Titanic Heritage Trust bids to buy last White Star Line ship

The world’s only Titanic Heritage Trust has been launched in Coventry. The Trust, which has been created by Howard Nelson through Coventry University’s business start-up programme, is embarking on its maiden voyage to raise enough money to buy the last remaining White Star Line ship – Nomadic. Mr Nelson, in association with the Save Nomadic Campaign, has appealed to potential backers to help raise 250,000 euros before the vessel is auctioned on January 26.

The 60 year old, who lives in Coventry, wants to bring the ship back from Le Havre to be restored in Belfast. “We desperately want to buy Nomadic – if we don’t, it will be scrapped and an important part of history will be lost,” Mr Nelson said. “I would love to see it returned to its former glory and opened up to the public.” Other backers in the campaign include David Scott Beddard from White Star Memories and the Belfast Industrial Heritage.

The Titanic Heritage Trust’s official opening on December 1 fulfilled Mr Nelson’s 25 year-long ambition. “I’ve been fascinated by the Titanic ever since my father took me to see the original film, A Night to Remember, when I was 12,” he said. “I first started thinking of setting up the trust in the late 1970s but had almost given up hope – then I found out about Coventry University’s business start-up programme.” 

As well as securing the White Star Line ship’s immediate future, the Trust plans to open a Titanic Heritage Centre in the West Midlands before the tragedy’s 100th anniversary in 2012. 

“The links between Titanic and the region aren’t immediately obvious but the two are strongly tied,” he said. “The ship’s captain was born in Stoke and there is a statue of him in Lichfield. The ship’s anchors were made in the Black Country, the internal fittings were furnished in the West Midlands and the officers’ buttons were made in Birmingham. Also the grandson of a survivor lives in Coventry.” 

The appeal has so far raised more than £35,000 in pledges from the public – more will not be taken unless the target is reached. Shares in Nomadic can be purchased for just £50. For more information, email Howard Nelson at howard.nelson@thevisionworks.org.