QE2: Liverpool pays birthday homage to a Queen

Sep 22 2007 by Larry Neild, Liverpool Daily Post

City Editor Larry Neild experiences a memorable and historic day for Liverpool as the Queen of the Seas came back to her spiritual home

HALF a million Merseysiders turned out to say happy birthday to the Queen of the Seas, the QE2, yesterday.

Liverpool waterfront was almost brought to a standstill as tens of thousands of sightseers headed to view the 40-year-old liner tied up alongside the newly-completed cruise terminal.

Thousands more gathered along the Wirral Waterfront or viewed the QE2 from the Mersey Ferries.

By last night, when a spectacular firework display lit up the Mersey waterfront, the number had reached an estimated 500,000.

Cunard’s president, Carol Marlow, brought a lump to the throat of many when she told a VIP reception: “The Queen Elizabeth 2 breathed a sigh of relief when she arrived. She felt she had come home.”

Although Cunard ended its 130-year association with the Mersey some years ago, the company still regarded Liverpool as its spiritual home, said Ms Marlow.

The successful berthing of the QE2, due to be retired next year, now paves the way for visits to Liverpool by the ship being seen as her successor, the Queen Victoria.

In drizzling rain hundreds braved the early morning elements and started to gather along Princes Parade around 6am to witness the arrival of the QE2.

Right on time, she emerged from the mist off New Brighton.

At 7am, aided by three tugs, the 1,000ft long liner drew alongside the new terminal. Her length occupied the entire length of the landing stage, meaning her ropes had to be tied to the two extension dolphins, built so the stage can accommodate the world’s biggest liners.

Just as with the successful visit of the first two cruise liners earlier this month, the QE2’s arrival went perfectly.

Through the drizzle, there were non-stop bursts of flashguns across the river as people in Wirral joined the dawn chorus.

At 7.30am, the QE2 blasted its horn for precisely 40 seconds, one second for each of its years at sea. The sound echoed across the city.

The persistent rain could not dampen the enthusiasm of well-wishes and visitors to the city centre, but by early afternoon beneath blue skies the crowds converged on the waterfront from every direction.

A fleet of luxury coaches was used to take many of the 1,800 passengers on tours of the city or excursions farther afield.

Many passengers, including Carol Thatcher, daughter of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, left on foot to explore the city and visit the shops.

Hours later, many of them were returning with bagfuls of shopping. The visit will have added tens of thousands of pounds to the tills of shops and bars in Liverpool.

The formal highlight of the day was the unveiling of a plaque by the Duke of Kent to mark the opening of the new City of Liverpool Cruise Terminal.

Last night, the city council’s regeneration executive member, Cllr Mike Storey, said: “If anybody wanted to see the amazing advantage of a cruise liner terminal in Liverpool, then the reception given to the QE2 provided the answer.

“It was as though the whole city was determined to welcome this wonderful Cunarder to our new gateway to the oceans.”

Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral was crowded for a special service and celebration to mark the 40th anniversary of the QE2, featuring soprano Lesley Garrett and the RLPO.

Tenor Nicky Spence also performed at the celebration which featured the RLPO choir and the band of the Scots Guards.

Speakers at the event included Carol Thatcher, who has written a book on the history of the QE2, as well as frequent traveller Sir Jimmy Savile.

The one-time presenter of Top of the Pops, now in his 80s, was ferried to the QE2 aboard a pilot boat, and despite his age, managed to climb aboard up a rope ladder.

The QE2 was due to set sail at around 8am to head for Southampton, where she is expected tomorrow morning.

larryneild