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LATEST NEWS Titanic Bow Section unveiled 22nd June 2010 On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, members of the Society watched as a third size scale model of the partially built hull of Titanic was unveiled down by the Thompson Dry Dock. To the sounds of very loud fireworks and the raising of the White Star flag, Northern Ireland Science Park's CEO Norman Apsley, helped by DCAL's David Thompson, declared the replica 'open'. Created as part of the forthcoming Channel 4 and National Geographic television series to be called "We built the Titanic", the structure has been gifted to the people of Belfast. A team of engineers attempted to build the bow section using mostly the traditional methods used in the actual building of the ship but aided by modern techniques. The TV programme is an attempt to get a sense of the craftsmanship and innovative ideas present in the 1900s shipbuilding yard of Harland & Wolff. Present at the event was Society President John Andrews, whose great uncle Thomas Andrews was drowned in the sinking. Society member and ex Yard man, George McAllister, who had himself worked under the Arrol gantries for many years, was taking a close look at the riveting! Images courtesy of Society Member Joseph Cohen"
3rd November 2009
MAJOR PUBLIC ARTWORK UNVEILED AT TITANIC QUARTER
‘Kit’ is a dramatic site-specific light sculpture which is 13.5 metres tall and cast in bronze. It is ambiently lit with blue and white phosphorous lighting that suggests the adjacent marine environment and the searchlights of ships. The artwork depicts recognisable Titanic elements on an outer frame and the overall sculpture suggests toy kits and Air Fix models. It enables all generations to relate to the creation of RMS Titanic in this area of Belfast. The sculpture is designed to offer a sense of shared ownership while simultaneously being playful and light-hearted. For Stallard, the sculpture is intended to “symbolise Belfast as an industrial pioneer at the time of building the Titanic. It references the industrial heritage of the area and can be seen as a reverie of the past, to create nostalgia of what was once heroic. It is designed to act as a contemporary tribute to the shipbuilders. The sculpture is ‘see through’ and transient, almost mythological.”
Through open submission competition, ArtSpark NI on behalf of Titanic Quarter Ltd and Arts & Business NI commissioned the signature public artwork as part of its Integrated Arts Strategy for ARC. The major public sculpture is by Essex-based artist Tony Stallard and is the artist’s largest public artwork to date.
This artwork is an exciting development for Belfast. It is a good news story at a time of economic complexity. Mike Smith, CEO of Titanic Quarter has applauded the artwork; “The Tony Stallard sculpture is magnificent. It will add richness to the well designed public space at Abercorn Basin and significant interest to the well established heritage trail along Queen’s Road. At Titanic Quarter we are building the future from the past and Kit, with its references to the Titanic’s creation and the industrial heritage of the area, is a perfect illustration of that.” Millvina Dean. 2nd February 1912 - 31st May 2009 Titanic's youngest survivor and finally the last.
Our thanks must go to the Reverend Neville Jacob who conducted the service with great dignity and to the Harbour master who allowed us to use his launch to scatter Millvina's ashes and floral tributes into the sea. Special thanks must go to David Hill for all his hard work which culminated in a Memorial service which was a fitting tribute for "Millvina .. a life to remember" It was a very emotional and moving day for all concerned
More details will be given in the next issue of CDQ. Una Reilly Chairman
Wreath supplied by Belfast City Council.
26th October 2009
7th August 2009 Nomadic in her new home. The Hamilton Dry Dock, Belfast. Photographs courtesy of Paul Fryer, Nomadic Preservation Society.
29th July 2009 Preparing for Nomadic. The Hamilton Dry Dock preparations near completion, in order to receive Nomadic in early August, when she will, hopefully, be open to the public. Photographs courtesy of Paul Fryer, Nomadic Preservation Society.
Sunday 22nd March 2009 Titanic's Keel-Laying Remembered
Courtesy of Titanic Quarter Limited which has guardianship of the area, the Belfast Titanic Society gathered on No.3 slipway, Queens Yard, Belfast to remember, with pride, those men who started preparing the slipway for the ‘birth of Titanic’ on Monday 22nd March 1909. In order to lay the first steel plate which would become the foundation ‘stone’ from which the then biggest ship in the world would grow, it was necessary to do a great deal of ground work. Thousands of wooden keel blocks had to be set out along 850ft of the slipway. This work was not completed until Wednesday 31st March 1909. Upon these blocks, the steel keel or ‘spine, of the ship would be created. Those men were not to know, that 100-years on , we would be there on a sunny Mothers Day afternoon to remember them & to celebrate our proud maritime history in which they played such an important part. It was also a fitting time to remember the roles played by the wives & mothers at home. Members gathered round a group of replica keel blocks, kindly supplied by Harland & Wolff, the company which built Titanic and hundreds of other ships and which still is flourishing in Belfast today though not in shipbuilding. A steel plate will be laid on these blocks on the 31st March to celebrate the centenary of Titanic’s keel laying. The process was explained by George McAllister ex Harland & Wolff Foreman Rigger and prayers were composed and shared with us by Rev Ian Gilpin from the Andrews family place of worship, the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church in Comber. It was a time to reflect on the past but look forward to the future. Pictures courtesy of society member, Joseph Cohen.
