A Christmas card signed by Colne's famous son Wallace Hartley is back where it belongs after it was revealed local postman and historian Geoff Crambie was the mystery buyer of the precious memento.

Mr Crambie, of Lancaster Street, Colne, bid £1,762 for the card at an auction at Christies last month -- much higher than the £600 anticipated -- but kept the secret between himself and his family for more than one month.

The card was sent to Red Cross nurse Gladys Williams by the Titanic bandmaster at Christmas 1911-- his last Christmas before the Titanic sank.

It was discovered as part of an autograph book belonging to the nurse, who is believed to have treated the musician, born in Colne, between 1905 and 1911.

Mr Crambie outbid dealers and Titanic collectors, including Colne librarian Darren Ward, who bid £400 in the hope of bringing the card back to the town to add to the library's collection. It will be added to Mr Crambie's 5,200 autograph collection, which includes Sir William Pickles Hartley, Sir Roger Bannister, all 37 Busby Babes, the 1958 Brazil World Cup winning squad and Nelson Mandela. He said: "I'm pretty sure it's unique and that's why I was prepared to pay so much for it."