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Thursday 19 April 2012

Titanic Remembered


Titanic Remembered


On Sunday 15th April, VQ’s Jigsaw store hosted an exhibition and commemorative tea party to mark the 100th year anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. A research project last year unearthed a direct link to the ship and the store, which was formally Collinson’s Café, where Wallace Hartley had played in a string quartet shortly before boarding the Titanic as Band Master.
Legend has it that the band played ‘Nearer, My God, to Thee’ as the ship went down and two weeks after the disaster Wallace’s body was recovered, still wearing his bandsmen uniform. In his pockets, amongst other items, was a silver matchbox engraved with the message ‘From Collinson’s Staff Leeds’.
On the day, more than 100 customers were treated to tea in vintage china and homemade cakes whilst viewing the exhibition detailing the history of the store from its birth as a tearoom to the Jigsaw store today. They were also entertained with beautiful solo violin renditions of music that would have been played in the café during the era. A highlight of the day was the opportunity to view some rare pieces of Titanic memorabilia, including a Christmas card signed by Wallace Hartley and a silver cigarette case and enamelled calling card case which were made to commemorate the launch of the ship. These were brought in by Leeds’ Titanic enthusiast Scowen Sykes, and gave visitors an even closer connection to the tragic events of a century ago.

Jenny O’Hara Randall, manager of the store and organiser of the event said, “There were many people here who remembered Collinson’s from its heyday. With the violin music and the clinking of china, it really began to feel like it must have done 100 years ago. It’s incredible to think that someone who played such a central role in the legend of the sinking was in this building only days before. The memorabilia brought in and the setting gave everyone a very tangible link to the time and the people involved.”

 http://www.jigsaw-online.com/