She may no longer be still with us in Southampton but all those wonderful memories can never be taken away.

Queen Elizabeth 2 and I were together for 40 years, and, as the old music hall song said: “It doesn’t seem a day too long.’’ Over the years many ships have come and gone from Southampton but occasionally one stands out from all the others with a life and charisma that somehow sets her apart.

The old Queen Mary had it, so did Canberra and the chicest of liners, SS France, but QE2 has always been in a class of her own.

Right from the moment that water first lapped around her great hull more than four decades ago, the Cunarder was the benchmark by all other passenger ships have been measured and none has ever matched her.

I knew she would disappear sooner or later but I hoped it would be much later and her departure from Southampton – for both of us our home – has signalled the end of a long friendship.

Regret My regret is that I was never able to take my grandchildren, Megan and Max, on board so a new generation could experience the magic of QE2.

However, I will tell them all about her, how beautiful she looked, the good times on board, about all those places we went together, and, of course, the fond memories that will never be forgotten.

To experience QE2 at her very best was to be on board in the middle of the Atlantic – the place where she always truly belonged – powering her way through the swells and rollers with sea spray and the taste of salt in the air.

Then there was the warmth and comfort of being wrapped up in one the ship’s heavy tartan rugs as a brisk, fresh wind blew in from a distant shore in the knowledge that QE2 was alone in a vast, open ocean continuing the tradition of crossing and re-crossing the Great Circle passage between Southampton and New York.

To many it probably seems ridiculous to think of a ship – so much steel, wood and glass – in such a way but Southampton people have a special relationship with the sea together with the great vessels that sail upon it. QE2 will always have a large berth in the heart of the city.