Centre Director Dr Richard Howells gave a guest seminar this week to the University of East London on the myth of the Titanic – and especially the hymn that is widely believed to have been played by the ship’s band as the liner finally sank.
Dr Howells argued that there is very little evidence that this actually happened, but went on to explain how the myth arose why people still like to believe it.
This is, of course, only one of many myths surrounding the disaster, which took place in April 1912. Many of these are explored in Dr Howells’ published research on the disaster, which still plays a prominent part in our culture almost 100 years after the event.