Save the QE2?

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This is a special extra newsletter in light of the significant press coverage QE2's plight has had in recent weeks. Since January 2009, we follow the news "as it happens" in our QE2 News Section.

As you may remember from the last newsletter, we created and published a leaflet which we handed out at various venues including the amazing 3 Queens event in Liverpool. At the same time, to coincide with the publicity, we contacted a number of media outlets to highlight QE2's plight.

The Liverpool Echo ran the story, acknowledging the great work that member Stephen "Robbo" Robinson had done, but their story was then picked up by The Daily Telegraph which we helped with (with photos sourced by Louis De Sousa), and then in turn by a full feature in the Express, by BBC Radio Scotland, The Daily record and more.

All of this coverage alerted Inverclyde Council to the fact that a solution for QE2 still hadn't been found, and they then raised a bid to save QE2 and bring her back to the Clyde. This is in turn has generated more press coverage for QE2, especially around her birthplace on the Clyde.

A comprehensive article ran today in The National (UAE) who spoke to John Chillingworth (QE2 London) after we put them in touch with each other. It is well worth a read to see the difficult time he's had trying to save "his" ship.

What will come of all this? Who knows. As we've done since 2009, we're helping anyone that asks us with information, contact details and facts. much of this work happening behind the scenes. We think its important to clarify to the public what her condition is, and that a rescue is still not impossible. She was dry-docked just 2.5 years ago, and still looked incredible then. She's now dirty, neglected and largely forgotten in Dubai, but she's still there and mostly intact under the dust.

We hope Dubai are listening, and we are all ears if they want to speak to us.

Although some QE2 enthusiasts think she should be scrapped with dignity, we'll continue our efforts to save her, until its clear what the final chapter of The QE2 Story is to be. It was hard not to imagine her located as a hotel in Liverpool during the 3 Queens Event.

Thank-you for your continued support for the QE2 Story Forum. We know how special the ship is to everyone onboard the forum and we appreciate the contributions that are made to keep her memory alive.

Best Wishes.

Rob Lightbody working on behalf of the QE2 Story Members