Titanic victims' pocket watch, letter and ticket among items going on sale in U.K.
A pocket watch that once belonged to a passenger on the Titanic will be available to purchase at the end of this month, potentially for as much as $66,000, according to the auction house where it will go on sale. The watch's original owner, 27-year-old Hans Christensen Givard of Denmark, was traveling to the United States with two of his friends when the ship sank, killing all three, said
Henry Aldridge and Son
, the British auctioneers accepting bids on the item starting April 26.
Givard's body was recovered from the North Atlantic Ocean shortly after the Titanic went down, and belongings found with him were returned to his brother in Denmark and later passed on to the brother's descendants. Among them was a "gilded ladies' pocket watch," reads a description on the auction house's website. Made from silver and brass, the watch has only traces of salt water corrosion and its dial is missing both hands, the auctioneers said.
"The watch's movement is frozen in time at the moment the cold North Atlantic waters consumed not only its owner but the most famous ocean liner of all time, Titanic, on April 15, 1912," Andrew Aldridge, of the auction house, told Agence France-Press. Henry Aldridge and Son anticipates the watch's value will land somewhere between 30,000 and 50,000 British pounds, which equates to roughly $40,000 to $66,000.
Henry Aldridge and Son continually hosts biddings on items of
Titanic memorabilia
. Other artifacts currently for sale include
a handwritten letter
belonging to the Swedish passenger Erik Gustaf Lind and
a third-class ticket
belonging to the Canadian-born Ernest Portage Tomlin, both of whom died in the sinking. A violin played by the bandleader in the 1997 film "Titanic" is also up for sale.
Pocket watches previously owned by Titanic passengers have sold for huge amounts at Henry Aldridge and Son's auctions before, with a bidder in November claiming one of them
for $2 million
. At the time, Andrew Aldridge said the gold timepiece was the most expensive example of Titanic memorabilia ever sold, the Associated Press reported. The price of that item had broken a record set earlier in the year, when the same auction house sold a different gold watch for about $1.46 million. In that case, the 14-carat object belonged to the wealthiest passenger on the Titanic,
John Jacob Astor
, whose net worth was around $87 million when the disaster happened in 1912, according to the auctioneers.
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Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Sunwing Vacations, Make-A-Wish® Canada and Planet Hollywood Cancun come together to fulfill the wish of an all inclusive vacation experience for 30 children with critical illnesses
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"We're so excited to partner with Sunwing Vacations and Planet Hollywood Cancun to launch this first-of-its-kind group wish trip—an experience made even more special by its focus on serving Quebec-based families and other Canadian francophone communities," said Meaghan Stovel McKnight, Chief Executive Officer of Make-A-Wish Canada. "From the gate to the resort and all the way back home, we're confident this experience will bring much-needed strength and healing to these wish kids and their families." Departing from Montreal, Canada, the Wish families will enjoy a special Planet Hollywood-branded charter flight experience, featuring caring, bilingual crew, creating a warm and welcoming journey from start to finish. Upon arrival into Cancun, Mexico, the families will be welcomed by Sunwing's trusted local partner, NexusTours, and transported to Planet Hollywood Cancun in style on upgraded private transfers. With every detail designed for star treatment, this all-inclusive resort was chosen for the sense of joy it offers and what it represents for families looking to reconnect, have fun, and create lasting memories together on the pristine shores of Playa Mujeres. "At Blue Diamond Resorts, we're incredibly proud to be part of something so meaningful. Knowing that our Resort plays a role in creating unforgettable memories for these families is a true honor. Planet Hollywood Cancun was built around the magic of storytelling and once-in-a-lifetime experiences and helping bring dreams to life for so many young guests perfectly reflects that spirit," said Jurgen Stutz, Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing & Distribution for Blue Diamond Resorts. Last year, 72 per cent of the wishes Make-A-Wish Canada granted were travel wishes. 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From individual donors to corporate partners, from volunteers to supporters, everyone has the power to help grant wishes. But more support is needed for Make-A-Wish® Canada to achieve their vision of granting the wish of every eligible child. To learn more about the importance, meaning and excitement behind this group wish trip, view this video featuring Meaghan Stovel McKnight talking about the anticipation of the Wish experience: Together, Make-A-Wish Canada, Sunwing Vacations and Planet Hollywood Hotels & Resorts are proud to help make wishes come true — and are excited to kick off the summer with smiles. Keep an eye on Sunwing's and Make-A-Wish Canada social media channels for all the fun that will be had with Make-A-Wish Canada at Planet Hollywood Cancun. About Sunwing Vacations As the leading vacation provider in Canada, Sunwing Vacations offers more vacation packages to the south than any other vacation provider with convenient direct service from cities across Canada to popular sun destinations across the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. This scale enables Sunwing Vacations to offer customers exclusive deals at top-rated resorts in the most popular vacation destinations. Sunwing Vacations customers benefit from the assistance of our trusted partner in destination, NexusTours, whose