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Survivor of the Titanic disaster

MILLVINA DEAN



1 I can't bear ice in my drinks - it always    father went down with the Titanic. My
 makes me think of the iceberg, you see. mother, brother and I came back to
 There are only five Titanic survivors I35 Southampton. I worked as a cartographer, a
 left. I'm the youngest, as I was only nine secretary and even as an assistant in a
5 weeks old when it sank in 1912, - so, tobacconist's - I felt my father would have
 obviously, I can't remember anything about approved.
 it. But my poor father drowned that day and5 But I had hardly given any thought to the
 whenever I imagine an iceberg, I think of40 Titanic when, in 1988, I was invited to
 him. attend a convention in Boston, and since
210 Up to a few years ago I was living quietly then I haven't stopped. I've been to so many
 in retirement, but now much of my time is places I would never otherwise have gone to,
 spent travelling all over the world to speak at and wherever I go people make a terrific fuss
 conventions as a guest of the various Titanic45 of me. I have been on several wonderful
 societies. Until the wreck was discovered cruises and have given a talk on the Queen
15 there wasn't nearly so much interest in the Elizabeth II. I have been given a civic
 disaster. My mother, who died in 1975, reception in Cobh, Ireland, where the Titanic
 didn't tell me what we had been through docked before setting off to America. I have
 until I was eight.50 even had a road named after me. And there
3 My whole family - my father Bertram, my are always dozens of letters from all over the
20 mother Georgetta and my 18-month-old world. People just address them to Millvina
 brother, Bertram Vere - was on that maiden Dean, Titanic survivor, Southampton - but
 voyage of the Titanic. We were going to start nevertheless they all arrive.
 a wonderful new life in America, where my655 I'm staying at home this Christmas, but I'd
 father had planned to open a tobacconist's rather not watch the Titanic film. It would be
25 shop. I'm convinced he was a hero and that too upsetting. When panic sets in at the end I
 his quick response saved us. would be wondering about my father. But I
4 That night we were woken by a loud crash have been invited to meet Kate Winslet and
 and father immediately told my mother to go60 the director, James Cameron, and I have seen
 to the lifeboats with the children. He kissed the Leonardo DiCaprio look-alike at
30 her goodbye and said he would see her later conventions. He was very handsome!
 - but she never saw him again. We were 
 picked up by the Carpathia, but my dear 'Radio Times'