IT may only be a small piece of furniture, but its special link to the Titanic means it is set to create a buzz when it goes under the hammer at an auction in Lambeg Parish Church next Saturday (May 30th).
Canon Ken McReynolds with the vanity unit
Nearly 100 years after its launch the ill fated liner still holds a fascination and one of the highlights of the Lambeg sale will be a small wall mounted Vanity Unity with drawer, made with off-cuts from the ship.
It was made by William Ernest Brownlee, a ship's carpenter who worked on the Titanic and lived in Maryville Street, the item has been in the Brownlee family's possession for almost 100 years.
Passed down from William's mother to his wife, then to his daughter, sister and finally his niece, family members were always told it was 'titanic scrap'.
And there's a tale surrounding William himself.
Family stories relate how he was due to sail as a ship's carpenter on the Titanic's maiden voyage, but his mother got herself in such a state, crying and pleading with him not to go, that he withdrew to please her.
He later went to live in Killyleagh, Co. Armagh, where he set up his own joinery business.
As well as all the usual stalls and sideshows another prominent feature on the day will be the Balloon Race, with a Samsung 23" Widescreen Television up for grabs, together with several other consolation prizes.
The event kicks off at 10.30 am with the Auction starting at 1.30 pm.
