Titanic 2012

Titanic - MyTV video footage

Background History
At 11.40pm on the 14th April 1912 RMS Titanic struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic, near Newfoundland.
At 12.20am on the 15th April the crew was given the order to send away women and children in the ship’s lifeboats.
Titanic sank at 2.20am on the 15th April.
Of the 1523 people who lost their lives 549 came from Southampton.
The disaster, which made headlines across the world, had a devastating effect on the people of Southampton

100 years after the tragic sinking of the White Star liner RMS Titanic, the city recognises our unique link to the tragedy. The disaster struck at the heart of Southampton as hundreds of city residents went down with the fated vessel. Events across the city give you the chance to connect with the voices of the past that echo through history, telling the story of that disastrous night.

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Retracing the Unsinkable: The Titanic Centenary - Southampton City Art Gallery’s Biennial Open Exhibition
17 March – 29 April 2012
All residents of Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Wiltshire and Dorset are invited to submit their artwork for this 'open exhibition.' This year the theme is the Titanic. In April 2012, it will be one hundred years since the famous White Star Line ship set off on its ill-fated voyage to America. The iceberg that intervened, the tales of heroism and the deep sea excavations of the ship embedded in the Atlantic have become legendary.
We encourage artists of all ages working in a range of media to rise to the challenge of creating a new piece of work based on this theme. The judges invite entrants to consider the brief as creatively as possible and will consider both 2-D and 3-D work in any medium (although video and multi-media work cannot, unfortunately, be accepted due to technical limitations). The successful entrants to the exhibition will have their work exhibited at Southampton City Art Gallery from 17th March – 29th April 2012.
Please contact Julia Howard for further information, entry forms and a copy of the rules; Julia.howard@southampton.gov.uk or 023 8083 2355

Southampton City Libraries Favourite Book to Share Award 2012
1 April - 30 July
Southampton’s search for this year’s best family book sets sail with the launch of Southampton’s Favourite Book to Share Award which is 'Sea' or 'Maritime' themed for 2012. The competition, which is run by Southampton City Libraries, is designed to encourage parents and carers to enjoy a good story with children under the age of five. Copies of each of the colourful tales will be available from April 1st at all of the city’s libraries, from Sea City or Tudor House Museum, along with voting slips. Staff from Library Services will also be visiting parent and toddler groups across the city to help them to check out the competition.
Parents, carers and children have until the end of July to register their vote and every entrant will qualify for the chance to win copies of all six books. To register please visit your local library or contact Siobhan McGarrigle, 023 8083 2595 or e-mail Siobhan.mcgarrigle@southampton.gov.uk

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The Man Who Left The Titanic
30 January - 1 February at 7.30pm
The Nuffield Theatre, University Road, Southampton SO17 1TR
Admission: £10 / £8 concessions
Contact: 023 8067 1771
On April 15th 1912, the Titanic, the greatest ship in the world, slipped below the frigid waters of the Atlantic. Yet J. Bruce Ismay, managing director of the White Star Line, stepped into a lifeboat and sailed away from the stricken ship, sailed away from his passengers, sailed away from the cries and screams and tears. 'The man who left the Titanic’ evokes that terrible voyage and asks whether Bruce Ismay only did what any of us might have done in the same circumstances, or should his actions that night consign his name to infamy? Was he a coward, or merely human?

The Wreck of the Titanic - composed by the late David Bedford
Thursday 22 March at 7pm-8.30pm
Southampton Central Hall, St. Mary Street, Southampton, Hampshire SO14 1NF
Contact: Linda Higson 01202 644707 or e-mail: lhigson@bsorchestra.co.uk
Pupils from various Southampton schools will be performing including The Southampton Youth Concert Sinfonia, First Steps, Stick It Percussion Ensemble, Ready Steady Sing and Southampton Young Singers. A version of this concert will also be played in the Cherbourg Theatre on 14th April 2012.

Author Signing with James Darcy - 'Last Known Address'
Saturday 24 March at 11am - 3pm
Waterstones West Quay Shopping Centre Southampton SO15 1QE
Admission: Free entry and no booking required
How did fate and personal sacrifice conspire to place one 17 year old boy on the world's most ill-fated voyage? Find out more by chatting to local novelist James Darcy, who, as part of the Titanic Literary Season will be signing copies of his book 'Last Known Address.'

Author Signing with Mike Roussel and Sam Warwick - 'Shipwrecks of the Cunard Line'
Saturday 31 March at 11am - 3pm
Waterstones West Quay Shopping Centre Southampton SO15 1QE
Admission: Free entry and no booking required
RMS Carpathia is most famous for rescuing 'Titanic' survivors but little is known of its own tragic sinking in 1918. The events surrounding its wrecking and the loss of other vessels in the Cunard line are documented in 'Shipwrecks of the Cunard Line'.