representatives greet customers upon arrival and support them throughout their vacation journey. For more information, please visit About Make-A-Wish Canada Make-A-Wish Canada creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. We are on a quest to bring every eligible child's wish to life because a wish is an integral part of a child's treatment journey. Research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight a critical illness. As an independently operating affiliate of Make-A-Wish International, Make-A-Wish Canada is part of the network of the world's leading children's wish-granting organization. We serve children in every community in Canada, and in 50 countries worldwide. Make-A-Wish Canada has granted more than 40,000 wishes over the past 40 years with 2,011 of them last year alone. For the second year in a row, Make-A-Wish Canada has been named a Great Place to Work and in 2024 was named to the Top 100 Best Workplaces for Giving Back. For more information about Make-A-Wish Canada, visit About Planet Hollywood Hotels & Resorts Planet Hollywood Hotels & Resorts bring big-screen excitement to some of the most sought-after locales for an all-inclusive experience, where guests can Vacation Like A Star™. From the pristine shores of Cancun to the tranquil beaches of Costa Rica, these all-ages resorts feature authentic Hollywood memorabilia, a world of flavors, themed entertainment and exclusive activities for the entire family, as well as a premium service with the Star Class™ category for a full A-list treatment. While, Planet Hollywood Adult Scene, offer an all-inclusive adults-only glam getaway (18+) ideal for a romantic escape or a fun-filled adventure with friends that will turn any vacation into the center of fascination and attention with glam and exclusivity. This engaging and interactive experience at Planet Hollywood Hotels & Resorts, includes differentiated brand features and amenities, such as PHabulous Bed™, Plugged In™, Main Event Guarantee™ and star-quality accommodations. To learn more about Planet Hollywood Hotels & Resorts, visit SOURCE Sunwing Vacations Inc. 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USA Today
30 minutes ago
- USA Today
Funk pioneer Sly Stone, leader of Sly and the Family Stone, dies at 82
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In 1966, spurred on by the local revolution that was birthing bands such as Jefferson Airplane, Santana and the Grateful Dead, Stone decided to combine his fledgling band with one led by his brother Freddie, forming Sly and the Family Stone. Hits followed in short order, starting with 1968's "Dance to the Music" and "Everyday People," both of which celebrated the sheer and simple joy created when music brings the masses together. But Stone's compositions also frequently plumbed deep depths, with lyrics that pierced as ably as they moved. In "Family Affair," Stone's sensitive growl intones: "One child grows up to be/ Somebody that just loves to learn/ And another child grows up to be/ Somebody you'd just love to burn/ Mom loves both of them/ You see, it's in the blood/ Both kids are good to mom/ Blood's thicker than the mud." By 1969, Stone and his group were among the most well-known bands in the nation, and performed a memorable set at that year's Woodstock festival in upstate New York, a hallmark of which was the band's audience-lifting rendition of "I Want to Take You Higher." The band also performed that year at the Summer of Soul concert in Harlem, an event memorialized in the documentary of the same name by Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson. (Questlove went on to direct 'Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius), a 2025 Hulu documentary focused on Stone.) While Stone's band was among the earliest of the '60s groups to feature a mix of genders and races (including founding member and trumpet player Cynthia Robinson and founding drummer Greg Errico), Stone was the leader and visionary who steered the band's direction. Often cloaked in elaborate stage clothing, his massive Afro glowing, Stone's looks and music were an indisputable harbinger of the coming funk revolution that would take the foundational innovations of James Brown and propel it to an otherworldly showboating level as best exemplified by the huge success of '70s legends such as George Clinton and his Parliament-Funkadelic band. But the rocketship ride to fame would quickly come crashing back to earth. By 1971, with the band addled by drug use and internal strife, Sly and the Family Stone would increasingly lose tour bookings and fail to produce music that matched the songs of just a few years prior. While Stone spent the '70s working on new music, often on his own since he played numerous instruments, success proved elusive. In 1983, he was arrested in Florida on drug charges. 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In 2023, Stone released his autobiography, the first book released by Questlove's imprint, which aptly took its title from his song, "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)." The book received mixed reviews, as its subject seemed a bit at a loss to recall that epic golden period so long ago that created those unforgettable songs. But one excerpt captures the delightful lyricism that he brought to his hits, and serves as a reminder that genius never really fades. Of many others who over the years tried to tell Stone's story, he wrote: 'They're trying to set the record straight. But a record's not straight, especially when you're not. It's a circle with a spiral inside it. Every time a story is told, it's a test of memory and motive. … It isn't evil but it isn't good. It's the name of the game but a shame just the same.' Contributing: KiMi Robinson
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
British Netflix series Adolescence to be shown in French schools, says minister of education
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