Titanic Letter to Go in Display in Belfast

One of the last letters from the Titanic is to go on display this summer at the new Titanic Belfast visitors’ centre dedicated to the liner. Assistant ship’s surgeon Dr John Simpson’s note to his mother was brought ashore at Cobh, Co Cork, the vessel’s last stop. It will be displayed at the Titanic Belfast building in the city’s docks where the boat was built.

The 37-year-old Belfast doctor was married and had one son when he took the commission on Titanic. He previously worked on another White Star Line ship — the Olympic. In the missive, dated April 11th, 1912, Dr Simpson said he was settling into his cabin well and that the accommodation on board his new vessel was larger.

It was signed off: “With fondest love, John.” Dr Simpson died when the Titanic sank on April 15th, 1912. It was feared the message, written on notepaper headed RMS Titanic, would never return to Belfast after it was put up for auction in New York in March with a reserve price of $34,000.

The Titanic Foundation, the charitable group which oversaw the building of Titanic Belfast, stepped in to buy the item. Dr Simpson’s great-nephew, Dr John Martin, from Killinchy in Co Down, said: “It was part of our family history for so long and it is tangible evidence of the man and a link to his personality.”

Dr Martin (63) said it was not an emotional letter. “It is quite humdrum in its contents, it is just a letter of a man writing to his mother,” he added. “Although there is no huge emotional content to it, it gained that emotional context by the history of what happened in the following few days afterwards. “It is an embodiment of a moment in history and there is that personal connection that the family has to it and that makes it very special to me.” The correspondence was in the family for many years but passed to a collector of Titanic memorabilia.

Kate Dornan, a great niece of Dr Simpson, said the idea that it had been lost forever was terrible. “Getting it back means the world to us, to our children and grandchildren,” she said. “It all feels a bit surreal because it means everything to us.” She was amazed how small it looked, preserved between clear plastic sheets in a file before installation in a collection about Dr Simpson at Titanic Belfast over the summer.

Ms Dornan (59) from Bangor in Co Down, added: “Whenever we thought it was going to be lost to us we were very distressed and the idea of it being lost made us realise how much it meant to us and we could not believe it when the Titanic Foundation stepped in and brought it back to us.”

She added: “I am proud of him and I am proud that this is back here.” Tim Husbands, chief executive of Titanic Belfast, said it was a unique document. “I think it signifies a city reclaiming its heritage. This letter just reaffirms the emotional relationship and the ties the city has with the telling of the worldwide story that is the Titanic,” he said.

Bryan Gregory, acting chief executive of the Titanic Foundation, said it was a great chance. “It was the last link between the Titanic and the city of Belfast, written by one of the sons of Belfast back to his family,” he said. “It was a one-off opportunity and either we seized that opportunity or let it go.” While reporting on the recent campaign by Dr John Simpson’s descendants to bring the letter back to Belfast, the BBC’s Ireland correspondent Mark Simpson discovered, by chance, that he was related to the Titanic doctor.

Dr Simpson was a cousin of Mr Simpson’s great-grandfather. He said he initially thought the family did not have any chance of bringing the letter home from New York. “Fair play to the Titanic Foundation for stepping in, digging deep and buying it so that everyone in Belfast can see it,” Mr Simpson said. “It’s only a small piece of paper but the letter from the Titanic offers of a glimpse of the enormity of the human tragedy — the last words of a devoted son to his Belfast mum. “Too often the story of Titanic is glamorised; the letter keeps it real.” It goes on display at Titanic Belfast later this summer

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Titanic Quarter Museum Making Buzz in Belfast

It rises over the harbour, just like the Titanic did 100 years ago. Gleaming and just as high as the great ocean liner, that was built in these docks, the Titanic Belfast museum cost £100 million and as I walked around it, it was clear to see why it cost so much. Lavish, interactive, extraordinarily detailed and researched, it as an impressive and moving account of the industry that made Belfast a world leader. It is a big change for a city that as one relative of a Titanic passenger told me, had felt a sense of shame for generations over the ship they built which had come to such a tragic end.

They are expecting 400,000 visitors to the tourist attraction in the next year. There is certainly a great deal of interest already. I bumped into Julian Fellowes here, who was invited to take a look around. The man behind Downton Abbey and ITV’s Titanic series says Belfast is right to celebrate its shipbuilding heritage, Titanic itself was a magnificent ship and the men who built it should be hailed. Belfast is certainly embracing its maritime, history now. The Titanic Quarter which houses the new museum also boast what was once the world’s largest dry dock, where Titanic was finished off before sea trials began, the last time it was on dry land.

