Event report: QE2 50 Years Famous

Published 11:51 on 8 Mar 2022

Eric Flounders is well known to many HRSC members, from the enthralling talks he has given in the past about ships of the Cunard fleet. Hence there was a buzz in the Club House last Thursday, when people gathered at the bar to chat, before listening to Eric's excellent presentation about the QE2.

The talk covered confusion in the Cunard board in trying to decide on replacements for Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth - confusion verging on ineptitude - and went on to describe the struggle to actually build her, in a shipyard that tried to stretch out the contract because they had no further work on their books. The sequential strikes by individual sections of the workforce and pilfering verging on larceny by that same workforce further contributed to the ship's late delivery. Despite the QE2's inauspicious trials and her naming error, she finally emerged as a record breaking war veteran and style icon, sailing more nautical miles than any other liner to date.

We will hold Thursday evening events until the end of March watch out for information on the HRSC website. The bar will be open from 6.30 pm, talks start at 7.00pm and are followed by a tasty club supper in congenial company for £10.

Last updated 13:16 on 16 April 2024