Thousands See Britannia Sail

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31043, 26 April 1966, Page 3

Thousands See Britannia Sail

The Royal yacht Britannia, the Queen Mother waving farewell from the deck, moved slowly out of Lyttelton Harbour to the cheers of thousands on Sunday evening.

Scheduled to leave at I 9 p.m., the Britannia left about 9.20 p.m. The crowd began to gather on the breastwork and wharves as early as 7 p.m. On this occasion spectators were permitted to gather on No. 4 wharf itself, although the half of the wharf nearer the Britannia remained roped off. Shortly after 8.30 p.m. thousands had gathered—at 7 p.m, 8000 cars had passed through the tunnel during the day—and cars were still pouring through as 9 p.m approached. All the streets of Lyttelton near the wharves were lined with cars. At 8.50 p.m. some of the Britannia’s lines were cast off. and five minutes later the Marines' band lined up on an upper deck. A Maori concert party in the crowd near the Britannia sang at intervals. ' As 9 p.m. approached the! crowd became more excited, and there were a few cries of' “We want the Queen Mother!”! Between No. 4 wharf and No.! 5 wharf, both of which were packed with spectators, the

I two Lyttelton tugs lay, their I decks crowded with invited I guests. At 9.15 p.m. the Queen ! Mother came to the side of the Britannia amid loud cheers. She waved to the crowd, and the Maori concert party sang “Now Is The Hour,” many of the crowd joining in. The Marines band started to play, lines were cast off, and the Royal yacht edged away from the wharf and backed out into the inner harbour to turn before sailing through the moles. The concert party sang a verse of “You Will Never Grow Old” and the Queen Mother smiled and waved to the cheers of the crowd as the Britannia started to turn towards the moles. Some of the crowd went to the end of the wharf to watch the vessel leave, but they were orderly at all times arid police had little difficulty. Along the Evans Pass road hundreds of cars were stopped at every vantage point. In some places cars blocked half of the road .and near the ■ Summit road some of the spec- : tators were setting off fire rockets as a final farewell.