The dock was designed to give the ship an MOT when it returned. But of course it never did. As we walked down the replica staircase in the museum, a copy of the grand original staircase in the ship, Tim Husbands the museums Chief Executive told me the city was trying to rediscover the greatness it once enjoyed as the world ‘s largest shipbuilder. It’s not he insists a case of cashing in on the centenary of Titanic’s sinking, but of Belfast reminding the world of its place in the story, of the amazing skills of the workmen in the city.

The last ship was built here 9 years ago, Harland and Wolff who built Titanic now concentrate on making wind turbines here. But they are hoping the museum and the tourism boom they are anticipating here will regenerate this city to the tune of 20,000 jobs. A century after thousands came to Belfast’s Harbour to see Titanic and it’s sister ships, there is real buzz here again. The Titanic story ended in tragedy but here they feel it is the very beginning of that story that still needs to be told.

Titanic Belfast Lockdown Music Festival Scrapped

A major music festival due to take place in Belfast next month has been scrapped because of poor ticket sales. The Happy Mondays and New Order were billed to headline the Titanic Lockdown festival, but yesterday organisers announced the event had been cancelled. They said ticket sales had been “significantly slower than forecast” and, as a result, it was “not possible” to go ahead with the two-day festival.

People who bought tickets for the event, on June 1 and 2, will be given full refunds. Around three years of planning had gone into the festival, which was due to take place at a former shipyard hangar opposite the old headquarters of Harland and Wolff in the Titanic Quarter. It had been described by promoters Hydroponic as a “boutique festival for Belfast’s music lovers”.

Top acts for the event, included Mancunian icons Happy Mondays and New Order, who reformed in August 2011. The festival would have been their first appearance in Northern Ireland for more than 20 years. Other confirmed acts included Ghostpoet, Factory Floor, Lee Scratch Perry and Mercury Music Prize nominee Anna Calvi.

Initially, public demand was said to be high. But ticket sales failed to live up to expectation. News of the cancellation was revealed on Titanic Lockdown’s website. A statement read: “Due to poor ticket sales in a challenging economic climate, it is with great regret and disappointment that we must announce the cancellation of the 2012 Titanic Lockdown summer festival.

“Despite a huge wave of goodwill, ticket sales have been significantly slower than forecast for an event featuring such high profile acts. “As a result, it will not be possible to deliver the event.

“In addition, we offer good wishes to all local festival organisers, promoters and artists currently beating the drum for the Arts in Northern Ireland. They make a wonderful contribution to the cultural life of our city in these bleak economic times.

“All tickets will be fully refunded — please contact your ticket provider for details.” “Momentum is building towards our June festival and the feedback from music fans has been phenomenal.”

Computer Cloud Has a Silver Lining for the Titanic Quarter

May23

Titanic Quarter

The Titanic Belfast has been chosen as a test site for a new cloud computing system. Delivered by Data City Exchange (DCE), the technology is a forerunner to the development of an £80m data centre, also based in the Titanic Quarter. Belfast has been marked as one of only two sites in the UK.

Cloud computing is a relatively new IT framework which allows software applications to run at a faster pace and gives businesses the capacity to cope more effectively with rapid surges in customer demand. It is beneficial for industries which rely on managing large amounts of data, such as financial services, software development and digital media.

The ‘Cloudvault’ technology will create a local cloud computing hub that will provide companies with access to cloud-based business software and applications, without the usual high set-up costs associated with setting up a business.

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster welcomed the announcement.  She said: “This is another coup for Northern Ireland and strengthens our growing reputation as a leader in delivering the most up-to-date IT services.  “The new Titanic Quarter site will be another key centre to provide cloud services to small and medium business enterprises across Europe. “Data centre provision such as this is a strategically important component of the local infrastructure that encourages and supports foreign direct investment.”

Belfast Medics do Strictly Comes Dancing to Raise Scanner Cash

The Royal does Strictly will see them donning their dancing shoes to raise funds for the Children’s MRI Scanner Appeal. The competitors have already had their first rehearsal and the winners will be announced at the grand final set to be staged at Titanic Belfast on November 10 this year.

The appeal aims to raise £2m for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) facility dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of sick and injured children in Northern Ireland. It will be located at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, currently the only children’s hospital in the UK and Ireland that does not have its own MRI Scanner.

UTV’s Marc Mallett and Alison Fleming, the BBC’s Jackie Fullerton, Marie-Louise Connolly and Martina Purdy, Kirstie McMurray (Cool FM), Caroline Fleck (Downtown Radio) and Stephen Clements (Citybeat) are among the local personalities who have been partnered with medical staff from the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

The main sponsor of the glitzy corporate event is Kingsbridge Private Hospital, Belfast. Dr Deirdre Peake, consultant paediatric neurologist at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, said: “We are delighted that these local personalities have joined forces with us to dance for this very worthwhile appeal. An MRI scanner will benefit sick or injured children from all over Northern Ireland, allowing us to provide an enhanced service with early diagnosis and treatment by staff trained in the care of children and in a child-friendly environment.”

