Tag Archives: BBC

Titanic

Monday Titanic News

I hope everyone has had a pleasant weekend and, if in the United States, enjoyed Labor Day as well. Here are some news stories you might find of interest.

[The recent expedition brought back more stunning and updated images of Titanic.]

Titanic at the docks of Southampton, 10 April 1912
Unknown Author
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Francis, Rebecca Morelle and Alison. “Titanic: Striking Images Reveal Depths of Ship’s Slow Decay.” Last modified September 1, 2024. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crkm82enkgko.

It was the image that made the Titanic’s wreck instantly recognisable – the ship’s bow looming out of the darkness of the Atlantic depths. But a new expedition has revealed the effects of slow decay, with a large section of railing now on the sea floor. The loss of the railing – immortalised by Jack and Rose in the famous movie scene – was discovered during a series of dives by underwater robots this summer. The images they captured show how the wreck is changing after more than 100 years beneath the waves.

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Hartland, Nick. “George Bailey – the Monmouthshire Stoker Who Died Aboard the Titanic.” Abergavenny Chronicle, August 30, 2024. https://www.abergavennychronicle.com/news/george-bailey-the-monmouthshire-stoker-who-died-aboard-the-titanic-716822.

Every community seems to have its own Titanic connection, whether someone on board, a family link or artefact. And Monmouthshire is no different, with Wye Valley fire stoker George Bailey among the approximately 1500 crew members and passengers who tragically perished. According to Encyclopedia Titanica, he was one of nine siblings, born in Newport in 1866 before moving to the Wyeside town as a young child, where he appeared on the 1871 census as living at Clipper Court, St Mary, Monmouth, and on the 1881 census at 2, Red Lion Court, Monmouth.

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The Sad Parting
From Story of the Wreck of the Titanic;Marshall Everett);1912
Artist Unknown
Public Domain

Considine, Pippa. “BBC Orders Stellify Titanic Series.” Televisual. Last modified August 28, 2024. https://www.televisual.com/news/bbc-orders-stellify-titanic-series/.

BBC Factual and BBC Northern Ireland have commissioned a new four-part series from Stellify Media detailing the sinking of the Titanic, with support from Northern Ireland Screen, for BBC Two and iPlayer. Belfast-based Stellify’s Titanic Sinks Tonight (working title) aims to provide a complete picture of the most famous 160 minutes in maritime history, telling the story of the sinking of the Titanic in real time. From the crucial seconds just before the ship hits the iceberg, to the moment the hull sinks beneath the waves, the boxset series pieces together the events, minute by minute, to reveal what happened to the 2240 passengers and crew on 14 and 15 April, 1912.

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Wilson, Natalie. “The Odyssey: Cruise Passengers Spending up to £680,000 on Three-year Trip Stuck in Belfast for Three Months.” The Independent, August 29, 2024. https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/cruise-passengers-belfast-stranded-the-odyssey-ireland-b2603717.html.

Passengers calling a residential cruise ship home have been stranded on the vessel in Northern Ireland for three months after their round-the-world voyage was plagued with delays. Those onboard Villa Vie Residences’ Odyssey have spent their summer docked in Belfast after repair work required to the rudders and gearbox prevented the ocean liner from leaving the cruise terminal. The ship was scheduled to depart the Northern Ireland capital for the first leg of the three-and-a-half-year cruise on 30 May. Its inaugural journey was due to visit all seven continents, with stops at more than 425 ports in 147 countries.

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Croatiaweek, and Croatiaweek. “Tribute to the Ship and Croatian Crew That Saved Titanic Survivors | Croatia Week.” Croatia Week. Last modified August 29, 2024. https://www.croatiaweek.com/tribute-to-the-ship-and-croatian-crew-that-saved-titanic-survivors/.

The exhibition “Carpathia – Pride of the City of Rijeka” was staged in the city’s main street Korzo on Tuesday in tribute to the vessel that was engaged in rescuing passengers who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic on 15 April 1912. The crew of the RMS Carpathia included 84 Croatian seafarers. The exhibition was organised by an association of sea captains of the northern Adriatic region. The Maritime and History Museum of the Croatian Littoral in Rijeka has a a life vest used by a Titanic survivor. The item was brought to Rijeka by sailor Josip Car, who was a member of the Carpathia crew.

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Speed, Kellie. “$9.5 Million New Hampshire Estate Built By Titanic Survivor Hits the Market for the First Time In 100 Years.” Real Estate News & Insights | Realtor.Com®. Last modified August 27, 2024. https://www.realtor.com/news/unique-homes/new-hampshire-estate-titanic-survivor-rare/.

