This new book about the world’s most famous shipwreck confirms unpleasant truths about the 1912 tragedy.

Nick Barratt focuses almost entirely on the words of those who designed and built the ship, and on accounts from passengers who survived the sinking.

The material from the survivors is riveting, although the first part of the book is too heavily laden with statistical material.

Believed to be “practically unsinkable”, Titanic sank on her maiden voyage within a few hours of scraping an iceberg in the north Atlantic. there were insufficient lifeboats and only 706 of the 2,223 people on-board survived.

Contrary to “stiff upper lip” legend about Titanic, there was hysteria on board once it was realised the ship was doomed and there were no more lifeboats. the captain, whose carelessness caused the disaster, made no effort to save himself.

7/10 Review by Anthony Looch

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In another June interview with the Kansas City Star Advisory Panel, Blunt said “he was very satisfied with his health care.” Member George Harris wrote a follow up reporting Blunt has “the finest health care insurance money can buy.” Praising his gold standard government benefits, Blunt claimed anyone can buy private health insurance like his for $500 or $600 a month ($6,000-$7,000 annually per person). again, his understanding of the issues is questionable. Millions are denied insurance, for example, regardless of ability to pay due to pre-existing conditions.

The new bill, “Affordable Health Care for America Act,” remedies that, too.

Finally, while Blunt announces my past honor to serve in the election process as if it disqualifies the truth about his contradictory statements and record, past posts are not the issue. This is about accountability and moving forward a health plan that the majority of Americans demand and deserve, and which the prestigious American Medical Association, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, and American Association of Retired Persons all publicly endorse.

Thankfully the century-long mandate to pass reform so more people can obtain medical care in the U.S.’s great medical system passed Congress despite Blunt’s misrepresentation and vote against it.

As a local writer and leader of a writers’ group in the town, I thought the competition was a great way to showcase the creative talents of Todmorden and staging the winning monologues at the Hippodrome using members of the Todmorden Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (TAODS) made this weekend an unmissable prospect.

On Saturday evening the Hippodrome foyer was sold out, as it had been the previous night, and a buzz of excitement surrounded every table as we all studied the programme of the eight short-listed monologues that judges Tom Palmer, Mike Stott and Sheila Tordoff had selected from the original entries.

The focus of each monologue was Todmorden and the people of the town. I was surprised at the diversity of style, content and voice that the writers had used.

We had well realised historical lives as in the opening monologue ‘Annie Hurst Of Hanging Ditch’ by Jean Rees Lyons, followed by contemporary stories such as Becky Simpson’s take on social exclusion, ‘Sarah’, and Rosie Dempsey’s modern tale of redemption ‘The Judge’.

We were treated to bitter-sweet comedy from Arty Cox who wrote ‘Best Mates’ about relocating to Todmorden for love, and tragedy in the brilliantly researched ‘Maria’ by Peter Armstrong. even the supernatural was catered for in Madelaine Cullinane’s spooky comedy ‘When we Were Little Girls’.

While the competition’s focus was new writing, the evening was brought to life by the actors and directors involved with the monologues.

TAODS members Katrina Heath, Justine Sutcliffe, Liz Holland, Emma Winslow and Brenda Bell all gave brilliant performances as did 15-year-old Melissa Barker and the ever young Marion Reynolds.

Special mention must go to Marion who wrote, directed and performed her monologue ‘Cross Border Love’, a brilliantly conceived piece of writing acted with amazing aplomb.

Every competition must have a winner and Voices Of Todmorden was no exception. The judges awarded first prize to Alison Bunn for her monologue ‘Rings On The Old Oak Tree’.

It depicts the changing face of Todmorden as seen through the eyes of Hilda, played with amazing subtlety by Janet Spooner.

From a little girl at the close of the First World War, we travel with Hilda through her life, her loves and losses, her marriage and family until the close of the century.

To get so much information, character and feeling within the competition’s limit of 2,000 words is nothing short of amazing and I think it turned out a worthy winner.

The evening was a resounding success with the Hippodrome full-to-bursting with a highly appreciative audience.

The writing was of a high and consistent quality, the directors, actors, techies and back stage hands all worked so hard to bring everything to life and there was a great atmosphere from start to finish.