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Titanic survivor sells mementoes | Titanic survivor sells mementoes |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The last remaining survivor of the Titanic has sold her mementoes for more than £30,000 at a Wiltshire auction. | The last remaining survivor of the Titanic has sold her mementoes for more than £30,000 at a Wiltshire auction. |
Millvina Dean sold a suitcase full of clothes, which had been given to her by the people of New York after she was rescued as a baby. | |
The 96-year-old also sold rare prints of the ill-fated cruise liner and compensation letters sent to her mother by the Titanic Relief Fund | The 96-year-old also sold rare prints of the ill-fated cruise liner and compensation letters sent to her mother by the Titanic Relief Fund |
Miss Dean needs to raise money to pay for her private nursing home fees. | Miss Dean needs to raise money to pay for her private nursing home fees. |
She was nine weeks old when the ship sank in 1912 while her family were emigrating to Kansas. | |
She was placed in a sack and carried to safety along with her mother and brother. But her father Bertram was one of more than 1,500 people who died. | She was placed in a sack and carried to safety along with her mother and brother. But her father Bertram was one of more than 1,500 people who died. |
I am not able to live in my home anymore. I am selling it all now because I have to pay these nursing home fees Milvina Dean | I am not able to live in my home anymore. I am selling it all now because I have to pay these nursing home fees Milvina Dean |
Miss Dean moved into a private nursing home in Ashurst, Hampshire, two years ago after breaking her hip. | |
She said: "I was hoping to be here for two weeks after breaking my hip, but I developed an infection and have been here for two years. | |
"I am not able to live in my home anymore. I am selling it all now because I have to pay these nursing home fees." | "I am not able to live in my home anymore. I am selling it all now because I have to pay these nursing home fees." |
At Henry Aldridge and Son in Devizes, the suitcase fetched £10,800, the prints £9,250 and the letters £11,100. | |
Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said: "It is a great amount of money, I am sure she will be very happy when we tell her the news. | Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said: "It is a great amount of money, I am sure she will be very happy when we tell her the news. |
"The Titanic International Society had bid for the items with the intention of giving them back to Millvina. Unfortunately they were blown out of the water by other bidders." | "The Titanic International Society had bid for the items with the intention of giving them back to Millvina. Unfortunately they were blown out of the water by other bidders." |
One of the few known surviving lifejackets, not belonging to Miss Dean, sold for £47,000. | |
Other lots included a watch belonging to a crew member which sold for £92,000 and a Titanic key that fetched £80,000. | Other lots included a watch belonging to a crew member which sold for £92,000 and a Titanic key that fetched £80,000. |