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NEW RECRUIT FOR THE TITANIC TOUR
THE Titanic exhibition has taken on board a small but exquisite new piece of freight during its stay in Boston's Haven Centre.
An 18-carat gold pocket watch that linked a Boston man with an Italian waiter who died when the liner sank in the Atlantic will now go on display with the rest of the memorabilia as the exhibition continues to tour the country.
Mike Richardson, 59, of Anton's Gowt, explained he had owned the demi-hunter watch since 1992 when his wife, Anne, bought it as his birthday present.
"I've always been interested in antiquarian horology," he said.
"There was a letter from the lady who was selling the watch at that time to say she was the niece of Vincenzo Gilardino, who lost his life on the Titanic. When her father, Vincenzo's brother, cleared his lodgings in Southampton after his death he found the watch."
It is now known Vincenzo, who had previously worked as a smoke room steward on the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company's vessel Astirius, sailed on Titanic as a waiter in her la carte restaurant.
He was 31 and his body was never recovered.
Mr Richardson said: "He was definitely in the upper-crust of waiters. The watch would have cost him a great deal of money – it's a very nice piece."
The woman who sold the watch back in 1992, Vincenzo's niece Caterina Monahan, is now 96 and living in Staffordshire.
Boston's arts, heritage and tourism manager, Victoria Newton-Davies, spoke to staff at Mrs Monahan's nursing home and was told she confirmed the watch was Vincenzo's and that she was 'overwhelmed and overjoyed' to learn the timepiece was joining the exhibition.
Owner of the collection is Sean Szmalc, who lives in Falkirk. He and fiance Margot Corson travelled to Boston on Saturday to collect the watch from Mr Richardson.
Sean told The Standard: "I am really pleased the watch will be joining the display. It's my personal collection – a labour of love, really – and the watch will be part of the touring exhibition from now on."
Mr Richardson, who has in the past worn the watch and chain on a waistcoat when attending formal dinners, added: "I was very happy to sell the watch to Sean in the knowledge it will tour the country and be seen by many people instead of just remaining in my possession."
The Titanic Honour and Glory exhibition closed in Boston on Sunday and its next port of call is Whitehaven, Cumbria.
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Weather for Boston, Lincolnshire
Thursday 24 May 2012
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