In November 1968, the Southampton Albion Silver Band played an important part in Southampton’s farewell to another of the world’s great ocean liners — the Queen Elizabeth.
On 8 November, the Band assembled at the Ocean Terminal as the Queen Elizabeth departed on a final cruise to Gibraltar and North Africa. Between 11.00am and 12.30pm, the Band provided music as thousands of people gathered to watch the famous liner sail. The occasion was also covered by television and newsreel cameras.
The Queen Elizabeth returned to 107 Berth on 15 November, where the Band again provided the musical welcome. Members played for an hour before her arrival and continued for around 45 minutes while the enormous liner manoeuvred alongside.
Then, on the dark morning of 29 November 1968, the Band gathered under the floodlights at 107 Berth at 7.15am to perform for the Queen Elizabeth for the final time.
Several hundred people were present at the berth, with many more watching from Mayflower Park and the Royal Pier. Parts of the Band’s performance were broadcast on BBC and ITV, and the occasion received coverage in both the local and national press.
The farewell was another memorable chapter in the Albion Band’s long association with Southampton Docks and the great ocean liners, where generations of Band members had played ships both into and out of the port at almost every hour of the day and night.