Continued fascination in the Titanic comes as no surprise to local experts
A Dalbeattie connection to the ill-fated ship has been the subject of local interest since the doomed voyage
Last updated 10th Nov 2023
With a dinner menu from the RMS Titanic set to fetch a hefty sum at auction on Saturday the 11th of November, the world’s continued fascination with the tragedy is apparent.
But, volunteers at Dalbeattie Museum say the interest doesn’t come as a surprise, with the town’s own link to the ill-fated ship providing a key draw for many visitors.
Describing Titanic’s First Officer William Murdoch as a ‘local hero’, museum trustee Ronnie Murray says people are always interested to find out more about the Dalbeattie lad:
"It is a big thing for the town, and it's a big thing for the people of the town.
"Everyone knows about the connection."
Born and raised in Dalbeattie, the museum offers a photo of the High Street Cottage where he grew up.
Back in 2012, the town commemorated 100 years since the tragedy.
Ronnie says it was a busy time for the museum:
"The Titanic centenary, that was the biggest year we ever had in the museum for people coming in, and that just shows you - Titanic brings them in."
While none of the exhibition memorabilia has come from the Titanic itself, several imitations and reproductions of dinner and breakfast menus are on show for all to see.
Ronnie says the Murdoch connection has had a powerful influence, be that with teaching local kids about an important historical event, or by bringing in Titanic enthusiasts from all over the world.
"There's a lady who comes across from Austria, who did a couple of drawings of Murdoch for us which we have on display here.
"She comes across every year, and puts a rose on the Murdoch monument at the town hall."
Fascination isn't fading
In terms of Saturday’s sale of Titanic and general White Star Line goods, auctioneers Henry Aldridge & Son Ltd estimate the menu will go for between £50,000 to £70,000, describing the artefact as ‘a remarkable survivor from the most famous Ocean liner of all time.’
The menu was discovered in a photo album belonging to community historian Len Stephenson, from Dominion, Nova Scotia. His daughter Mary found the menu after Len’s passing.