FOR the next week, you can take the opportunity to have a good look round the Titanic in Colne - without risk of it sinking!
A super exhibition showing many parts of the ship which sank 100 years ago - costing Colne-born Titanic bandmaster Wallace Hartley his life along with hundreds more - is at The Muni.
It has opened now and runs until next Friday as part of Pendle’s Titanic Festival.
When you go in, there are lots of boards of information on show, but you also come across items which are typical of things which would have been on the ship itself.
For instance, there is a huge ship wheel, a deck chair, blanket and real doors which were on Titanic’s twin - the Olympic.
There are realistic samples of first class and third class cabins, a radio station and a dining room.
It does make you feel like you are on the Titanic. There are clothes from the 1997 film “Titanic” - and even a genuine officer’s uniform.
There are examples, too, of White Star Line plates, tea cups and egg cups, and in some cases they are genuine ones from the Titanic.
There is even a name plate from one of its lifeboats which survived the tragedy.
Mr Nigel Hampson, who runs the Titanic in Lancashire Museum in Colne, is supervising the exhibition on behalf of White Star Memories which has put the collection together.
He said: “I’m here every day every day as one of the volunteers. And I will be giving talks each day about the Titanic in the Lesser Muni. Our museum will remain open while this is here.”
A TV documentary created by his museum is on show at the Muni during the exhibition.
White Star Memories members David Scott-Beddard and John White have joined Nigel at the exhibition.
David said: “We are pleased with the opportunity to bring out collection where it can go on display.” And John added: “I think this is a good venue. It’s a privilege to come to Colne.”
And Nigel pointed out that - as a past member of Colne Orchestra - Wallace would have played in the Muni.
Coun. Paul White, who leads on tourism for Pendle Council, said: “I urge everyone to go to this poignant exhibition which helps to bring to life what it was like on Titanic. It’s an amazing opportunity to see a world class exhibition on our doorstep, giving insights to what Wallace Hartley would have seen. Visitors will be coming to Pendle from far and wide to see Titanic 100.”
The exhibition is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, and Nigel will be giving his fascinating talks on the sinking from 1 to 2-30 p.m. Admission is £5 and £2.50 for concessions. You don’t need to book in advance.