QE2 - An Appeal.

[Ponty]

Originally Posted by SFC1906.

 

Facebook group to bring QE2's Funnel back to Southampton

 

Hi all I have created a petition group on Facebook to get the grand old ladies funnel back to Southampton as the new owners plan to take it off and replace it with a hideous glass penthouse!

 

I want to gauge people's feelings/level of support before I start a 'proper' petition so if you're on Facebook please join and tell all your friends. Below is the link and my intro.

 

Would have started a thread but I haven't paid my fiver!

 

Thanks in advance.

 

11/11/08 saw the the most famous ship in the world leave her home port of Southampton for the very last time. She set sail for Dubai where she will be converted into a luxury hotel and conference centre.

 

Part of this conversion involves removing her iconic red funnel and replacing it with a 4 storey glass Penthouse.

 

Firstly I think this is extremely tacky to say the least and will destroy the look of a ship that is famous for it's un-parallelled class, style and majesty. The last of the true 'Ocean Liners' as opposed to the modern day 'Cruise Ships'.

 

Secondly they will then scrap the funnel.

 

Ever since I can remember as a small child I have looked out of my bedroom window at my mums house, and in later years from various points all over Southampton, and seen QE2's iconic red funnel towering above Dock Head.

 

This is now a sight that none of us will ever see again.

 

Watching QE2 sail out of Southampton for the last time was an emotional day for alot of people (myself included) and you could literally 'feel' this emotion from people standing on Weston Shore watching her leave.

 

To then find out what QE2's new owners plan to do with her funnel was just shocking.

 

We cannot let this piece of Southampton's heritage and history just be ripped off and discarded of like an oiley rag.

 

I think we should start a petition to have her funnel returned to Southampton to be set-up as a memorial so the people of her home town port, the people that loved her so much, will always have a piece of her to go and visit.

 

It is unlikely that many of us will be able to visit her in Dubai, and even if we did she would no longer be (or even look like!) the same ship that sailed the world for 40 years with Southampton proudly emblazoned across her stern.

 

Who's with me??

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=45315848407

[Weston Super Saint]

Don't have facebook.

 

Anyway - as someone who worked on the Black Pig - I say leave it be. She's gone, let go!

 

Besides I heard that the funnel was going to be created into a new 'front door' for the new QE2 hotel. Every hotel needs a door right?

[Hatch]

1. Who pays?

2. Where would it go?

3. Wouldn't it look a bit stupid?

[Robsk II]

Glenn joined the Pompey network

[saintwarwick]

Joined.

[TopGun]

1. Who pays?

2. Where would it go?

3. Wouldn't it look a bit stupid?

 

1. Carnival

2. Anywhere

3. As silly as Concordes look.

[dubai_phil]

Sent an email letter to the local paper asking for help and publicising the petition. Now you better get some people signed up.....

 

Won't make it for tomorrow's edition but let's hope Friday is a quiet news day!

 

www.7Days.ae

 

HTH

[Master Bates]

Was in yesterdays echo

 

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/3839278.Should_QE2_funnel_be_returned_to_Southampton_/

[Scummer]

 

Besides I heard that the funnel was going to be created into a new 'front door' for the new QE2 hotel.

 

Exactly, it's not being scrapped, therefore the whole idea is a bit pointless.

[SFC1906]

Just wanted to let anyone know who's interested, or doesn't already know, that we have been unsuccessful in getting the funnel returned - but that the Dubai Royal family have given the City of Southampton the QE2's anchor as a gift!!

 

Full story is in today's Echo http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/3933307._No_funnel__but_city_will_still_receive_a_QE2_memento/

 

Now before everyone starts cracking on - no I don't think that I've made this happen, but I would like to think that the exposure the group got around the world may have gone a little way towards letting her new owners know that there were people who felt strongly about having a piece of her back.

 

So for that reason I just want to say a big thanks to Ponty for starting the thread for me, a big thanks to Dubai Phil for helping to raise the profile in Dubai, and a big thanks to anyone on here who joined the group.

 

Oh, and yes they will also be funding and organising the transport of the anchor back to Southampton.