Kendal man recreates Titanic funnel for exhibition (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Kendal man recreates Titanic funnel for exhibition

5:54pm Monday 8th November 2010 in News By Rachel Ryan

UNUSUAL: Designer Andrew Jameson's Titanic funnel model

A FORMER Kirkbie Kendal school pupil has recreated part of the Titanic for a new exhibition in London.

Designer and prop maker Andrew Jameson has replicated a full-size funnel from the original plans which he built as part of the Titanic:The Artefact Exhibition.

It took the 47-year-old and three other prop makers one week to build the giant six-and-a-half-metre tall structure, which was placed in the Docklands on the Thames in the capital to mark the opening of the exhibition.

Mr Jameson made the steel tube replica - complete with limpets and rust - to look as though it had been raised from the sea after more than 100 years resting on the bottom of the ocean.

And last Wednesday it was towed up and down the Thames at a media event to raise awareness of the Titanic exhibition at the O2 Arena.

The exhibition, which has been put together by RMS Titanic Inc, will see more than 300 atrefacts - some salvaged from the ocean floor - on display.

The Titanic sank after hitting an iceberg on its maiden voyage on April 15, 1912.

“When I was first asked about it I thought it was a great opportunity to do something unusual,” said Mr Jameson.

“It was a real challenge but when it was finished it looked amazing and very evocative.

"The history of the ship is a moving story and so we were very proud of it. It looked impressive.

“It is a very special thing to have been part of. I have been making stage props for years and have worked at the Royal Opera House but it’s nice to have made something which so many people can see.”

Mr Jameson said that it was a challenge making the four-metre wide funnel in a four by 20 metre workshop but said it was well worth the effort.

“We had to make it in eight sections and put it together at the Docklands,” said Mr Jameson.

“We worked late into the night putting it together and being inside the funnel was a very haunting experience.”

The Artefact Exhibition opened on Friday and runs until May 1, 2011.