IT was 93 years ago that the ship of dreams left Southampton. Her passengers, filled with excitement, lined the rails as the captain, the proud master of the latest symbol of Britain's maritime might, took the vessel out to sea.

The liner was at the start of her maiden crossing from Southampton to New York, a voyage that would was to make her name synonymous with tragedy - the ship was Titanic.

Just a few days later, on April 14, 1912 at 11.40pm, as the White Star liner powered her way through the Atlantic at more than 20 knots, an iceberg was spotted and the rest, as they say, is history.

To this day there are many local people in Southampton who still count relatives among those lost when Titanic slid below the waves to a watery grave.

Among them is Erick Roberton who lives in the city centre and whose uncle, George Roberton was steward number 33 in the second class section of Titanic.

When Titanic left Southampton she carried 2,227 passengers and crew. Some 1,522 of these folk died as the ship plunged 12,500 feet to the floor of the Atlantic at a spot about 350 miles south-east of Newfoundland in Canada.

"The photograph of my uncle was taken the week that Titanic sailed,'' said Erick who has written a poem in memory of his lost relative.

"He appears to have been a bit of a 'Jack the lad' and the suit and bowler he is wearing were certainly my grandfather's as I have an almost identical photo of him wearing them.'' George, who was just 18 when he died, came from a family - like so many others in Southampton at the time - where all the men earned their living by going to sea.

"In those days youngsters usually went to sea when they were about 15,'' said 68-year-old Erick who started his career as a bell-boy on the Cunard transatlantic liner Queen Mary and briefly transferred to the 56,550-ton Majestic.

"My uncle, who lived in Mount Street, which was just off the Ditches (Canal Walk), must have had some experience to be working in Titanic's second class. I can remember my father saying that the family thought George was lucky to get a place on such a prestigious ship.

"Apparently the whole family, including his parents Thomas and Alice, went down to the docks to see him off on Titanic.

"He had the photograph taken just a few days before the ship sailed so I expect he never saw it.'' According to archive reports, the body of George Roberton was recovered and was later buried at sea on April 23, 1912.