Dear BTS Having returned home from a wonderful weekend down in Southampton I feel that, after a good sleep, I can now sit and give my considered personal impressions of that weekend. There can be no doubt that everyone enjoyed it and I take pleasure in thanking the organisers for all their obvious efforts.   IT'S MR WHITFIELD !!!     THE MODEL AND THE MAN Stuart Williamson and his magnificent model My trip began with a good leisurely drive down to the Hilton where, after signing in, I threw my cases into my room and then spent two hours in the Sauna/steam/pool making room for the drinks to come. Redfaced, very thirsty but fully clothed again, I made my way to the Auction, wondering at people spending so much on chopped up pieces of architrave, hopefully from the Olympic/Titanic.... The Auction was as usual full of surprises (including when I put the place in darkness when I inadvertantly leaned on the dimmer switch) and afterward I chatted to dazed owners of said wood, boxes and the like.  AUCTION TIME We all downed a few drinks and then went into a very welcome late-sitting Dinner. I certainly enjoyed the food over the weekend We now watched the Bring and Buy session and quite a bit of business was done...  MIR 2 I then went to a superb, naturally-delivered lecture by Brigitte Saar who related her trip down to Titanic with slides and in a lovely German-Swiss accent.  Brigitte in action Now If she were to write a book it would be worth buying. She is very confident and answered all the searching questions we threw at her. We all then went into another well-delivered talk by Robert Haan who set the scene with the "Final Hour".... I fell into my bed at a very late time which wasn't quite dawn but pretty close !!! Morning came far too quickly and I tumbled in for breakfast big enough to burst my boots I do not eat a particlarly big breakfast normally but when I am away anything goes !! The public were let in and there was a steady stream through the doors even while the Grand National was being run. During the morning we had a second session with Brigitte who added video to her programme...  The Propellor  Brigitte in action again During the rest of the day Bruce Beveridge gave a thought provoking lecture on the "Ship that DID sink" with all the theories coming out of the woodwork Allan Ruffman, with whom I had a memorable chat later, related the "Halifax Connection" which was a sad yet stimulating subject... All too quickly, the public part of the day ended and very very quickly the painfully few stands went back into vehicles in the car park. During the day I had passed a new stand which had film of a dive on the Titanic running endlessly I was also privy to a photosession with Millvina Dean and the CEO of the Subseaexplorer.com Company who ran this stand.  Millvina with the Alsops I was given a plastic cup (number 52) to sign and was told it would be taken down to the Titanic, crushed by the unbelievable weight of water at 2.5 miles down, then brought back up for me....  The cup that's going down (see who has No.51 !) So it all broke up and we dispersed to our rooms to get ready for the Gala Dinner. We were on early sitting but it was a well prepared meal which was consumed with gay abandon.. I tried to get into the feeling of the occasion and with a false moustache, tie and wing collared shirt came to the dinner to the mirth of my table companions. I tried to be a little bit Bruce Ismay, but ended up a lot Gilbert Harding !!!  Ismay ? Still, I was in amongst some 1912 sailor boys and girls, a Kate Winslet ringer,  IS IT ? and a couple of steerage passengers, so I felt at home as it were......  I see Kate has arrived It was darned hot and the tash soon filled up with beer, soup, gravy and wine !!! Kept me going through the night though ! We then waited until everyone had finished and the Library was reorganised before finding seats for the Raffle and Go-as-you-please.. We remembered those lost on the Titanic with a minutes silence It was sad that Milvina, recovering from her horrendous fall and broken thigh, was not fit enough to give her usual address and this was somewhat deflated the evening However the Sunshine Boys, 'Jack and Chas' got up to tell us very descriptively about their exploits at sea when out to dive..  Mr EATON & Mr HAAS There was a very significent presentation to Philip Hind a person who richly deserved the accolade he received for a job well done.  PHILIP HIND Encyclopedia Titanica is a real enthusiasts site and is the one to visit.  www.encyclopedia-titanica.org The Raffle went well but this year I won nothing !!! Out of sequence I now come to a particularly unusual part of the proceedings...... Gary Alsop, the CEO of Subseaexplorer stood up and related what his company did. Apparently the company is a website based diving company which is offering trips down to the Titanic.... And the Bismarck.... I at my age, tend to be very cynical and felt there is more to this than immediately hits the eye.... Gary actually presented our esteemed Hon Sec with a free seat and our Treasurer was asked to go to the Akademik Keldysh as Historian.. That I am jealous is immaterial, but I have to ask whether we are being used to promote an unrelated company who has landed on the Titanic as the perfect promotional tool.... It all has shades of George Tulloch when everyone thought he was plundering the wreck.. However we all clapped Mr.Alsop and Steve Rigby was overcome with emotion.. Hope it happens fellas... We talked again until the early hours and bed was most welcome....... Another fine breakfast saw us preparing to sign out by the "Quick Method-care of the Hilton" and to go by buses to the Docks.  THE LUCKY MR RIGBY We went on the "Ocean scene" to tour the dock area. We saw the Berth from which the Titanic sailed and a wreath was dropped into the water.   The Wreath in the water We passed the Aurora and also saw all the container vessels..  We returned once more to the Hotel for Sunday Lunch before saying our cheerios... Hope to see y'all next year  .....Ian Huntly GOTO CONVENTION 2002 NOW |