AN EXPERT in popular culture has crowned years of research into the sinking of the Titanic.

Geoff Pattison found a rare copy of the last photograph taken of the ill-fated vessel and then had it signed by the last known living survivor.

Mr Pattison, a member of the British and American Titanic Societies, travelled to Stevenage to meet Millvina Dean, who was nine weeks old when she boarded the Titanic at Southampton in April 1912. Now 93, Millvina was guest of honour at the stage production of Titanic the Musical.

Mr Pattison, of Stanley, who lectures at Northumbria University, said: "Over the years I have collected a vast amount of memorabilia relating to the Titanic.

"Earlier this year I was in Cobh, then known as Queenstown, Ireland, which was the last port of call for Titanic.

"I wanted a photographic souvenir and couldn't believe my luck when I saw a rare copy from the original negative by the renowned photographer Father Browne. Getting Millvina to autograph it has been the highlight of my career."

Millvina joined the Titanic with her parents and elder brother Bertram as third-class passengers. They were to emigrate to Witchita, Kansas, where her father hoped to open a tobacconist's.

When the ship hit the iceberg Millvina was saved by being lowered into a lifeboat in a mailbag to join her mother. Her brother escaped in another lifeboat but her father, along with 1,500 others was left to perish with the boat.

Millvina returned to England on the ship Adriatic and became so famous that passengers queued up to hold her as she was the youngest survivor.

Mr Pattison said: "It was a great honour to meet this remarkable lady. In an age of so-called celebrities, here is a real one, worthy of the title."