One of the Belfast Barge’s special Titanic Centenary events ‘On Board the Titanic’ was billed on the posters with three ‘m’s – “memories, music and menus.” There was a missing ‘m’ - ‘moving’.

Actor Xander Duffy’s poignant portrayal of Belfast-lad John Collins, Titanic’s only surviving scullery boy, hushed the audience with his traumatically realistic account. Collins had to inform a helpless man that there was no room in an overcrowded lifeboat. “I’ll never forget the look in his eye as he slowly swam off – not so much swam as floated – he said ‘That’s all right boy, keep cool. God bless you.’ Then he was gone - completely under the water.”

Actress Helen Murphy’s exquisite representation of stewardess Violet Jessop was fuelled with quietly raw emotion. Helen’s face, eyes and subtle body movement spoke as powerfully as Violet’s words – “an unforgettable, agonising cry went up from 1500 despairing throats, a long wail and then silence. Silence.”

Belfast’s Palm Court Quartet went from ragtimes to waltzes punctuating the heart-wrenching narratives with light but evocative relief, all their music taken from White Star’s regulation repertoire. The event opened with a drinks reception in the floating museum, hung with Ulster artist Jim McDonald’s superb Titanic centenary paintings, followed by a colourful spread of canapés reminiscent of her 1st class saloon menu. It was a unique and innovative evening, brought to an historic finalé when a never-seen-before photograph of Titanic subtly materialised on a previously concealed cinema screen. Kindly provided by Patricia Portig, a cousin of Belfast’s industrial giants – the Mackie family – the poignant novelty of the picture totally eclipsed the others we know so well. It drew guests from their seats in silent ovation to a fresh image of Belfast’s tragic maiden that was built a few hundred yards down the river. The event was afloat on the same waters that launched her, and there were more than a few watery eyes seeing her in a new light tonight. 

This exhibition focuses on the development of Belfast from pre-Christian times until the present day. It recounts how Belfast grew from a small settlement at the meeting place of the River Farset and the River Lagan, into a major industrial city of the late 1880’s, and now, is one of Europe’s most popular week-end break destinations. The Belfast Civic Trust received funding from Belfast City Council to assist with the production of the exhibition.

This exhibition traces the story of Belfast from prehistoric times (the Giant’s Ring), through Medieval times, the Plantation, and the granting of the Town Charter in 1613, to Belfast’s industrial might in the late 1800’s and the early 1900’s. While the exhibition shows the turbulent history of this town and city, it also reveals how Belfast became a world leader in heavy industry including shipbuilding, engineering and textiles. Emphasis is placed on the rich architectural heritage of this Victorian city, and the many remarkable citizens who have either originated from, or lived and worked in Belfast.

The Belfast Civic Trust is an environmental charity which supports the preservation of the City’s built heritage, and campaigns on Planning and initiatives to brighten Belfast. Further details on the aims and objectives of the Trust may be found on the website www.belfastcivictrust.org.uk.

This exhibition aims to enhance the visitor experience for tourists and citizens alike who will visit the city this summer. The Story of Belfast exhibition is FREE of charge and will be on display at The Belfast Barge at Lanyon Quay (close to the Waterfront Hall) at times advertised on the website from Monday 30 April until Sunday 30 September 2012. The Belfast Barge is one of the locations included in the ‘Titanic Trail’. The exhibition is mobile and will be placed in other venues both in Belfast and around the Province, at a later date. Please check the website or phone 02890 232555 to check display dates.

We were delighted to be able to host the Federation for Small businesses Christmas Networking event on board the Barge last night, in aid of NI Cancer Fund for Children. Lots of money was raised through an auction and ballots - well done FSB!

For more information about the services FSB offer and how to become a member go to www.fsb.org.uk.

A member of Helen’s Bay Probus Organisation, Mr Stan Griffin, recently informed Lagan Legacy that he’d once been a passenger on a Belfast-built ship called RMS Almanzora, and wondered if we could find anything out about her. It emerged that she was like many other Lagan vessels, boasting an intriguing past. She was in the last of the ‘A’ class series of ships built by Harland & Wolff, Belfast, for the Royal Mail Line’s South American service. Almanzora, just like her sister ship Andes, was attached to the Tenth Cruiser Squadron, engaged mainly in WWI convoy service in the North and Central Atlantic.

Almanzora was H&W Ship Number 441, a 16,034 ton vessel launched on the 19^th November 1914, and completed and handed over to Royal Mail Line on the 7^th October 1915. Almanzora was requisitioned and converted into WWI armed merchant cruisers.

Reconditioned after war service, Almanzora made her maiden voyage as a passenger liner in 1920. Her first-class accommodation was elaborately decorated in the Tudor and Jacobean styles and she also had a winter garden, a new feature for a ship on the South American line. She even had a children’s  play room and ‘social hall’!

After an uneventful peacetime career, she was on her last voyage from South America in 1939 when WWII broke out. She was immediately requisitioned again, as a troopship, and during her war service made many voyages to South and East Africa, later taking part in the Sicilian landings. She survived both a collision with another RML ship, ‘Orduna’ in the Red Sea, and one with a German aircraft, which crashed into her hull. Her final task was the repatriation of European nationals after the end of the war. She was broken up at Blythe, Scotland, in 1948. There’s a wonderful wood and metal scale model of her (552 x 1890 x 237 mm) belonging to the National Maritime Museum, Grenwich, and she appeared on a number of postcards, and at least one brand of cigarette card.