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/
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/
