Anvil Point The city sleeps. Once proud ghosts
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!
If 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 Your Place & mine .
This image was sent to us by Wilson John Haire:
A squad of joiners. Joiner's
Shop, Harland and Wolff, Queens Island, early
1950s. Joiner holding present of shaving kit is
off to Canada soon. Sent on behalf of Will Morrison
who worked there as an apprentice joiner and a
journeyman.
Will Morrison - Apr '07
Thanks to Wilson John Haire for sending
YPAM the photo of a Harland and Wolff's Joiners'Squad.
The photograph was taken in 1953, and I would
be interested if any YPAM readers, who might be
in the photo, or their descendants, would be willing
to identify the joiners. I am seated at the right
of the photo just behind an old joiner in a white
apron. My mate at that time was the tall joiner
in the third row, eighth from the left, wearing
a white open-necked shirt. The gaffer of the squad
was Bob Moffatt (not in the photo).
- Will Morrison, former joiner, and author of
"Between the Mountains and the Gantries".(Appletree
Press)
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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 "Your Place & mine" ....
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 91福利社 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 91福利社 Radio 4 in 1972)
Share YOUR memories and stories, discuss this article at the bottom of the page or e-mail ypam-online@bbc.co.uk
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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 91福利社 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
- For further stories and information about Harland
& Wolff visit
- 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
- Pat MacKell relives his time at the yard in the
1960's which gave him a Travelling
Visa to a new profession
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The future. Are the clouds gathering over Harland & Wolff?
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