"Sad we could not all meet up and raise a glass to her. Will have a wee nip tonight" - Red Snape
"Mega gutted missing her leaving. Being a Saturday, and myself a teacher, I could have shot down to see the old girl go." - Pricky Price, Bedford
"What a kick in the teeth! She knows we loved her....I will raise a glass tonight. She may be gone but the memories will live on through all who had the privilege to sail in her." - Tom Petty
"I'm in Palma trying to get this gin palace ready for sea but my thoughts will be with you. Raise a glass for me & say fare thee well to the Mighty Manchester! - Lenny Bilton
"Will be raising a glass or two this evening in her Glorious Memory, I first met my wife onboard her." - Terry Beddoes
"I was so looking forward to the farewell and a few scoops!" - Dan Daly
"Perhaps the old girl wanted to bow out without any fuss - just getting on and doing the job in the most professional way - as she always did." - Bob Brown
"She lives on through the association. I will raise a glass tonight for sure." - Daz Major
"Gutted. Planned to drive up to Portsmouth on Saturday. Sad missing her go, but at last she is on her way and no longer lying sad up the Creek." - Chris Way, Bournemouth
"What a disappointment, but sometimes no matter how hard you try things just are not meant to be. I suppose a group of grown men with tears in their eyes on a Saturday morning wouldn't have been the best, but it would have been nice to see her depart Pompey harbour for the final time. I have just raised a tot to the Mighty Manch!" - Pete Berrow
"Thanks for the many updates that you have sent out on this, it really is appreciated. I won't make a comment on them slipping the old girl away early as I'm sure we all feel the same." - Gary Sobol
"Sad news indeed, I feel like she has been stolen from us. Was planning to be at the Round Tower for her last journey" - Redders Redmond, Royal Wootton Bassett
"Just had a tot to wish the Mighty One all the best on her final trip. - Jungle Jarvis
"Bollox!" - Anon
"Have paid my respects to the old girl, shame not to see her go" - Buzz Bee, Leicester
"Sorry to learn we've missed the Mighty Manch departing." - Percy & Louise Purcell
"I was never in a position to be able to get down to Pompey to say goodbye, but I'm sure if everything had worked out she would have had a fitting send off." - Mike Spear
"Maybe she just didn't want us to see her on her ignominious last journey in her rusty colours. We could of course fly down to Gib, hire a boat and buzz her on the way past - OK maybe not!" - Sting Wray (Bobby Stokes - Joss in Gib - has been detailed to do this! Ed)
"I was looking forward to seeing her off." - Ted Weager
"Gutted I missed the old lady's final leaving harbour, but she is one war canoe my family won't forget. Great memories." - Steve James
"The ship may pass beyond the bar but the memories remain forever. Maybe the best memories of our life, we still have our shipmates to re-live the best times." - Ernie Northern
"I have just watched her leave Pompey on an ais tracker, she is now south west of the Nab tower, and that is the end of the story!" - Jack Guntrip
"Still tracking the old girl on ais still only about 10nm southwest of I of w, running at 6.2kts, 241dgr, 1855" - "Jack" Guntrip
