Move unseen through back-yard streets.
Above the lough a blinking plane
Red-eyes the night sky,
Harland and Wolff cranes stand eerily silent
Like parents hands raised
In a final farewell
As the last of the offspring moves on.
They stand there, waving and waving
At nothing,
Nothing to do but wave on.Ann McKeever
End of an era?
As prominent in Belfast's history as its cranes are on the city's skyline, it's hard to imagine Belfast without Harland and Wolff and a shipbuilding industry. Once ranked as the biggest shipyard in the world with more than 35,000 men on its books, it looks likely that the Anvil Point will be the last ship that Harland and Wolff builds.
The company will continue to fabricate other metal structures, repair ships and barges and undertake design work, but most of the shipbuilding staff are being paid off leaving a small core workforce.
Lost Clip
If you click on the link below you`ll be able to view an exclusive (never been broadcast ) piece of 35mm footage of the shipyard in its heyday. We don`t know for sure exactly what year it is. The tape was found in a bundle of off cuts!
Shipyard ClipIf you recognise the year or indeed anyone in the clip please let us know.
Extra points awarded to those who can put a name to the voice over.....
Looking back - your memories
Harland and Wolff might be remembered on the world stage as the builder of ships such as the Titanic and Canberra , but what does the yard mean to those who have worked in it over the years? Bertie Traynor worked as a photographer in the yard for over 4 decades. He shared his memories here at A Sense of Place.
Can you remember the shipyard in its heyday? Perhaps you were one of the thousands of workers who streamed out of the mighty gates at knocking-off time?
With the Yard's world-wide reputation and distinguished history, what was it like to actually be involved in the building of its passenger liners, aircraft carriers and supertankers? Share your experiences here at "A Sense of Place" ....
Gordon has sent in pictures his father Peter Bannister took of the Sea Quest oil rig and the ship 'Myrina' in 1966/67. Take a look at Peter's PHOTOGRAPHS .
Was there a strong camaraderie between workers? Were some jobs a lot harder and tougher than others? Was it all serious or was there room for some fun in the working day? Do please tell your story here...
Two men who remember their time with Harland and Wolff are John St. Clair and professional footballer Derek Dougan. If their experience is anything to go by, working for the company certainly seemed to be a family affair....
In 1985 John St. Clair reminisced with Sam McAughtry about his time as a shipwright with Harland and Wolff.
(This interview is an extract from "McAughtry's Country", broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster in September 1985)
When Nick Ross interviewed footballer Derek Dougan in 1972 he discovered that Derek had worked for a short time at the shipyard.
(An extract from "Speaking Personally", broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1972)
Share YOUR memories and stories by clicking on 'Discuss this Article' at the bottom of the page or by e-mailing communities-ni@bbc.co.uk .
YOUR MESSAGES/RESPONSES
Peter Rebbeck
I have been following the comments and articles about the yard. I worked in the Purchasing Department from 1960 to 1969. I now live in New Zealand. I was the third generation of Rebbeck to work there. My grandfather (Sir Frederick Rebbeck)and my Father (Dr. Denis Rebbeck) both ended up as Chairmen of the yard and ran the company for many years. I have many happy memories of Harland & Wolff.
Peter has been sharing some of his H&W memories, including a visit by Aristotle Onassis - find out more.
Pat Ryan, Cambridgeshire.
My father took me to see the Sea Quest platform immediately after the launch. I clearly remember how one of the huge triangular pontoons, had buckled on entry into the water.
I also saw the Canberra before she was fitted out. Incidentally a late uncle of mine sailed on the maiden voyage of the Canberra and in fact spent a number of years on board as a butcher.
My father was a furnaceman and one of the few Catholics who worked in the Yard. He was one of the most moral and honest and hard working men I've ever known. He went in immediately after the war and was made redundant in 1970. Shortly after this he had a stroke and was paralysed until his death in 1976. His name was John Ryan.
Bernard de Neumann
My mother's cousin, the late Derek Barton Kimber was H&W's Managing Director in the late 1960s. Does anyone remember him?
Carl Roberts
Does anyone remember working on, or any stories about, the secret work carried on in the shipyard in the early years of the war when old and dilapidated warships were brought into the yard and 'tarted' up to make them look like new ships. It was all part of a plan to persuade German Intelligence that we had more new warships afloat than we really had. Even though hundreds of men worked on these ships the project stayed a secret until long after the war ended.
(If you can help Bernard or Carl, either click on 'Discuss this Article' at the bottom of the page or e-mail communities-ni@bbc.co.uk - NI Editor.)
A query has been posted about the launch of the Myrina - can you help? Read on ....
Related links
- Perhaps you can help us find out more information about this Shipyard Accident?
- A photographer at H & W for over 4 decades, read Bertie Traynor's memories of the yard
- Dave Sloan, now in the US, remembers his "office boy" work at H/W fondly;
not to mention a chat with a VIP visitor - Field Marshall Montgomery!! - Peter Rebbeck, now in New Zealand, worked in the Purchasing Department in the 1960s and was the third generation of his family to work in the yard.
- Photographs of Sea Quest and Myrina
- Listen to a Titanic survivor talk about when the iceberg struck, read about the ship's Comber connections and send a Titanic greeting card to a friend.
- View video clip of the launch of the Canberra
- One BBC producer was lucky enough to get the chance to visit the top of Goliath, where he got A Bird's Eye View of Belfast
- The last ship likely to be built at Harland & Wolff has left Belfast - read about the Anvil Point
- For further stories and information about Harland & Wolff visit BBC News Online
- Find out how Fermanagh cavers were involved in painting an oil vessel at the shipyard
- Dip into Brian Willis's Belfast Sketchbook to take a look at his 1970s drawing of a ship launch
© MMIX