Sarah Quinlan from the charity Children’s Heartbeat Trust – one of four charities involved in the MRI Scanner Appeal – added “This is a key event for the Children’s MRI Scanner Appeal in 2012 and we are grateful for the support being shown for our campaign. “Everyone can get involved in our appeal, from a family event to corporate sponsorship – every single penny will help us ensure that sick children in Northern Ireland receive the best and safest treatment available.”

Mark Regan, CEO at Kingsbridge Private Hospital, said they were delighted to be supporting such a worthy cause. “As a trained radiographer myself I know the benefits the best technology in healthcare can bring. Having a bespoke MRI Scanner located on sites dedicated to paediatric care will enable safe and swift scanning which is vital in making a tremendous difference to literally thousands of children, not just now but for many years to come,” he emphasised.

Guests can also look forward to a night of a-list entertainment at what promises to be a superb event.

Devolution Will be in the Air as Roadshow Hits Town

It won’t be quite as spectacular as Titanic Quarter in Belfast, or the MTV Awards, but the devolution roadshow, which rolls into Belfast next month, is worthy of attention. At stake is the right of MPs from Northern Ireland (and Scotland and Wales) to vote on issues that don’t affect their constituencies because of devolution.

A public meeting of the McKay Commission has been pencilled in for the middle of June, following similar sessions in London and Edinburgh. If, as some English MPs want, Ulster’s MPs were barred from these debates, it would reduce their activities at Westminster.

The commission, led by former Commons Clerk Sir William McKay, will report back before the next Queen’s Speech. While interested parties from Northern Ireland will get the chance to have their say at the public session in Belfast, the political parties have already made their feelings clear.

They point out the difficulty of identifying truly ‘England-only’ legislation, because there are often funding implications for the devolved administrations. Other measures, like the controversial changes to welfare, are technically devolved, but expected to be mirrored here. The DUP believes that, given the importance of the Union, the only acceptable view would be to maintain the status quo. The Houses of Parliament and monarchy are “crucial unifying institutions of our state”; creating a dual-role for Parliament would “fundamentally undermine this”.

The SDLP said it had no desire to influence laws that only affect England. But it added: “A crude system of qualified and disqualified voting members within a democratically elected parliament could widen, rather than narrow, any perceived democratic deficit.” The Alliance Party, represented in the Commons by East Belfast MP Naomi Long, said there would be a risk of creating “two classes of MPs” if Northern Ireland members were barred from voting on some matters.

However, the Conservatives said it was “not fair” for votes from Scottish or Northern Irish MPs to decide legislation affecting England on matters that are devolved. The Liberal Democrats said there was no “easy, neat” solution to the problem, calling for more devolution within smaller parts of the United Kingdom.

Another former Commons Clerk, Sir Roger Sands, said the current system allowed devolved nations to “have their cake and eat it”, suggesting countries that had devolved powers should send fewer MPs to Westminster. We’ll hear plenty more of this in Belfast next month. In the meantime, spare a thought for Sir William McKay and his team, who have to come up with a solution to please everyone.

New Titanic Signage Revealed

With only ten days remaining till the opening of the £90 million Titanic Museum Belfast attraction, a new signage scheme, highlighting places of interest along the city’s Titanic and maritime heritage trails, has been officially unveiled.

In a joint-funding effort by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, under the Tourism Development Scheme, and Belfast City Council, the white on brown road signs and colourful pedestrian signage will help visitors and those who already live and work in the city find their way to, from and around the Titanic Quarter and Belfast’s Titanic tourism sites.

The total cost of the signage project is almost £383,000, with £190,000 being provided by NITB and the remaining £193,000 coming from Belfast City Council.

In partnership with the signage, visitor maps will be produced and distributed to inform and interpret key attractions along the routes such as Titanic Belfast, the Thompson Dry Dock and Pump House, the SS Nomadic and the Titanic slipways.

Visitors will also be able to scan QR codes placed on key pedestrian signs into their mobile phones to learn more about the Titanic attractions they are visiting.

Tourism Minister Arlene Foster, said: “In less than two weeks’ time, the much anticipated Titanic Belfast building will open its doors to the public. Over 80,000 tickets have already been sold to people who will be visiting Belfast from 20 countries around the world.

“Good signage is essential for any tourism asset, and these new signs, which feature a distinctive Titanic Quarter logo, will point tourists in the right direction. By making journeys safer, easier and less confusing we are improving the quality of the visitor’s experience.

“The Titanic signs will also help to promote tourism, as they will not only help visitors who are already aware of the attractions but also for those travellers who may not be aware of what’s on offer in the Titanic Quarter.”