Marian, 92, heads to France for TV

Photo: Darren Robinson

Marian with her father’s account of the Lusitania sinking.

MARIAN Bowers is to take a trip down memory lane for the BBC’s “Antiques Roadshow” next year.

The 92 year old, of Farrow Street, Shaw, has been invited to go to the Somme next month to take part in a World War One centenary special, to be screened in August 2014.

Marian’s parents, Alice and Harold Smethurst, were among the survivors of the Lusitania disaster in May, 1915. The defenceless passenger liner was en route to Liverpool from New York when it was torpedoed by a German U-boat off the coast of Ireland. Only 764 of the 1,959 passengers and crew survived. Marian’s mother was six months pregnant with her first child at the time.

Shortly after surviving the tragedy, Harold felt compelled to write about the experience; everyone in the family was given a copy and the original is now in the Maritime Museum in Liverpool.

Marian’s granddaughter, Deborah, saw an appeal by the show’s producers for the special edition and told them about the document.

“The producers were delighted,” said Marian. “They want to take me and Deborah to the Somme to take part in the programme. We’re going for a few days next month.

“I had two brothers and a sister but I am the only one left so I am delighted that I can share my parents’ story. I am really looking forward to going. I might be 92 but there’s plenty of life left in me yet!”