinion voiced by our Titan Crane tour guide as well as everyone onboard QE2 was that the UK was about to loose their finest example of Scottish shipbuilding,craftsmanship, and engineering to Dubai in a few weeks time. The end was coming all too quickly. QE2 would depart Greenock for the final time later that evening, with a spectacular fireworks send off and not a dry eye in sight.
For me, though, the planner in me has kept thinking that there is a lost opportunity and by far a more suitible place for QE2 to be in her retirement. The fitting out basin is empty, awaiting her return............
The John Brown Shipyard fitting out basin, with the red brick lined notch in the bulkhead, modified to accommodate the first two Queens in the background. In the foreground, the bollards that QE2 and countless other great ships were tied up to during their fitout.
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