Chertsey author's latest book is a Titanic effort

Feb 23 2009 By Mark Goode

The last living survivor of the Titanic is the subject of a Chertsey teacher's second book.

Anthony Cunningham, 35, of Windsor Street, Chertsey, penned 'Titanic, The Last Survivor,' after meeting Millvina Dean, who was a nine week old baby on board the fated ship when it sank.

Anthony, an English and history teacher at Thomas Kynvett College, in Stanwell Road, Ashford, met Millvina 10 years ago while writing his first book, 'Titanic Diaries', about people who survived disasters.

He was so taken with her story that he decided to base his next book on her remarkable tale.

"The book is the story about how Millvina, who was on the Titanic as a child, was discovered by the media after her retirement," said Anthony. "After the ship sunk she lived in obscurity, but when the wreck was discovered in 1985 she became quite famous."

Millvina, now 97 and living in the New Forest, boarded the Titanic in Southampton on April 10, 1912 with her parents, Bertram and Ettie, and her brother Vere, who were to start a new life in Kansas. 

Although Millvina, her mother and brother escaped by lifeboat when the Titanic started to capsize, her father died in the disaster.

Millvina's mother reached New York with nothing but her children and the clothes they were wearing, and the family came straight back to England following the tragedy.

Millvina was told of the ordeal by her mother, but kept quiet about her involvement until she was contacted by journalists seeking an interview in the mid 1980s.

She became a minor celebrity and travelled all over the world to give talks, and was even invited to a private showing of James Cameron's hit film about the ship, starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, but declined.

Anthony said: "She has never seen a movie about the Titanic in full. Millvina gets about half way through and then has to leave the room because it upsets her when the ship sinks."

Anthony, who went to Salesian School in Chertsey, and lived in Conyers Close, Hersham, until four years ago, said: "She is absolutely charming, and we have become good friends over the last 10 years.

"I have always been interested in human stories. I love history anyway and Millvina is a living link to a past time."

Anthony's first book was for charity, and although only 1,500 editions of the current book have been published, he said he is looking forward to making money from writing.

'Titanic, The Last Survivor' is available at www.amazon.co.uk priced £14.95.