A Titanic Day for all the Family
Monday 2 April at 11am and 3pm
Southampton City Art Gallery, Civic Centre Southampton SO14 7LP
Free drop in session. An exciting array of activities will be on offer for all the family to commemorate the Titanic Centenary. Activities include rhymes, songs & shanties with storyteller Fiona Moore; green screen acting & filming opportunities with filmmakers from ‘Butterfly FX’; launch of the “Favourite Book to Share” competition for Under 5's in partnership with Southampton libraries; Titanic 2012 creative writing competition station; art and craft activities with artists Holly Deacon, and even have your own maritime-inspired face painted!

Ancestors Lost at Sea! Presented by The Family History Club with Dr Simon Wills
Wednesday 4 April at 7pm -9pm
Southampton Central Library, Civic Centre Southampton SO14 7LP
Contact:The event is Free but a ticket must be collected from the Local Studies Library from 1st February
The Titanic was just one of hundreds of thousands of British merchant ships that have been lost in peace and war. Was your ancestor on board one? A crew member, a passenger, maybe even the captain? Have you been trying to trace a ship that disappeared? Come and join in this event to help you find out more using web sites, Southampton Library’s collection, and the resources of the National Archives. Bring along details of any ancestors or ships you’re trying to find. Dr Simon Wills is a maritime genealogist who has been researching and writing about maritime ancestors for over twenty years. He has a special interest in the merchant navy 1750 to 1950. He lives in Southampton and has just completed his book ‘Tracing Your Merchant Navy Ancestors.

Titanic Grave Walks
Friday 6, Saturday 7, Monday 9, Thursday 12, Friday 13, and Saturday 14 April at 11am and 2pm
The Old Cemetery, Southampton Common (off Hill Lane), Southampton, SO15 7NN
Free but places are limited and must be booked in advance.
Contact: 023 8034 9414 or e-mail fosoc1846@googlemail.com
Southampton Old Cemetery opened in 1846 and was one of the first Municipal owned Cemetery's in England. It covers 27 acres and holds over 1,680 burials. The Cemetery holds 45 Memorials for Titanic victims. The Friends of Southampton Old Cemetery are a group of volunteers who are interested in the history and maintenance of the Grade II listed Cemetery. The volunteers will lead walks around these memorials and relate the hardship the families suffered through the disaster. Walks last approximately 1.5 hours. On all walks there will be Titanic memorabilia and books for sale and refreshments will be available.

Titanic Trail Walks
Saturday 7, Monday 9, Wednesday 11, Friday 13 and Saturday 14 April
April at 1.30pm and 2.30pm
Walk begins at Holy Rood Church, High Street, Southampton
Free but places are limited and must be booked in advance
Contact: 023 8057 1858 (office hours only) or e-mail Drob007@aol.com
Southampton Tourist Guides Association is the only official tour guiding organisation in Southampton. As a consortium of fully qualified tourist guides we be dedicated to serving residents and visitors to the city and its surrounds in their quest to finding out what there is to know about this part of England's origins, history and culture.

Oxford Street Remembers
Saturday 7 April
Step back in time to 1912 as the Oxford Street remembers Titanic. Visit the street to enjoy: Special menus, a Titanic Trail, meet costumed characters and browse a special maritime themed market of local artists and creatives.

Titanic - From Prow to Stern
Tuesday 10 April - Sunday 15 April
Andrews (East Park) Adjoining Guildhall Square
Presented by The Nuffield Theatre and Southampton City Council
Titanic – From Prow to Stern is a full-scale outline of the Titanic including the exact length and beam, together with an indication of the positions of the main features, lifeboats and funnels. You will be able to grasp the scale and indeed walk its entire length. The installation will also include voice recordings from the archive of the City’s Oral History Unit, and the names of all those from Southampton who perished, with simple commemorative flowers. During the night of the centenary there will be a spoken timeline of events and Distress Flares launched. The intention is not to dramatise the incident, only to provide an accurate and evocative space for reflection and remembering.

