Titanic festival plans for Colne (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Titanic festival plans for Colne

9:00pm Monday 11th February 2013 in News

PLANS are being drawn up to make Colne a ‘Titanic Town’ after the success of centenary celebrations focusing on tragic bandmaster Wallace Hartley.

Supporters of the Titanic in Lancashire Museum are already planning to perform a wreath-laying ceremony at Hartley’s memorial, off Albert Road.

And curator Nigel Hampson is eager for more people to come on board and turn the Titanic commemorations into an annual event.

Museum volunteers and Nigel are drawing up a memorial wall dedicated to the 85 or more victims of the White Star liner disaster.

Nigel said: “Building on the successful Titanic 100 festival, organised by Pendle Council in 2012 and supported by many groups and organisations, we would like to make this an annual event for Colne and Lancashire.”

The possibility of a memorial service at Hartley’s graveside and a further wreath-laying is also being explored.

Perhaps the most ambitious initiative is a courtroom drama, based on the inquiry undertaken in the aftermath of the liner’s sinking. Further development is also underway regarding a series of history walks which were first trialled in the centenary celebrations.

It would feature the Bethel Independent Methodist Church in Burnley Road, where Hartley was a choirboy, and his childhood homes in Albert Road and Burnley Road, as well as the memorial statue and graveside.

Last year musical director Peter Young staged a world premiere of a new piece of music based on Hartley’s life and Jonathan Evans Jones, who played the bandmaster in the 1992 James Cameron film, also took part in a memorial concert.

Those interested in becoming involved in the Titanic 101 festival are asked to ring Nigel at the museum on 01282 861833 or email titanicinlancs@hotmail.co.uk