HER name is Queen Elizabeth II, stated our newspaper, as one of the most beloved ships built on the Clyde was launched almost 60 years ago today (September 20). The headline described a “tense moment” as the ship seemed to pause briefly before sweeping majestically into the water. The Cunard liner, previously referred to as Q4, was launched from John Brown’s Clydebank shipyard amidst much pomp and ceremony on September 20, 1967.
The royal party included the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Margaret, the Queen’s sister. The Queen gets a tour of the yard (Image: Newsquest) They were greeted with balloons, streamers, flags and bunting, and their journey to the yard was lined with cheering crowds. At the famous Singer’s factory, employees crowded at windows to catch a glimpse – and some even made it on to the roof.
We reported the story – on the front page, and over four pages inside the newspaper – with great pride. Our front page 57 years ago today (Image: Newsquest) “Altogether it was a great day for Clydebank,” said our reporting team. “Half an hour before the launch one shipyard official was almost beside himself with delight over the way the arrangements had gone.
“’I’ve never known anything in the yard go quite so perfectly before,’ he enthused. ‘Everything has been absolutely spot-on.’” The 30,000-strong crowd included people who had travelled from America to see the launch, and 200 young people from the Queen’s Scouts, Guide.