News in days leading up to QE2's launch

[Lynda Bradford]

6 September 1967

The Glasgow Herald reported:
Around 30,000 people will see the launch
250 members of the World's Press will be at the launch
Workers at the shipyard had been allocated 2 tickets each accounting for around 16,000 tickets
The shipyard had rejected thousands of request for tickets but would be allocating 200 to members of youth organisations
The Queen would be visiting Erskine to talk to veterans of the two World Wars from Erskine Hospital
The ship will have a launching weight of 25,000 tons and 1400 tons of drag chains in 18 bundles will be used to slow her down after she enters the water
Seven tugs will manoeuvre the ship into the fitting out basin.  This could take between 25 minutes and 1 hour. 
Members of the public were warned about the risk of viewing the launch from the opposite side of the river as there would be a risk of flooding from the wave when the ship enters the water.
600 joiner met at the Clydebank Town Hall to discuss a wage increase.  Many of these joiners were Q4 workers.

.... to be continued

[Lynda Bradford]

The shipbuilding industry on Clydeside was facing challenging times in the 1960's.  Following WWII order books were full, but in the 1960's there was a reduction in orders for ship.  It was recognised there was a need to modernise working practises and machinery to compete with shipyards in other parts of the World. 

8 September 1967

The Glasgow Herald reported:

- The report from the three men working party proposing the merger of five major Upper Clyde shipyards, is now in the hand of the shipyard managers

- The five Upper Clyde Shipbuilders : John Brown and Co Clydebank, Charles Connell and Co, Scotstoun, Fairfield, Govan Glasgow, Alexander Stephen and Sons Linthouse, Yarrow and Co Scotstoun

- The yards have a workforce of around 15,000 men and annual capacity of 300,000 tons

- The report is expected to make recommendations for the workforce to work as a single unit to provide greater efficiency and flexibility of deployment and to avoid redundancy due to fluctuating demands
 
- A program of centralisation of steelmaking and fitting out is also expected to be recommended

- The labour structure will be the subject of discussions between management and trade unions

- The working party also had a remit to look at changes to the management structure, which is likely to be far reaching

- The Ship Buidling and Industries Board will be approached for grant and loans funding from the £37 million fund set up by the Government for the acquisition of interest in member companies and investment in new equipment

- Shipyard Official give warning on redundancy in Clyde Shipyards

The Glasgow Herald also reported on two Union Meetings where concerns were expressed about the shortage of orders for Upper Clyde Shipbuilders. Union Official give warning of redundancy in Clyde Shipbuilding

[Michael Gallagher]

In the summer of 1967 Cunard commissioned Laurence Bagley, Marine and Aviation Artist, (1922-1983) to paint Q4 in various guises. Several of these were issued in early September as Cunard started to promote the launch of QE2.

This fits in with Lynda's excellent topic on the days leading up to the launch as these paintings appeared during this time.

[Lynda Bradford]

Thanks Michael for posting these amazing images of the early QE2, which may not have been seen before. 

Any more snippets regarding the lead up to launch would be appreciated.   


Should the post read 1967 rather than 1968?

[Michael Gallagher]

Post now reads 1967. Sorry!

[Lynda Bradford]

12 September 1967

The Glasgow Herald reported on the merger between  Scotts Shipbuilding Company and Lithgows Limited, Port Glasgow. The new group was to be called Scott Lithgow Limited. "This was the first merger agreement to be signed in accordance with the Geddes Report recommendations". 

The article also reported that the five Upper Clyde Shipyards had agreed in principle to a merger but were studying the feasibility report and recommendations of the working party.  Awaiting details of the financial recommendations and a final agreement will not be possible until these are known. "They have still to received details of financial recommendations and possible agreement will not be possible until these are known, possibly next year."

The newspaper articles on the mergers of shipyard is a stark reminder of the downturn in shipbuilding in the UK. 

9 August 1966: THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, BOARD OF TRADE (LORD RHODES) reported progress to the House of Lords , in relation to The Geddes Report recommendations on the Shipbuilding Industry.

"At the end of June I received memoranda from both the employer and union organisations, reporting the conclusions that they had reached on the main recommendations which the Report addressed to them, and indicating the action which they were taking. The Government is now satisfied, both from knowledge of what has already been achieved such as the recent important demarcation agreement, as well as from the memoranda submitted by each side, that the industry has accepted the basic recommendations in the Report, and that both sides are prepared to co-operate in giving the industry a fresh start. I can now therefore confirm the Government's decision to play its part also in the reorganisation of the shipbuilding industry."

[Andy Holloway]

I was a young Royal Marine when QE2 was launched and i remember sitting in the Guardroom at Bickleigh Barracks near Plymouth watching the launch on TV, it was a real talking point Nationally. We even had a sweepstake on the name, could have been a couple of bob each with winner, or nearest, takes all, maybe a couple of only been a couple of quid but enough for several beers! I don't think anybody got the right name though!
Little did i know that, 37 years later that having actually worked ion QE2, i would then be at the naming of QM2 as a Cunard Employee!

[Lynda Bradford]

I was a young Royal Marine when QE2 was launched and i remember sitting in the Guardroom at Bickleigh Barracks near Plymouth watching the launch on TV, it was a real talking point Nationally. We even had a sweepstake on the name, could have been a couple of bob each with winner, or nearest, takes all, maybe a couple of only been a couple of quid but enough for several beers! I don't think anybody got the right name though!
Little did i know that, 37 years later i would be at the naming of QM2 as a Cunard Employee!

Brilliant to hear about this link from a young RM anticipating the name of the new Cunarder and then 37 years later being at the naming of QM2.  There certainly was a big news lead up to the launch in Clydebank, so it is interesting to hear that it was the same in Plymouth.

On 13 September 1967: The Glasgow Herald offered a souvenir publication commemorating the launch of Q4.  I wonder how many of our members have a copy of this souvenir, that cost 2/6p for the publication and a colour print of Q4?

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

In the summer of 1967 Cunard commissioned Laurence Bagley, Marine and Aviation Artist, (1922-1983) to paint Q4 in various guises. Several of these were issued in early September as Cunard started to promote the launch of QE2.

This fits in with Lynda's excellent topic on the days leading up to the launch as these paintings appeared during this time.

Wonderful paintings, Michael! Of course, being me, I immediately think they would make great jigsaws. 

I wonder where these paintings are now? On a ship or in a permanent exhibition?