City of Southampton Orchestra Concert
Tuesday 10 April at 7.30pm
Queen Elizabeth Terminal, Southampton Docks
Tickets:Tickets (unreserved) are available direct from the orchestra and are priced £14 (full), £12 (over-60s), £10 (students & unemployed) and £7 (under-16s).
Contact: Please visit the orchestra web site at the bottom of the page for tickets and further information or email publicity@csorchestra.org or telephone 023 8077 9340.
The City of Southampton Orchestra is presenting a joint event with ABP and Brazier Interiors. A special concert from the Queen Elizabeth Terminal, overlooking the berth from which the Titanic set sail. The orchestra will be joined in Vaughan Williams’ magnificent ‘Sea Symphony’, by soloists Jane Streeton (soprano) and Mark Oldfield (baritone) as well as a specially formed ‘Titanic Chorus’ made up of members of the Southampton Philharmonic Society, Taunton’s Community Choir, Romsey Choral Society and Basingstoke Philharmonic. The symphony uses texts about the sea by Walt Whitman and will be a fitting tribute to the Titanic and the spirit of adventure of those sailing on her.
The evening will commence with an ‘embarkation experience’ exhibition with drinks reception and palm court music from the White Star song book. The orchestra will be working with Greyladyes Arts Foundation in presenting an exhibition reflecting the dockside experience of 1912 and members of the Sarah Siddons Theatre Group, which specialises in reconstructing Southampton history, will be enacting characters of the time.

Sarah Siddons Fan Club presents Titanic, the Southampton Story
Wednesday 11 April 2pm & 7pm, Saturday 14 April 2pm and Sunday 15 April 2pm
Meet at Holyrood Church
Tickets: Available from 1st February and can be purchased from the Southampton Visitor Information Centre, Lower Ground Floor, Central Library, SO14 7LW. Adults £7 Under 16’s £5
The Titanic story has particular resonance for street theatre company The Sarah Siddons Fan Club as two members have relatives who were crew on the ship. In researching for their latest production Titanic, the Southampton Story they were able to call on first hand accounts from family members as well as witness accounts from the enquiries and the records of the Titanic Fund. The theatre company specialise in site specific productions about real historical incidents and Titanic, the Southampton Story is no exception, using real buildings from the period as backdrops the performance will focus on the experiences of the crew and their families from the excitement of the maiden voyage through to the aftermath of the tragedy.
Starting at Holy Rood, onto the houses in College Street, over to Oxford Street and then performing scenes outside Seaman’s Mission, The Grapes, SW House, over to Queens Park and finishing in St Joseph's Church.

Look Out! Southampton’s Titanic Story In Song
Wednesday 11 April at 8pm
Turner Sims Concert Hall, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ
Box Office: 023 8059 5151
Look Out! is performed by White Star Line-Up – a group of primarily Southampton-based singers and musicians formed specifically to tell this story. Featuring song, music and spoken word, it relates the events leading up to the tragedy, and the aftermath, from the viewpoint of the town and its Southampton crew.

Tiddler the Story Telling Fish: family workshop (5 +)
Wednesday 11 April - Two sessions 10am–12noon and 1.30pm –3.30pm
Sea City Museum, Havelock Road Southampton
Admission: FREE Activity but must be pre-booked through SCC Arts & Heritage. 15 spaces per session; £5 refundable deposit required.
Contact: Please call 023 8083 4536 to book
Hear the story of Tiddler by Julia Donaldson and then create your own colourful fishy sculpture with artist Debra Marsh. In Partnership with Southampton City Libraries to celebrate this year’s ‘Book to Share Award’. Activities are funded by Southampton Wider Family Learning are limited to two children per adult. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

An evening with authors Christopher Ward & Gill Paul
Wednesday 11 April at 7pm - 9pm
Southampton Solent University Conference Centre, Sir James Matthews Building, 157-187 Above Bar St, SO14 7NN
Tickets: Free but must be collected in advance from the Southampton Visitor Information Centre, Lower Ground Floor, Central Library Tel; 023 8083 3333
In partnership with Solent University and Waterstones.
Christopher Ward is the grandson of Jock Hume, at 21 the youngest member of the Titanic's orchestra.
Gill Paul is the author of 'Titanic Love Stories' and is a passionate Titanic researcher who has authored more than 30 books including the novel 'Women and Children First'.
Waterstones will be selling copies of the books on the evening.

Porthole Pictures: Family workshop (5 +)
Thursday 12 April - Two sessions: 10am–12noon & 1.30pm –3.30pm
Sea City Museum, Havelock Road, Southampton
Admission: FREE but must be pre-booked through SCC Arts & Heritage. 15 spaces per session, £5 refundable deposit required.
Contact: Please call 023 8083 4536 to book.
Get your imagination flowing with a maritime story and then work with artist Holly Deacon to create amazing pictures of what you might sea through a porthole if you were sailing in the ocean. In partnership with Southampton Libraries to celebrate this year’s ‘Book to Share Award’. Activities are funded by Southampton Wider Family Learning are limited to two children per adult. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