A stunning lakefront retreat that was built by a survivor of the ill-fated Titanic was just listed for the “titanic” price of $9.5 million—landing on the market for the first time in 100 years. The rare real estate gem on Squam Lake in Moultonborough, NH, was built in 1899 by Richard Beckwith, 13 years before he and his wife, Sallie, boarded the doomed ocean liner as first-class passengers. Accompanied by Sallie’s daughter from a previous marriage, Helen Newsom, the couple were among the 706 passengers who survived the horrifying sinking of the Titanic—with listing agent Jacalyn Dussault, of Dussault Real Estate, explaining that the family’s experiences on the ship actually helped inspire James Cameron’s iconic movie about the incident.

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Suggested Reading

Behe, G. (2012). On board RMS Titanic: Memories of the Maiden Voyage. The History Press.

Brewster, H. (2013). Gilded Lives, Fatal Voyage: The Titanic’s First-Class Passengers and Their World. National Geographic Books.

Eaton John P. & Haas Charles, TITANIC TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY, SECOND EDITION, W.W. Norton & Company, New York, New York, 1995 First American Edition

Lord, Walter, A NIGHT TO REMEMBER, Holt Rinehart and Winston, New York, New York, 1955. Multiple revisions and reprints, notably Illustrated editions (1976,1977,1978 etc.)

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TV reviews

Retro Saturday: All Creatures Great & Small

The stories of James Herriot thrilled millions with his tales of treating animals, the people he met, and the unforgettable characters of Sigfried, Tristan, and Mrs. Pumphrey. Herriot was the pen name for James Alfred Wight (1916-1995) who used his real life experiences as a Yorkshire veterinarian for his books. The books were made into film and television. All Creatures Great & Small ran on BBC first from 1978-1980 and then from 1988-1990. It was one of the most highly watched shows in its first incarnation in the UK. The books have been translated all over the world. They almost did not get printed in the U.S. An employee of the printing company brought back one of the small Herriot books in his briefcase and did not even open it. But his wife did and told him what a great book it was. By putting together several of the smaller books into the larger All Creatures Great & Small, it took off. And so did the other books that followed. Herriot was a success but it took a while for people to learn his true identity of James Wight in Thirsk, UK.

I highly recommend the books and the first incarnation of the tv series. The books are a delight to read, full of interesting characters and the animals he treated. Back in the early days, there were few drugs so the vet really had to nurse an animal. And it was not without being messy at times. While many people were friendly,some were not. And there are some sad stories in the books as well of people losing their prized pets. Many were inspired by the books to become vets themselves. While some of the mucky work they did back then is not done as often (today all dairy cows are immunized against tuberculosis so little need to check every cow on a regular basis),it is still done today. You still have to put your arm inside a cow or horse to correctly determine what is wrong inside but you have protective wear (robots or drones may do it eventually). Today most animal doctors treat lots of pets and not just cats, dogs, and the occasional bird. Nope today it is a wide assortment of rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, mice, and even pet rats (yes,there are such things as pet rats). Of course now people are getting into raising chickens at home so some urban vets are seeing them too (fresh eggs!).

The tv show starred Christopher Timothy as Herriot,Robert Hardy as Sigfried Farnon,Peter Davison as Tristan Farnon, and Carol Drinkwater as Helen (she was replaced by Lynda Bellingham in the second incarnation). The character of Mrs. Hall was given more presence than in the books (which was great because the actress who played her was terrific). Some of the stories were altered for television (especially when Christopher Timothy was injured and thus could not walk around much in the last episodes of season 1 and opening episodes of season 2). Peter Davison, though much taller than the real Tristan, Brian Sinclair, was excellent in the role as the brother. Robert Hardy got to play Sigfried (Donald Sinclair)and gets him exactly as Herriot wrote him. Donald was not exactly happy with the first book depicting him as it did (it was toned down later)but everyone who knew the real Donald Sinclair says it was spot on.

All of the main characters of the show and books have passed away. Tristan (Brian Sinclair) passed away in 1988. Of the three, he was the only one who actually went to war-but as a vet in India!. James Herriot passed away in 1995 and his wife Joan (Helen in the books)in 1999. Sigfried (Donald Sinclair)passed away in 1995 a few months after James. His wife of 45 years had recently passed away and James death was a blow as well. He died from an overdose of barbiturate. Herriot’s books not only inspired many vets, it brought lots of tourists to Yorkshire to see what he so vividly describes in his books. He was made an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II, a fan of his books and tv show. Numerous other memorials exist including a statue at Thirsk Racecourse.


Titanic, Titanic 2012

Titanic Letter Returns To Belfast

Earlier this month a letter was put up for auction in New York. The letter written by Belfast doctor John Edward Simpson aboard Titanic and mailed in Cobh, was thought to fetch $34,000 (£21,692). It failed to reach that reserve price but an anonymous benefactor has purchased the letter and is sending to Belfast. Although copies abound, this is the original. Needless to say the Simpson family is quite pleased. You can view the BBC video here.