Titanic Commemorative Weekend 10-13 April 2008

I’d like to inform your members of the Southampton(UK) Titanic Commemorative Weekend: 10 to the 13 April, 2008.
A series of events, organised by the City Council, will be held over the four days to commemorate the tragic loss of 1523 people, of whom 549 were from Southampton.
This annual event will include an exhibition in the Maritime Museum’s Titanic Gallery, keynote lectures by Brigitte Saar and Phillip Littlejohn (the grandson of Alexander James Littlejohn, First Class Steward). These will be held in partnership with the National Oceanography Centre and the Maritime and Coast Guard Agency. There will also be other lectures by noted local Titanic historians. The highlight of the weekend will be the opportunity to share an evening with Millvina Dean, hosted by Sheila Jemima, author of ‘Titanic Voices’. During the weekend there will also be children’s activities, guided Titanic walks around the City including the Titanic Graves , a maritime/Titanic memorabilia auction, a maritime outdoor market and individual research opportunities in the City’s Central Library archives. The public Civic Titanic Commemorative Service will be held in Holyrood Church on Sunday the 13 April 2008.
A detailed programme of events will be posted on www.titaniccities.org.uk during November 2007.
Thank you for your assistance, Dave Dilnot, Titanic Project Manager

Coast Guard appoints first woman to command Ice Patrol

In July, Gabrielle McGrath became the first woman appointed to the post in the 95-year history of the patrol, which was established to monitor icebergs near the Grand Banks of Newfoundland and provide mariners with other information to reduce the risk of iceberg collision.

“In her role, McGrath is responsible for the administrative, budgetary and personnel issues of the unit, located at the University of Connecticut’s Avery Point campus in Groton, Conn. ” The full Pittsburg Tribune article and a photo of Lt. Cmdr. McGrath may be found at this link.  http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_525593.html

Lt. Cmdr. McGrath is a graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy at New London, Connecticut.

 

Socialite Brooke Astor Dies at 105

 In 1953 she married Vincent Astor, the eldest son of John Jacob Astor 4th, who died in the sinking of the Titanic.   She died of pneumonia at Holly Hill, her Westchester County estate in Briarcliff Manor.  “Money is like manure, it should be spread around,” was her oft-quoted motto.