Titanic survivor's tale spurs fundraising bid

[Andrew Clarkson]

A Pembrokeshire pupil has made a spirited effort to help a Titanic survivor.

Michael Thomas, a student at Pembroke School, embarked on a mission to raise money for the last survivor of the ship disaster – 97-year-old Millvina Dean from Hampshire.

Miss Dean, who was a two-month-old baby at the time of the 1912 sinking, had recently been forced to sell mementoes of the liner to pay for her nursing home fees.

Earlier this year the 13-year-old spoke to Miss Dean on the telephone and she said she would be very happy to receive money from his fundraising efforts. Unfortunately the old lady died in May before the money Michael raised could reach her.

The £58.55 has now been donated to the RNLI at Tenby Lifeboat Station.

Miss Dean, who remembered nothing about her fateful journey, had been travelling third class to America with her family when the luxury liner hit an iceberg on April 15, 1912, on its maiden voyage from Southampton.

More than 1,500 people died in the north Atlantic – largely due to a lack of lifeboats – including Miss Dean’s father.

After he heard about the story and Miss Dean’s financial plight, Michael baked crispy cakes and sold them to staff and pupils at Pembroke School.

The money raised funded a sweet jar raffle, which was won by maths teacher Greg Byrd.

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