‘Discover Southampton’s Titanic Story’ presented by Southampton City Libraries Local History Forum
Thursday 12 April at 7pm - 9pm
Sea City Museum, Havelock Road, Southampton
Admission: £5 and will include an exclusive tour of the Titanic Exhibition
Contact: Tickets will be available from 1st February and can be purchased from the Southampton Visitor Information Centre, Lower Ground Floor, Central Library, SO14 7LW.
Come along for an exclusive tour of the ‘Titanic’ Gallery followed by short presentations and a question and answers sessions with our specialist panel -
Maria Newbery, Curator of Maritime & Local Collections / Vicky Green, Crew Specialist and Jo Smith Archivist will be on hand to tell you more about some of the rich resources held within the city’s museums, libraries and archives.

A Night To Remember
Thursday 12 April
Harbour Lights Picture House, Ocean Village, Southampton SO14 3TL
Contact: 0871 902 5733
A Night To Remember is a 1958 docudrama film adaptation of Walter Lord's book of the same name, recounting the final night of the RMS Titanic.

Red Hot Press Exhibition
Thursday 12 April Preview evening at 5pm-7pm
Lost Star - A touring exhibition of original prints by members of Red Hot Press print workshop.
To commemorate the Titanic's centenary Red Hot Press members have produced a boxed set of 16 original prints on the theme of the Titanic.
A limited edition of 10 box sets of prints will be for sale and the complete set will be exhibited in The Concourse Gallery of Southampton Solent University, Michael Andrews Building, East Park Terrace, Southampton, Hampshire SO14 0YN.
The Private View is on Thursday 12th April 2012 5pm - 7pm. The exhibition continues until 22nd May 2012. The opening hours are Weekdays 7:30am-9:00pm, Sat/Sun 9:00am-4:00pm
The exhibition then goes on to The Link Gallery, West Downs Centre, Romsey Road, Winchester SO22 5HT The Private View is on Thursday 5 July 6pm - 8pm and the exhibition runs from the 2 July – 6 August. The opening hours are 9am - 5pm every day.
For more information about Red Hot Press or The Lost Star Exhibitions contact either Sarah +44 7790 870558 or Katherine +44 7814 016563

Titanic Family Discovery Day
Friday 13 April, Saturday 14 April at 11am and 3pm
Sea City Museum, Havelock Road, Southampton
FREE drop in sessions
Come and celebrate Sea City’s opening weekend with all the family! Enjoy these FREE exciting array of activities to celebrate Southampton’s rich maritime history. Be arty, talk to costume interpreters, try your hand at a Victorian game and enjoy all that Sea City Museum has to offer. Entrance charges apply.

SCO-CoMA Titanic Commemoration Concert
Saturday 14 April at 7.30pm
Southampton Guildhall, West Marlands Road Southampton SO14 7LP
Tickets: £11 - £19 (concessions available)
Contact: Box Office on tel 023 8063 2601
On the exact anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic, the Southampton Concert Orchestra and Contemporary Music for All are collaborating to perform a concert of classical and contemporary music honouring the tragic event one hundred years ago to the day.
Highlights of the concert will be Dvorak's New World Symphony, representing the hopes and aspirations of many of those passengers who set off for a better life the new world, and a newly arranged version of Gavin Bryars' mood piece Titanic which re-creates the sounds and spirits of the last moments of the ill-fated voyage.

British Titanic Society Annual Convention
Saturday 14 April at 9am – 4pm
De Vere Grand Harbour Hotel, West Quay Rd, SO15 1AG
Admission: Entrance fee £3 / Concessions £2
The British Titanic Society will be holding its annual convention at the De Vere Grand Harbour hotel, Southampton, from Thursday 12th to Sunday 15th April 2012. April 2012 marks the centenary of the loss of Titanic and the 25th anniversary of the founding of the society. This is a unique event in the Titanic calendar and the convention, which spans four days, is themed “A Time To Remember.” Saturday 14th April will be our Public Open Day. You do not have to be a delegate or even a member of the society to take part, so why not come along? It promises to be a superb day out for all the family, with Titanic lectures, a sales fair of Titanic and other maritime items, and a fabulous exhibition

Author Signing with Leah Fleming - 'The Captain's Daughter'
Saturday 14 April at 11am - 3pm
Waterstones West Quay Shopping Centre Southampton SO15 1QE
Admission: Free entry and no booking required
To mark 100 years to the day since the day the 'Titanic' sank, popular novelist Leah Fleming will be in store at Waterstones, West Quay. Her latest book, 'The Captain's Daughter' spans two generations and three continents, and centres on the lives of two women brought together by the sinking of the famous liner.

