LAST MEETINGS

A.G.M.

10th May 2010

February 2010

Our packed Feb 8th meeting heard Mark Chirnside speak on the topic of -

"The Olympic Class Liners - a Business Case"

The 'Olympic' Class Ships: A Business Perspective, a presentation by Mark Chirnside took a brief look at the White Star Line's express ships before the 'Olympic' class ships came into existence, charting their declining passenger numbers and the need for new tonnage; examined the financing of the three sister ships, which, contrary to popular belief, were not financed by J. P. Morgan, rather they were funded primarily by two huge bond issues in October 1908 and July 1914, secured by a mortgage on the company's entire fleet; and demonstrated that not all of these borrowings had been paid off by the time the White Star Line was forced to merge with Cunard.

Particular interest was shown in passenger numbers, which recovered remarkably quickly after the Titanic disaster. Although they plunged in the summer of 1912 for Olympic, after she returned to service passenger numbers recovered steadily in 1913-14. Even the most popular express liners did not sail full all year around. In fact, Mauretania was in service for three years before she carried over 2,000 passengers on a single crossing; and Titanic's passenger list, sometimes believed to have been disappointingly short for April, was actually quite respectable.
      Long believed to have been intended as a replacement for Titanic, the Germanic/Homeric was in fact intended for the Liverpool service as a larger, faster, more luxurious and improved version of Adriatic and the 'Big Four'. Despite the absense of Titanic or an immediate replacement, the Southampton express service continued unabated although, by 1914, only Olympic and the older Oceanic were on the schedule. The White Star Line as a whole saw record profits in 1913.
      Although a blow for the company, Britannic's cost was compensated by the government after her loss in November 1916. Following the war, when Cunard moved their express ships to Southampton, it was possible to compare Olympic with Mauretania, potentially her chief rival when she entered service in 1911. Although there were one or two exceptions, on the whole Olympic proved more popular and had higher passenger numbers, which combined with a greater fuel economy helps to demonstrate the financial soundness of the 'comfort rather than speed' model. Mauretania nevertheless seems to have been profitable - and she certainly was from 1926 to 1930 - and there is little reason to assume that Olympic was not. Cunard's Aquitania, built to better Olympic, proved more popular still.
      By 1930, the depression was setting in as passenger numbers fell, while the decline of third class travel, which had all but vanished after the early 1920s, continued. For the first time in its history, the White Star Line made a loss and operated in the red until the merger with Cunard.
      The membership of the Society enjoyed Mark's presentation and he fielded the many questions which arose. To one question, he couldn't remember the answer but he has kindly forwarded it to us. The Cretic was the only White Star Line ship in 1908 which was not built by H&W.

February 2010

Pictures from the BTTS recent Day-Trip to the Titanic Artefacts Exhibition in Dublin.

42 members, 1 driver and a large yellow bus, joined the Irish Titanic Society and the Addergoole Society for a joint Titanic dinner in the City West Hotel.

The Annual Cricket Match at Comber  8^th June 2009

Members of the Belfast Titanic Society gathered at Comber, where Thomas Andrews played, for the annual cricket game against North Down. The evening was blessed with glorious sunshine but not much heat. Excitement was intense as Society members (and youthful guest players!) chased a very high score from the home team who batted first. Into the last ‘over’, the teams could not have been closer, with a 4 needed from the last ball of the game to achieve victory. Despite the efforts of the final pair of batsmen, the final score was 98 to 97 for North Down, signalling a win for the home team who were then presented with the ‘new’ trophy. This ‘wonderful’ cup had been ‘sourced’ in Barcelona by BTTS team manager Bryan Patterson, ( full story in next issue of CQD). The evening finished off with a well deserved BBQ.

Photographs courtesy Joseph Cohen, Society photographer

11th May 2009

Belfast Titanic Society

AGM

On Monday the 11th May 2009 we held our AGM onboard Nomadic. A good turnout of members ensured a warm and vibrant meeting and the successful election of new office bearers; a list of which will be published soon.   (Pictures courtesy of Joseph Cohen.)

Our President, John Andrews.

Our Chairman, Una Reilly opens the meeting.

The steering committee.

Norman asking a question.

Members on a tour of Nomadic.

9th February 2009

The Works of Rosamond Praeger

Despite a threat of bad weather, there was a very good turn out for the February meeting of the Society, held in Inst.

The evening was about "The Titanic Legacy of Rosamond Praeger", a very apt title as we learnt a great deal about this very prolific artist who produced a 'titanic' amount of work but was not recognized for her true worth in the country of her birth, Ireland. The very entertaining illustrated talk was delivered by Dr Joseph McBrinn who lectures in Visual & Material Culture at the School of Art, the University of Ulster. He very much brought the character of this amazing lady to life.

Sophia Rosamond Praeger was born in Holywood, Co Down, Northern Ireland. She was the younger sister of the internationally renowned naturalist Robert Lloyd Praeger and the National Botanical Gardens in Glasnevin Dublin has several pen and ink line drawings of flora by her.
Ms Praeger, who never married, was educated at Sullivan School, the Belfast School of Art and for four years studied at the Slade School of Art in London. She also studied art in Paris.

Though she wrote and illustrated children’s books, she is best known as a sculptress
Amongst her many works are The Philosopher (which was shown at the Royal Academy) and her well-loved Johnny The Jig is to be seen in Holywood, Co. Down, (between the Maypole and the Priory).

Some of her most acclaimed work was commissioned by, amongst others, the Andrews family, including the Andrews Memorial Hall in Comber and the Workman & Clark War Memorial which now is situated on the Pump House at the Thompson Dry Dock. She also produced the memorial to Thomas Andrews in the Ulster Reform Club in Belfast.

It was a very informative meeting, enjoyed by all those who attended