Titanic costumes come to Norwich

[Andrew Clarkson]

A touch of Hollywood glamour came to the city when costumes worn by the stars of Oscar-winning film Titanic were put on display.

Outfits warn by superstars Kate Winslet and Leonardo Dicaprio were shown as part of an exhibition organized by a group of Norfolk Titanic enthusiasts.

Also on display were 97-year-old pieces of memorabilia, including an original postcard sent by someone on board the vessel, and eggcups and hip flasks rescued from the ship before it sank.

The Norfolk Titanic Society was founded 13 years ago to commemorate the events of April 14, 1912 when the Titanic hit an iceberg and sank, drowning 1,517 people and making it one of the most deadly peacetime maritime disasters in history

The group's chairman John Balls has written a book looking into the lives of the five Norfolk survivors of the tragedy entitled Titanic: The Norfolk Survivors.

Mr Balls, 73, of Highfield Close, Thorpe St Andrew, said: “I have always been fascinated by the scale and the impact of the Titanic. There were so many people, 40 different nationalities, 12 millionaires - the interest has just been monumental.

“The film was obviously highly romantic, but it increased interest which was a good thing.”

Around 70 people turned out to soak up the Hollywood stardust on offer at Friday's exhibition, which also featured talks from local historians. The group is already planning an exhibition in The Forum to make the centenary of the sinking in April 2012.

The costumes on display on are part of a collection owned by David Scott-Bedard, the chairman of the SS Nomadic Society.

Mr Bedard, who comes from Cheltenham, said: “My fascination with the Titanic began when I was 11 years old and I was given a model of the ship. I started collecting memorabilia from the ship 15 years ago when I was given a picture signed by survivors form the Titanic.”

He brought the film costumes in 2001 at a White Star Line Auction, and since then, once every year or so they are loaned out for different exhibitions.

As well as the dress Winslet wore as her character, Rose, boarded the ship, there was also the costume she wore while trying to escape drowning.

Sue Burrows, 55, from the Norfolk Titanic Society, said: “We are very pleased to have had the costumes come here. It has been a great attraction.”

“We are also grateful to David to having loaned the dresses out to us for the evening. It is great for people to see up close the memorabilia from the ship.”

Source: http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk