In great anticipation, with our Runrig tickets safely stowed away, we set off for Edinburgh on Saturday morning. Having decided to travel via the A7 we made good time initially, but then the weather began to change...
Suddenly the scenic journey began to look more of a problem...
It looked beautiful from inside the car......
... but it was really coming down very heavily!
We had originally planned to spend a short time in Musselburgh but as we got closer the snow got thicker on the road, so we decided to head straight into Leith. By the time we got there the snow was thankfully turning to rain.
Leith is a district to the north of Edinburgh at the mouth of the Water of Leith. Having served as the port of Edinburgh for hundreds of years, the area’s original harbour dates back to the 14th century.
After decades of industrial decline Leith gradually began to enjoy an upturn in fortunes in the late 1980s. Several old industrial sites were developed with modest, affordable housing, while small industrial business units were constructed. Restaurants and galleries appeared and the once industrially-polluted and desolate banks of the Water of Leith were cleaned up and a public walkway opened.
One of the major attractions now is the Royal Yacht Britannia, moored alongside the Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre.
Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia is the former royal yacht of Queen Elizabeth II, in service from 1954 to 1997. She was the 83rd such vessel since the reign of King Charles II and is the second royal yacht to bear the name, the first being the racing cutter built for the Prince of Wales in 1893.
Britannia was built at the shipyard of John Brown & Co. Ltd in Clydebank and was launched by Queen Elizabeth II on 16 April 1953, and commissioned on 11 January 1954. The crew of Royal Yachtsmen were volunteers from the general service of the Royal Navy. Officers were appointed for up to two years, while the "yachtsmen" were drafted as volunteers and after 365 days' service could be admitted to "The Permanent Royal Yacht Service" as Royal Yachtsmen, and served until they chose to leave the Royal Yacht Service or were dismissed. As a result, some served for 20 years or more. The ship also carried a platoon of Royal Marines when members of the Royal Family were on board.
Britannia sailed on her maiden voyage from Portsmouth to Malta. She carried Princess Anne and Prince Charles to Malta for them to meet the Queen and Prince Philip in Tobruk at the end of the royal couple's Commonwealth Tour. The Queen and Prince Philip embarked on Britannia for the first time in Tobruk on 1 May 1954.
HMY Britannia, when on royal duties, was escorted by a Royal Navy warship. The yacht was a regular sight at Cowes Week in early August and, usually, for the remainder of the month, was home to the Queen and her family for an annual cruise around the islands off the west coast of Scotland (known as the "Western Isles tour").
During her career as Royal Yacht, Britannia conveyed the Queen, other members of the Royal Family and various dignitaries on 696 foreign visits and 272 visits in British waters. In this time, Britannia steamed 1,087,623 nautical miles (2,014,278 km).
In 1997, the Conservative government committed itself to replacing the Royal Yacht if re-elected, but after Labour won the general election in May 1997, it announced the vessel was to be retired and no replacement would be built. The new government said the expenditure could not be justified. On 20 October 1997, HMY Britannia left Portsmouth on her farewell tour around the UK, calling at six major ports, including Glasgow. As she sailed past John Brown's Shipyard, she gave a blast on her sirens, in fond farewell to the yard which had proudly built her.
On the day the Queen finally said goodbye to Britannia all the clocks on board were stopped at 15:01, the time the Queen was piped ashore for the last time. Listed as part of the National Historic Fleet, Britannia is a visitor attraction moored in the Port of Leith, Edinburgh and is cared for by the Royal Yacht Britannia Trust, a registered charity. Entrance to the yacht is via the Ocean Terminal development, and over 300,000 people visit the Royal Yacht Britannia every year. The tour visits 5 decks, including the Queen's Bedroom and the State Dining and Drawing Rooms, as well as below deck, work and recreation areas of the crew. A retired Rolls-Royce Phantom V state car, owned by the Royal Family in the 1960's, is on display in the purpose-built garage aboard Britannia.
The tour took us all over the yacht, starting in the Bridge. Only the commanding officer was allowed a chair to sit down, and aboard Britannia this was usually an Admiral! He also had his own cabin.
The sun lounge was a favourite room on board. It is an informal room where The Queen and her family would enjoy breakfast and afternoon tea. A record player, games store and chilled drinks cabinet were tucked away in cupboards in the bulkheads.
Sir Hugh Casson was the designer of the Royal Apartments on Britannia but the Queen and Prince Philip had the final say. They reflect the post war period and are not as lavish as you might expect.
The State Dining Room hosted many famous guests. Around the walls are displayed many exotic gifts given to The Queen, as she travelled around the world on official visits.
The Queen would work for several hours every day on State papers in her private Sitting Room. Prince Philip's was just next door. The State Drawing Room, as well as being used as the main reception room for visiting dignitaries, was also used by the Royal Family for relaxing, conversation and games. Princess Diana and Princess Margaret both enjoyed playing the baby grand piano, as did Sir Noël Coward.
There were varying standards of accommodation for the crew - depending on whether they were officers or just ratings. In the Navy different ranks have their own recreation areas, known as 'Messes'.
The laundry was well used with over 240 crew, and numerous changes of uniform required every day. The sick bay was not however somewhere the crew wanted to visit!
The Engine Room is full of gleaming brass, chrome and enamel. When America's General Norman Schwarzkopf was shown Britannia's spotless Engine Room in 1992, he was reported as saying: 'Okay. I've seen the museum piece. Now, where's the real engine room?'
The Royal Barge is moored undercover, next to Britannia.
There is a maintenance team for Britannia, led by a Royal Navy trained naval architect/shipwright. They look after the day-to-day maintenance and most of them served in the Royal Navy or worked at the Royal Navy Rosyth Dockyard.There is an additional Housekeeping Team who keep the public areas spotlessly clean.
Despite enjoying our tour of Britannia, we were really looking forward to the Main Event of the day - Runrig at the Usher Hall. Never having been there before we were not sure what to expect. We knew Runrig would be worth it but what about the hall?
The Usher Hall has hosted concerts and events since its construction in 1914 and can hold over 2,000 people.
It looked impressive from the outside... and the inside...
A brilliant night followed - Runrig were all we expected, and more. Their support act - James MacKenzie was very good and his music certainly got everyone in the mood. (not that Runrig fans need anyone to get them in the mood!) The concert was a sell out and was full of atmosphere and excitement for the whole 2 hours that Runrig were on stage. A really good mix of new music from their latest CD and some old favourites left us with tired hands and ringing ears - but was it worth it?
YOU BET IT WAS!!
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