Gathering in the Drawing Office
George McAllister explains the process. Realistic sample of the keel blocks used.
The Rev Ian Gilpin who officiated at our service. Thanks must go to our photographer, Joseph Cohen.
All those who attended. Titanic family and committee members.
16th December 2008
100th Anniversary of Keel Laying of SS No. 400 (RMS Olympic) on Slipway No 2, Former Queens Yard, Belfast. This area is now under the control and guardianship of Titanic Quarter Ltd and we thank them for access to the site.
Ian & Sandra Gilpin, Susie Miller, David Rebbeck, Una Reilly, Bill Austin, Norman Robinson.
Members gathered to remember the beginning of the Olympic Class Liner, a highlight in the history of shipbuilding here in Belfast. Olympic has been very much in the shadowed of her younger sister, Titanic. We know so much about Titanic’s tragedy and supposed failings but little of Olympic’s achievements. Olympic was the first of three Olympic Class Liners, followed by her sister ships Titanic & Britannic. (Sometimes referred to as the Beloved, the Damned and the Forgotten). When launched, she was the biggest man-made moving object on the planet. Olympic was designed for comfort, not for speed and for nearly 27 years she was a great asset to her owners, firstly White Star Line, then Cunard.
When scrapped she was still the largest British-built ship afloat, apart from the Queen Mary which was being fitted out at the time. She had set new standards in size and comfort of travel. Contrary to popular belief, she was never in competition to win the Blue Riband, awarded for the fastest time across the Atlantic.
She was a troop carrier during the war; she sank a German U-Boat. After the war she had a major refit to oil fired and returned to the transatlantic route, again “The Queen of the Seas”
Lord Pirrie, H&W Chairman at the turn of the 20th century and the person credited with the idea of creating the Olympic Class liner, has an engraving of Olympic on his memorial in the grounds of Belfast City Hall.
In the 1930s, cruising was not so popular and it was decided to scrap Olympic. In many ways this was unfair as of all the big liners left, she was still the most economical to run, even at her advanced age. She was a credit to her builders H&W.
Statistics:
Keel laid 16th December 1908 Launched 20th October 1910 Left Belfast 31st May 1911 Maiden Voyage 14th June 1911 Final voyage to be scrapped 11th October 1935 (27 years)
A Belfast built ship served her masters well. This is vividly shown in the Nomadic, the last White Star Line ship afloat, back here in Belfast and also about to celebrate her 100th birthday.
Nomadic SS No.422 Keel Laid Dec 1910 Launched April 1911 Left Belfast May 1911 Returned to Belfast July 2006.
“ Today we remember all of the men of steel, the Islandmen, all those who toiled in the shipyards, who watched with pride as their creations sailed away. We will never forget the great tragedy of the Titanic but we must also never let that overshadow all the triumphs. Let us begin to celebrate the fine maritime and cultural history of which Belfast can be so proud.”
Una Reilly Chairman & Co-Founder Belfast Titanic Society. 1st December 2008 Titanic Signature Project
The Titanic Signature Project which has been in the planning
since 2004 has
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A
major new public artwork by artist Tony Stallard has been launched at
Titanic Quarter, as part of Belfast Festival at Queen’s. The high profile
contemporary and innovative artwork which is called ‘Kit’ is situated in the
public realm area facing the Abercorn Basin and beside the Abercorn
Residential Complex (ARC), the first phase of residential development at
Titanic Quarter.
On Saturday 24th October 2009, the
Titanic family had the opportunity of paying our last respects to that
very special lady, Millvina Dean. The Memorial service, by kind permission
of the Dean family, was organized by David Hill from the British Titanic
Society, of which Millvina was president. We gathered in St. Mary's
Church, Copythorne where Millvina's mother Ettie is buried for the
Memorial service and afterwards Millvina's ashes were scattered, half on
her mother's grave and half in the waters of Berths 43/44 in Southampton
Docks, from where Millvina sailed on Titanic as a tiny baby in 1912.
Present through out were members of the worldwide Titanic family,
remembering a very gracious lady who had great charisma and vitality,
someone we all sadly miss. Mandy Le Boutillier ( Titanic-Verein), David
and myself spoke at the service whilst Charles Haas who is President of
Titanic International and was unable to attend, sent a beautiful message
which was read out. The Mayor of Southampton read 'Gone from my sight' by
Henry Van Dyke. There was a minute of reflection whist we listened to a
piece of Millvina's favourite music "Claire de Lune"
