Liverpool Cathedral Commemorative Concert: 3 October 2008

[Cruise_Princess]

Yes Flagship...you sure pushed the boat out for that day,,,..I think that day and the Greenock arrival on that cruise was the most memorable ever......the 40th was very special too but for different reasons......As Myles says it was nothing short of perfection......truly wonderful.......

I am so glad I was there to witness it all;  How Capt McNaught held it together at the end doing that speech was nothing short of a miracle....so moving.

There are no words really to praise this enough........and I do think that it should have been televised so many people love Qe2 it was such a special thing and alos the final departure it only went out on BBC Hampshire or BBC 24...but I do think it should have been prime time viewing.. a lot of folks didnt know it had happened till they read the paper the next day,

[Michael Gallagher]

I'm afarid we have no control over what TV decides to broadcast - believe me we tried!

[Cruise_Princess]

Im sure you did Michael.... but just looking on this forum at all the folks who loved her there are millions more.....such a pity for  it would have been a lot of viewers.......but as you say you have no control the TV seem to think we like Big Brother or more of that rubbish for 'entertainment'.  Mind you they didnt make a very good job of the onboard final voyage they did for Timeshift did they?

best with our own film and memories ......

[highlander0108]

Ae do like to play with people emotions whenever we do these concerts by dragging them down to lift them up again. But I have to say that most people were crippled with emotion (me too!) when the Paying Off Pennant came in to In Paradisum. Perfect!

Sure worked on me Michael.  When In Pardisum began and we saw the pennant, the emotions I had been holding back could not be contained and my son noticed the tears.  And then there was the pride, with the speech from Simon Weston followed by the best rendition of Sailing I have ever heard....haunting with the drummer marching in. Anyone onboard who chose to stay onboard truly missed out something special.

Wasn't Captain McNaught caught up in the emotions too and he had to shorten his speech?

[highlander0108]

Sailling as performed by the Band of the Welsh Guards.

Myles, get the tissues ready. 

[Cruise_Princess]

Flagship.....Curiosity ,,how did you choose who was to carry the pennant down the cathedral aisle?  Was it a lottery or did Cunard choose them...knew a couple of them ...but who were they...no names needed just positions will do.....they must have felt it so deeply.....and yet they remained so dignified through it all whilst everyone around was crumbling.

 Not like  Cunard to miss  a great sales opp there... if had they a stall selling kleenex they would have made a fortune!!! LOL

[cunardqueen]

It was nice that they had some of the old timers (in service years not age!!) to perform this ceremony.

[Michael Gallagher]

Cruise Princess

the people who carried the pennant were chosen by Captain McNaught - as usual his selection was spot on and included people from all ranks (Security Officer, Bosun, Exec Housekeeper etc). I will post the list when I get back home - up with the family at the moment.

Michael

[Cruise_Princess]

Thanks Michael...recognised Sec Offcr and Housekeeper just werent sure of fhe others...well Done Capt Mac....as usual...

[cunardqueen]

Andrew Nelder who of course features also in the Berlitz transatlantic guidebooks
For the life of me l cant remember the guy, he turned out to be a host on the next voyage

[Michael Gallagher]

Those who carried the Pennant:

John Cartlidge, SECO
Alvin Magallones, Bosun
Jimmy Hayes, Third Engineer Officer
D J, Furnishing Team (only have an initial which is annoying)
Andrew Nelder, Queens Grill
Roz Price Evans, Exec Housekeeper

[Cruise_Princess]

Thanks Flagship....nice to know...dont think it was included in the programme was it...I havent looked it out to check...I bet it must have been so hard for them..but they kept it all together ,...it was so dignified.

[Michael Gallagher]

The programme had gone to print before the people were chosen.

[highlander0108]

We were treated to a very early morning "drive by" of Douglas, Isle of Man.  (We will have to set up another topic for QE2's first and last call there.)  It was bitterly cold, but we were treated to a spectacular sunrise captured in Margarets video.  She also had the foresight to dress for the occasion. 



The weather for the Liverpool arrival was picture perfect, similar to what we'd experience in Greenock.  You might be able to spot a few familiar faces on the bridge.

[southfielddane]

It seems I have some very rare footage recorded at the beginning of the concert at Liverpool Cathedral when aspects of the QE2 were portrayed on the screen as guests took their seats Unfortunately I didn`t record all the sequence as I needed to have enough tape to record the concert. However, for your enjoyment of the World`s Greatest liner.......