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EVENT INFORMATION
Thursday 19 November 2026
19:00 - 20:00
Studio
Free for members / £5 for public.
Pay on the door.

Surviving the Titanic – the forgotten story of Ruth Bowker of the Wirral and Liverpool

A talk by Mike Royden

 

When the largest and most luxurious vessel in the world, the Olympic, visited Liverpool on 31 May 1911, one young woman was so taken with the ship that she decided her future was no longer with a Liverpool confectioner where she was working, but with the White Star Line on this sumptuous vessel. Not only did she live her dream, but she was also later transferred to the sister ship, the even larger Titanic, due to sail from Southampton on her maiden voyage on 10 April 1912.

This was Ruth Harwood Bowker, and this is her forgotten story.

Fully illustrated throughout.

 

About the Speaker

I have been a teacher and lecturer for over 30 years after studying History and Archaeology and the University of Liverpool. I have also lectured for many years in Local History on Adult Education Degree courses in University of Liverpool Centre for Continuing Education.
I have broad research interests and have written about various aspects of History for over thirty-five years and book publications include; Merseyside at War 1939-45 / A-Z of Chester (People, places, events) / Wirral at War / Chester at War / Tales from the ‘Pool – a collection of Liverpool Stories / Tracing Your Liverpool Ancestors / Pioneers and Perseverance: A History of the Royal School for the Blind, Liverpool 1791-1991.

I have also contributed entries to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography and numerous Historical Academic Journals.
Many of my articles can be freely accessed on my websites under www.roydenhistory.co.uk

I’ve made various appearances on TV and Radio, including BBC Radio 4’s Making History, Heir Hunters, Who Do You Think You Are?, and recent programmes on the Blitz.

I’m also vice-chair of Everton FC Heritage Society. I run the website and write history articles for the matchday programme and compiled the Remembrance booklet for the Club on all players lost in both wars. I am also involved in making documentary films about the history of the club.

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