Titanic: The Mission presents Dave Wilkes and Yewande Akinola
Saturday 14th April at 4pm
Southampton Solent University Conference Centre, Sir James Matthews Building, 157-187 Above Bar St, SO14 7NN
Admission: Tickets are £3 and can be purchased from the Southampton Visitor Information Centre, Lower Ground Floor, Central Library, SO14 7LW
Come along and watch Episode 5 of the series which focused on Southampton. After the programme there will be the opportunity to ask Dave & Yewande questions about their research and findings

Wreath laying on the grave of Captain Sir Arthur Henry Rostron
Sunday 15 April at 11.15am
The Old Burial Ground, Corner of High Street & West End Road (behind the War Memorial), West End
This event is being hosted by West End Local History Society. The service will be addressed by Revd. Brian Pickett, Vicar of St. James’ Church, WEST END officiating. Captain Sir Arthur Henry Rostron, was captain of the rescue ship RMS Carpathia that rescued 705 survivors of the Titanic disaster. All welcome to attend

100th Anniversary Commemorative Service
Sunday 15 April at 2pm
St Mary's Church, St Mary Street Southampton SO14 1NX
This annual commemorative service will be lead by Reverend Dr Julian Davies. The service will include readings, music from the Salvation Army Band and the City of Southampton Orchestra and singing by local choirs. The Mayor of Southampton Councillor Terry Matthews will be in attendance.

Author Signing with Ronald C Denney
Friday 20th April at 12 noon
Waterstones West Quay
West Quay Shopping Centre Western Esplanade Southampton SO15 1QE
Admission: Free entry and no booking required
Contact: 023 80232118Eva Miriam Hart was just seven years old when she and her parents boarded the Titanic as second-class passengers. A vocal survivor, her story is documented by close friend Ron Denney, who will be in store at Waterstones West Quay signing copies of his book dedicated to her memory

Titanic Cultural Day
Saturday 21 April
Avenue Campus Building 65, University of Southampton Avenue Campus Southampton SO17 1BF
To register your interest please send an email to humanitieslearn@southampton.ac.uk
Charges: £25, £20 concessions Includes lunch and refreshments
Coinciding with the centenary of the departure of the Titanic on her fateful voyage from Southampton and her sinking on 15 April 1912, this cultural day will explore the rich cultural history of the retelling of the ship’s story in literary and cinematic form, and across many different cultural contexts. Filmic representations range from a silent German movie made only weeks after the disaster to James Cameron’s epic from 1997, with a number of British, American, and European productions in between. The Cultural day will also explore a number of wider issues relating to the connections between maritime history and the cinema.
Places are limited, so book your place early to avoid disappointment.

Author Signing with Shelby Locke – ‘Stepping’
Saturday 21 April at 11am - 3pm
Waterstones West Quay Shopping Centre Southampton SO15 1QE
Admission: Free entry and no booking required
Marking the end of their Titanic Literary Season, Waterstones, West Quay are pleased to welcome local author Shelby Locke, whose novel 'Stepping' presents an interesting, time-travel twist on the sinking.

SeaCity Museum …coming soon
April 2012
Work has started on transforming the Grade II Old Magistrates’ Court building into the SeaCity Museum, which is due to open in April 2012 in time to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the disaster. The first temporary exhibition for 2012 will be ‘Titanic – the Legend’ and will focus on the international fascination with the story of the Titanic.

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All Year activities

Titanic Trail & Heritage Walks
The Titanic Trail takes you around some of the memorials and locations associated with Titanic. A self guided walk booklet is available to purchase for £1.00 from the Tourist Information Centre.
Alternatively, you can follow the Walk the Walls sign posts and panels and give yourself a guided tour of Medieval Southampton or take a guided walk with Southampton’s Tour Guides for only £3. Guided tours take place throughout the year. For more information please call 023 8057 1858.

The QE2 Mile
The QE2 Mile runs through the heart of the city from the Cenotaph down to the waterfront at Town Quay linking the city’s parks, new cultural quarter, shopping high street and the old town. Passing through the historic heart of town, it features monuments such as the Bargate and Titanic memorials while the many businesses along it make it the economic heart of the city.

Titanic Grave Walks
The Old Southampton Cemetery is one of England’s earliest municipal cemeteries and is located on the Southampton Common. The cemetery is in itself important historically as a record of the people of Southampton and over the years a great diversity of wildlife has developed in it. The city council maintains the cemetery in such a way as to preserve the diversity of flora and fauna, whilst maintaining its historical interest, and its continuing as a burial ground. Friends of Southampton Old Cemetery (FoSOC) organise guided walks and activities throughout the year.

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If you would like to contact someone about this page please email events@southampton.gov.uk