A BOURNEMOUTH nightclub has been accused of bad taste in planning a Titanic-theme night the 100th anniversary of the ship’s sinking.

Posters for the event at Club 2930 at the Triangle ask “What were you wearing when the ship went down?” and feature pictures of clubbers in naval uniform and period costume.

The themed night will be held on Saturday, April 14 – the 100th anniversary of the night the ship sunk, resulting in the death of 1,514 passengers.

Robert Readman, of Bournemouth, pictured above, said he was “appalled” by it. “Bad taste isn’t the word for it,” he said. “There are still many people alive who lost relatives and loved ones in that tragedy.

“What can we expect from Club 2930 next I wonder, a ‘What were you wearing when you were liberated from Auschwitz’ party?”

“They have chosen to do it on the night the ship sank. That’s the point. These people just don’t think.”

A spokesperson for the club stressed the night was organised with the best of intentions and was not designed to be disrespectful or offensive.

“It wasn’t in any way, shape or form meant to offend anybody,” she said. “We can only apologise if anybody has taken it that way.

“I’m quite surprised that anybody would be offended by that but everybody’s entitled to their opinion. If they want to get in contact with us directly we can explain our intention in hosting this event. It is intended to be a fun event to commemorate the anniversary and raise some money for charity as well.”

QUEEN OF THE OCEAN

Described as the “the Queen of the Ocean” by owners the White Star Line, the Titanic set sail from Southampton at midday on April 10, 1912 amidst a fanfare of celebrations.

But it was just four days later that the ship that had been declared unsinkable hit an iceberg at 11.40pm on April 14 and water started to pour into the lower decks.

At 12.20am on April 15 the order was given to launch the lifeboats but at first, crew and passengers failed to grasp the urgency of the situation. It was after 2am when the ship disappeared beneath the sea, resulting in the death of 1,514 people.

On April 7, the Echo’s Weekend Magazine will carry a series of features about the Titanic to pay tribute to the local people who perished and survived in the world’s greatest maritime disaster.