(P)raise The Titanic
Written by John MacphersonThe RMS Titanic left Southampton 100 years ago today, April 10th 1912, on her fateful journey across the Atlantic.
And the Titanic exerts a powerful influence still, 100 years after the vessel’s untimely and unfortunate demise. And the ongoing story of it’s rediscovery at the bottom of the Atlantic in 1985, and the lives of those who perished or survived in the tragedy, is a fascination for many people.
But for one individual the Titanic is a living, growing ‘breathing’ entity, sat at the bottom of his garden! Stan Fraser who lives a few miles away from me has spent literally years recreating the Titanic behind his house. In 1/10th scale.
Thats…er…um…big. No make that BIG.
Stan Fraser, maritime enthusiast. © John MacPherson
I have to declare an interest here, a certain bias.
My first ‘proper’ job on leaving school at 16 was an apprenticeship in the Glasgow shipyards, welding and gas burning frigates for HM’s navy in Yarrow Shipbuilders. The old drink-hardened platers and welders I rubbed shoulders with, peering at me through their weld-speckled glasses, would talk with pride about their vessels. These were hard hard men, but there was a softness in their voices when they spoke about their work, a great passion for their creations. The great hulking beauties slowly being formed in the yard exerted a powerful influence. It was ‘only steel’ but it was beautiful steel, shaped by their hands.
It would be easy to dismiss Stan’s creation with a laugh, but if you look closer you’ll find there’s a deep well of respect and passion for the labours of the working men who created the original Titanic. In many ways this is Stan’s tribute to them, made with his hands.
But don’t take my word for it, listen to Stan’s voice, as he talks about the reasons why he made it, and why he thinks it’s important.
Author — John Macpherson
John MacPherson was born and lives in the Scottish Highlands. He trained as a welder in the Glasgow shipyards, before completing an apprenticeship as a carpenter, and then qualified as a Social Worker in Disability Services. Along the way he has cooked on canal barges, trained as an Alpine Ski Leader & worked as an Instructor for Skiers with disabilities, been a canoe instructor, and tutor of night classes in carpentry, stained glass design and manufacture, and archery. He has travelled extensively on various continents, undertaking solo trips by bicycle, or motorcycle. He has had narrow escapes from an ambush by terrorists, been hit by lightning, caught in an erupting volcano, trapped in a mobile home by a tornado, kidnapped by a dog's hairdresser, rammed by a basking shark and was once bitten by a wild otter. He has combined all this with professional photography, which he has practised for over 35 years. He teaches photography and acts as a photography guide & tutor in the UK and abroad. His biggest challenge is keeping his 30 year old Land Rover 110 on the road. He loves telling and hearing stories.
Discussion (4 Comments)
Amazing story. Thanks for sharing John.
Thanks for the help Ben. Nice to have a duckrabbit exclusive!
Fantastic. Loved every second.
Thank you Jim. It’s a fantastic thing, surrounded by other fantastic things!