The Incredible Journey

“As a 12 year old boy I went to the homecoming of the Great Britain with my Father and as he’d left my mother and me just the year before, this memory holds a special poignancy for me …we waited at Horseshoe bend, watched as she passed under the Clifton suspension bridge and then managed to get into town in time to see her come into dry dock

…I can remember the colours so well too, from the rust of the ship to the brown of the water and above all the beaming faces of everyone I saw … it was one of those amazing days when everyone was your friend …All in all it was a magical day from my childhood.”
Andy Gutteridge

Crowds of thousands watched the ss Great Britain’s homecoming in 1970. Tugs pulled the old ship up the Avon to Bristol, passing beneath Brunel's suspension bridge.

Onlookers reached out from the harbour walls to guide the ship into her dock. Memories of these events are so potent that many Bristolians remember exactly where they were the day the ship came home.

This homecoming followed a heroic salvage operation in a desolate corner of the Falkland Islands. A determined team of divers and engineers took on the challenge of raising the abandoned ship.

Bad weather and limited equipment made the operation hazardous and unpredictable. Amazingly, it took just three weeks to raise the ship’s vast, fracturing hull from the sea floor. She was secured on a huge pontoon and made ready for her last, 7,000 mile journey across the Atlantic.

The ‘Incredible Journey’ attempts to record the memories of people who took part in the salvage or saw the ship come home.

More than 150 people have contacted us since the project started in July 2009. A few of their memories are quoted below:

'I was in the Falkland Islands when the ship left… I have memories of flying over her in the beaver float plane just before she was put on the pontoon and seeing her alongside the jetty in Stanley harbour.'
Mrs Carol Eynon

'[5th July] was the day I broke my left tibia wall-papering. I'll never forget driving past the crowds in such pain!'
Matt Brierley

'We lived in Freeland Place, Hotwells [overlooking Bristol's floating harbour] when the ssGB came home. We struggled to get onto the roof at risk of life and limb. But it was worth it. I remember my husband saying "For once we are in the right place at the right time".
Marion Ellis

'I am a 39-year-old Bristolian born on the 2nd of May 1970. My parents live on the banks of the River Avon at Shirehampton and they tell me that on the 5th of July 1970 they joined the crowds lining the banks of the river to see her pass. I was of course a mere 2 months old but I am told they held me up, so I could have a good look at the ship floating along.'
Paul Davis

'My grandfather was born in 1833 and as a boy saw the launch of ss Great Britain. He had in all 11 children the last survivor being Miss Margaret Hughes. I visited her frequently and we both followed the progress of the ship, from her raising in the Falklands, her transportation up the South Atlantic and up the Bristol Channel…. At breakfast we heard on the radio that "all flags were flying" and that the Great Britain was on her way. My aunt laid down her knife and said "My dear, we must go!". We parked the car in some rough grass and made our way down to the river bank just up from the suspension bridge. There we waited until I whispered 'She's here' to my aunt, who was rather blind. I shall never forget, as this grey hulk drawn by tugs rounded the bend and approached the Bridge… there was a roar of sirens and every kind of welcoming noise imaginable, as she passed underneath and on up to the docks.'
Alicia Symondson

As a young family in 1970 my parents decided to take me and my younger brother Tony to see the ss Great Britain passing under the magnificent Suspension Bridge. After we’d found a spot my parents quickly realised that my brother Tony didn’t share the rest of the family’s enthusiasm for this event, complaining that he was missing Bill And Ben on TV. As the barge approached my five year old brother looked up from his sulk and remarked rather rudely that it just looked like a giant Pilchard being towed along the Avon! To this day we often recall that funny moment as we get together for family dinner with our own kids and our parents'.
Martin Slade

The Incredible Journey

…I can remember the colours so well too, from the rust of the ship to the brown of the water and above all the beaming faces of everyone I saw … it was one of those amazing days when everyone was your friend …All in all it was a magical day from my childhood.” Andy Gutteridge

'I was in the Falkland Islands when the ship left… I have memories of flying over her in the beaver float plane just before she was put on the pontoon and seeing her alongside the jetty in Stanley harbour.' Mrs Carol Eynon

'[5th July] was the day I broke my left tibia wall-papering. I'll never forget driving past the crowds in such pain!' Matt Brierley

'We lived in Freeland Place, Hotwells [overlooking Bristol's floating harbour] when the ssGB came home. We struggled to get onto the roof at risk of life and limb. But it was worth it. I remember my husband saying "For once we are in the right place at the right time". Marion Ellis

…I can remember the colours so well too, from the rust of the ship to the brown of the water and above all the beaming faces of everyone I saw … it was one of those amazing days when everyone was your friend …All in all it was a magical day from my childhood.”
Andy Gutteridge

'I was in the Falkland Islands when the ship left… I have memories of flying over her in the beaver float plane just before she was put on the pontoon and seeing her alongside the jetty in Stanley harbour.'
Mrs Carol Eynon

'[5th July] was the day I broke my left tibia wall-papering. I'll never forget driving past the crowds in such pain!'
Matt Brierley

'We lived in Freeland Place, Hotwells [overlooking Bristol's floating harbour] when the ssGB came home. We struggled to get onto the roof at risk of life and limb. But it was worth it. I remember my husband saying "For once we are in the right place at the right time".
Marion Ellis