Our destination was the Hilton and we began at 12.30, by joining the queue with regular and new faces to sign in at the Welcome Desk. We received the customary welcoming package containing the programme of events for the weekend ahead. It took four visits to the car to get my personal belongings unloaded but I was very happy with my spacious "First Class" room. Some of us made our way to the "Livingwell" Health Club for a much needed sauna and steam room session. This out of the way ensured that we were ready for the "Henry Aldridge Auction" which was to start at 2.00 pm and sure enough it commenced pretty much on time. The major TV and film crews were there in force and the audience, onlookers and bidders regularly gave vent to their feelings in response to the staggering amounts of money paid for the many and varied Titanic related items.

A menu and a watch each raised five figures and generally, bidding was brisk.

We were pleased to note the safe arrival of Miss Milvina Dean which decided that now the weekend could really get under way.

At 6.00 was the first sitting for a most excellent evening meal. Melon starter and then some bootiful turkey with all the trimmings. Passion fruit and was my choice of sweet followed by coffee and now I felt that I was suitably recharged for the evening ahead.
At 7.45 promptish, in the Chilworth Suite, a capacity audience was completely enthralled by a lecture from Steve Rigby who related his "Trip Down to the Titanic" with some very clear and emotive slides. It really was just like being on the Keldysh, and in Mir with him, as we "travelled" down 2.5 Miles to the worlds most famous wreck. Unfortunately the poor Titanic can be seen to be coming more and more a wreck now, for the many visits to her since 1987 have apparently done more damage in that short time compared with that ensuing from the total 90 years underwater. Steves lecture was excellent (there were simply not enough seats !) and we all sat in wonder at his enthusiastic talk. The audiences green faces showed envy rather than seasickness !!! There was a very animated question session following .

Brigitte Saar was present and this reminded us of her talk last year after her visit to the wreck. She and Steve have got together to produce a Calendar for 2003 combining their visits and stories. Steve repeated his lecture at 9.45 pm.
At 9.00 the Bring and Buy Sale commenced and there were some real bargains.
We then went down to the Garden Suite to hear a superb lecture entitled
"The Californian Incident" given by Geoff Robinson.

(He had given the lecture first at 7.45 pm to one group while Steve was with our party.)
It left us all wondering about the situation and how it could have occurred- Geoff. purposely left us up in the air so that we could return home and take time out analyse the facts as laid out. We left the lecture either Lordites or NOT. There was no half-measure but there was much about which to think ! Is white a colour, for instance ???

We all ended up at the bar for a nightcap and drifted off to bed eventually after some heated but friendly discussions about what we had heard.

SATURDAY 13th-DAY TWO-THE PUBLIC DAY

The Doors Open and there is Brisk Business

The doors were flung open at 8.30 am and there was a steady stream of visitors all day. Many people were disappointed when they could not see the model of the Titanic made by Stuart Williamson--I was told, by Stuart, that it has been sold to an exhibition in Florida. Another sizeable model, well made entirely of matchsticks, was on view but the convention lacked the visuals and displays of previous years. However, In the Library was the exhibition of dinner-ware and similar items plus a LOT of Coal.

Claire on the "Olympic" Display.

Sub Sea Explorer were there again and it was thanks to them for letting Steve Rigby see the Titanic at close quarters. Other "divers" were present including Mr Littlejohn who had been on the same trip as Steve, plus one young man, Paul McCutcheon, who had placed Ł20,000 on 9 credit cards to pay for the visit and Deborah Grace, a mother of two who had won the trip on the Internet.
However, there were many of the regular exhibitors and sales tables missing. Much of the sales area was taken up with coal and piles of books ! Even so, those who attended still went home with large bags of items, me included .

A large printed scroll was on display to acknowledge the people who had contributed to the commemorative plaque which had gone down with Steve to the Titanic.

LECTURES DURING THE PUBLIC DAY

10.00 am Jack Eaton and Charles Haas in the Garden Suite
"TITANIC"
Messrs "Ham and Egg" updated us as to all things Titanic...
Jack related the story of Dorothy Gibson who not only survived the sinking but went on to star in the first post-disaster Titanic-related film, preceeding Kate Winslet by more than 80 years !
Then Charles told us all about the lastest artifact situation and the onerous fight for ownership of the wreck.

11.30 am Muffet Brown in the Garden Suite
"MOLLY BROWN"
Muffet is the Great Granddaughter of the "Unsinkable Molly Brown". We now know a lot more about Molly thanks to Muffet.

1.00 pm Susanne Stormer in the Garden Suite
"THE OFFICER WHO SHOT HIMSELF ?"
Some extremely well presented cases to confuse us even more with regard to who had the pistol and who shot what, when and where ! Susanne has done a lot of researching. (This research is coming out in book form soon).

2.30 pm Alan Ruffman in the Garden Suite
PROPOSED IDENTIFICATION OF UNKNOWN TITANIC VICTIMS
USING DNA SAMPLES
Of personal interest-I was enthralled at the recent advances in forensic science which might yet help to determine the occupants of the Halifax Graves.

The public day ended at 4.00 pm and the rooms were stripped and then set out in anticipation of the Gala Dinner.

THE GALA DINNER AND RAFFLE

We all "dressed up in our best" and met up in the bar to receive our free Bucks Fizz..As in previous years there were two separate rooms set out and this year I was in the Restaurant AND on the Ticehurst Table with Janet and Brian, and Milvina and Bruno for which I am forever grateful.

Pre-Dinner Drinks

A very young but very accomplished pianist

Paul McCutcheon
Paid Ł20,000 for the privilege of diving

Deborah Grace
aol Internet Titanic Dive winner

Nancy Bratby, avid fan.

The Menu Card

Milvina Dean and Bruno

Brian and Janet Ticehurst

Steve and the two Geoffs

When the Dinner was over, we all waited until the Library was cleared and then we went in for the presentations and raffle. We observed a standing silence in memory of the people who died that fateful night 90 years ago.
The organising committee made their reports and awarded plaques and trophies. The raffle produced one surprise...Jack Eaton won one of his own books !! Michael Barrett gave a memorable vote of thanks and we all then dispersed to the bar. I eventually fell into bed at 4.15 am.......

SUNDAY 14th-DAY THREE-DEDICATIONS

Up at the crack of dawn after only 3 hours sleep I had a full English Breakfast yet again and then cleared my room. It took FIVE trips this time and the car groaned. Back in the hotel we waited for the buses to arrive at 10.30 am to take us to Ocean Village and the boat trip.

THE BOAT TRIP

We boarded the Blue Funnel Steamer "Ocean Scene" in Ocean Village to visit the site of the Titanics departure, berth 43/44 and for a trip on Southampton Water.
A wreath was dropped into the water on behalf of the B.T.S.

After leaving the berth were were entertained by a display of "Life Saving" by an enormous helicopter which snatched up a "drowning man" from the water..
How we all cheered and waved !!!

It was then back to the hotel for a magnificent Sunday Lunch and then the sad "Goodbyes" until we meet again next year.

In the evening some of those who were staying until Monday joined the congregation at the local church to commemorate the Disaster..

SUMMARY-
I, personally, thoroughly enjoyed the whole weekend, seeing again people I saw last year and from years before, and talking each other hoarse.
My thanks to the B.T.S. Committee who organised the Convention, and to the Staff of the Hilton who made my stay very comfortable and fed me well every time I needed feeding.

We delegates, to a person, all have this common undying interest, albeit a disaster of dreadful magnitude. Yet we come year after year and commemorate it in many personal ways. Long may we remember all things Titanic....
SEE YOU ALL NEXT YEAR

Written by "J.P.MORGAN"