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Southampton Water, 10am
Tuesday 30 September 1997
Above Southampton, the Autumn sun had already
burned through the gloom and the city already basked in sunshine, but
as we made our way into Southampton Water, all around was shrouded in
dense grey fog.
Ahead of us, approaching shapes sharpened in
definition. At precisely 10.45 a huge, familiar silhouette towered
out of the mist. Closely escorted by a Royal Naval frigate, and
surrounded by an armada of 200 or more other craft jostling for
position, Canberra steamed her sedate path to the P&O Terminal
for the final time.
A Police helicopter hovered closely overhead,
sirens of the small boats around her set up a constant drone, drowned
often by the rich siren of Canberra herself. The sounds of her own
party floated across the flat waters, the voices cheered, the jazz
band played, hands waved, streamers floated down. Canberra was coming
home - and she was doing it in style!
A rainbow glistened in the sunlight through the
twin arcs of the tugs' water cannons... a dozen men in red suits
poured out of a plane high above her, bright parachutes dotting the
blue sky, their smoke trails spiralling behind them as they plunged
earthwards. On Canberra,a stream of red, yellow and blue smoke
billowed an echo...above, a Canberra bomber and an RAF fighter plane
screamed a welcome, a stark reminder of the role she played in
Britain's stand for the Falklands. 16,000 balloons soared joyously
skywards as she approached her berth.
On the shore thousands watched and waved and
cheered, while the joint band of the Royal Marines and the Parachute
Regiment played. This noisy, jubilant final homecoming was less
sorrow and more a joyful celebration of the career of this old lady
of the sea, home at last.
The Flying Osprey finally nudged her into her
berth.. the voice of Canberra's Master, Captain Rory Smith rang out
over the public address, counted down the seconds... the sirens
wailed the Last Post, and the great ship's mighty engines fell quiet.
For a second, there was silence. Then the
cheers, the tears, and the band played Rule Britannia, Land of Hope
and Glory... the flags fluttered.
Canberra had come home.
(We are indebted to Blue Funnel Cruises
of Ocean Village, Southampton, for allowing us to join Poole Scene to
view the homecoming. Blue Funnel may be contacted on 01703-223278,
fax 01703-571471)
All photographs are
copyright of DataMarine
CANBERRA at the D-Day Anniversary Celebrations on The Solent
© DataMarine
CANBERRA at Le Havre
© DataMarine