QE2 on The Clyde in the 90s

[Clydebuilt1971]

Hi Folks,

At the QE2 Conference back in September the commentator on the Charter Iain Quinn thrust a handful of photos into my hand and said "do with these what you will"

They photos show the ship on three separate visits to the river during the 1990s and I need you help with shots 4,5 & 6.
They were taken when she had her speed stripe so that places them either 060796 or 200799 (I saw her in 94 and she didn't have the stripe plus the Clyde tugs were only in Cory colours 1996-2000) so anyone with a keen eye who can home in on the date please step forward!!

Pics as follows:

(1) Leaving the Clyde after her maiden call at Greenock 250790 (tug in shot is Clyde Shipping Company's Flying Spindrift built by Richards, Hessle Yard, 1996)
(2) As above (tugs in shot are Flying Phantom and Flying Spindrift)
(3) Leaving the Clyde 010994 (I met her for the first time further downriver that day and touched her hull )
(4) Arriving on the Clyde either 1996 or 1999
(5) Arriving on the Clyde either 1996 or 1999
(6) Coming onto the berth at Greenock Ocean Terminal either 1996 or 1999

Tugs in pics (4) & (5):

Bow - Flying Phantom (Ferguson Shipbuilders, Port Glasgow, 1981)
Stern - Thunderer (launched as Warrior by Lamont, Port Glasgow, 1970)
Assisting - Warrior III (Japan, 1975)

Hope you enjoy these photos!

Have a great Christmas!!

Gav

[Michael Gallagher]

Great pictures, Gav.

It was always very special sailing on the Clyde on QE2 and I had the honour of taking Dr (later Sir) John Brown around QE2 during the 1994 visit. He was the MD of the yard at the time of her build. A real gent!

The dates for QE2's Greenock calls were

Wednesday 25 July 1990
Thursday 1 September 1994
Sunday 3 September 1995
Saturday 6 July 1996
Tuesday 15 July 1997
Tuesday 20 July 1999
Thursday 20 September 2007
Sunday 5 October 2008

I suspect pictures 4, 5 and 6 are from 1999 as there as no signs of the Cunard lion above the Cunard name. The lion was there until refit end 1996.

[Thomas Hypher]

Great pictures, Gav.

It was always very special sailing on the Clyde on QE2 and I had the honour of taking Dr (later Sir) John Brown around QE2 during the 1994 visit. He was the MD of the yard at the time of her build. A real gent!

The dates for QE2's Greenock calls were

Wednesday 25 July 1990
Thursday 1 September 1994
Sunday 3 September 1995
Saturday 6 July 1996
Tuesday 15 July 1997
Tuesday 20 July 1999
Thursday 20 September 2007
Sunday 5 October 2008

I suspect pictures 4, 5 and 6 are from 1999 as there as no signs of the Cunard lion above the Cunard name. The lion was there until refit end 1996.

I believe this is the same John Brown who was interviewed on QM for "QE2 - The Last Great Liner" in 1994/5.

Excellent photos Gav!

[Michael Gallagher]

It certainly is the same John Brown, Thomas. He hadn't been back to the ship since she left in 1968 and was surprised to see a lot still in place and working. Had a great lunch with him in Princess Grill.

[Thomas Hypher]

Great pictures, Gav.

It was always very special sailing on the Clyde on QE2 and I had the honour of taking Dr (later Sir) John Brown around QE2 during the 1994 visit. He was the MD of the yard at the time of her build. A real gent!

The dates for QE2's Greenock calls were

Wednesday 25 July 1990
Thursday 1 September 1994
Sunday 3 September 1995
Saturday 6 July 1996
Tuesday 15 July 1997
Tuesday 20 July 1999
Thursday 20 September 2007
Sunday 5 October 2008

I suspect pictures 4, 5 and 6 are from 1999 as there as no signs of the Cunard lion above the Cunard name. The lion was there until refit end 1996.

Interesting to note that her 1995 visit was just over a week before the rogue wave. I was unaware she went back to the Clyde this much too! Apparently she was looking very tired before her 1999 refit (first under Carnival) partly because the refit was put off by a year.

[Thomas Hypher]

The post Project Lifestyle refit visit photos appear to be before the rogue wave as she still has her original round type foghorn replaced in her 1996 refit I think (her last at the KGV drydock - with A&P). Or it could be shortly before her 1996 refit?

[Clydebuilt1971]

Great pictures, Gav.

It was always very special sailing on the Clyde on QE2 and I had the honour of taking Dr (later Sir) John Brown around QE2 during the 1994 visit. He was the MD of the yard at the time of her build. A real gent!

The dates for QE2's Greenock calls were

Wednesday 25 July 1990
Thursday 1 September 1994
Sunday 3 September 1995
Saturday 6 July 1996
Tuesday 15 July 1997
Tuesday 20 July 1999
Thursday 20 September 2007
Sunday 5 October 2008

I suspect pictures 4, 5 and 6 are from 1999 as there as no signs of the Cunard lion above the Cunard name. The lion was there until refit end 1996.

Thanks Michael,

Had forgotten she was back in 97 as well! She certainly wasn’t a stranger to the river of her birth in the 90s!

Gav

[pete cain]

Thanks Gavin, these are just lovely, love picture no3, port 3/4 stern shot,  oh happy days

[Pete Hamill]

Gav,
I don't have any photos that I can say with certainty are from 1996, but we were on the voyage that called into Greenock in 1999 and our photos show she was berthed Starboard side to, so assuming photos 4,5,& 6 show here arriving, she looks to be berthing Port side to, so on that basis, I can say it isn't 1999.
I'll let you decide if that is enough evidence to say it is 1996!

[Michael Gallagher]

Me and Dr John Brown on his first visit to QE2 since 1969...

[Michael Gallagher]

QE2 on the Clyde in 1994. The Pride of the Clyde meets the Spirit of Scotland - the Fairbridge Charity sailing ship

[Lynda Bradford]

Excellent photos and interesting to see a photo of you with Dr John Brown, which must have been taken near the start of your career with Cunard. 

[Michael Gallagher]

Thanks Lynda - I'd been at Cunard for three weeks or so and that Round Britain was my first trip on QE2 as a Cunard employee.

[Clydebuilt1971]

QE2 on the Clyde in 1994. The Pride of the Clyde meets the Spirit of Scotland - the Fairbridge Charity sailing ship

Hi Michael,

I was on the river in 94 in a mate's rib to escort her as she left. We left from Largs Yacht Haven and joined the flotilla level with Wemyss Bay I seem to recall - I also remember seeing the sailing ship on charter to Scottish Power. I think I have posted a shot of QE2 and the sailing ship elsewhere on the forum.

The weather was great that day too

Gav

[Clydebuilt1971]

Hi Folks,

Whilst looking through an old external HDD I came across the photos below - which were shot from a mate's rib as QE2 sailed downriver into the Main Channel after her visit to Greenock 01.09.1994.

The skipper must've rang full ahead at the point I took the last one judging from the funnel reek

I don't recall posting these elsewhere but apologies if I have!!

Gav