SOUTHAMPTON'S ill-fated liner Titanic will be remembered in a series of simple ceremonies as the city commemorates the 90th anniversary of the world's most famous shipping disaster on April 12.

It was in April 1912 that Titanic sank with the loss of hundreds of lives after striking an iceberg during her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York.

More than one-third of the 1,500-plus dead were from the Southampton area.

Wreaths will be laid at memorials in the city centre and at graves of passengers and crew at the Common Cemetery and Hollybrook Cemetery.

Flowers will also be left at West End Cemetery at the grave of Sir Arthur Rostron, captain of SS Carpathia, the ship which rescued many of Titanic's survivors nine decades ago.

At the same time, thousands of miles away on the Atlantic an international ice patrol vessel will caste flowers on the waves over the wreck of the White Star liner on behalf of the British Titanic Society (BTS).

The ceremonies coincide with the 15th annual convention of the BTS in Southampton which has again attracted delegates from all over the world.

Altogether marine historians and Titanic enthusiasts from 13 different countries, including 30 people from the US, will be attending the event at the Hilton Hotel, Chilworth.

One of the high-spots of the convention will be tomorrow's auction of Titanic memorabilia including a ship's menu which was recovered from the body of John Gill, a passenger on the vessel. Viewing for the auction will begin at 9am with the sale starting at 2pm.

A gala dinner together with an exhibition and society open day will be staged at the hotel on Saturday while on Sunday a boat trip around Southampton docks, with a visit to Titanic's berth, has been arranged.

- Originally published April 2002.