Hello my fellow travellers back through the mists of time. I must start by thanking Pat of St Albans for sending me a card containing some flattering words about these articles which is much appreciated. Writing is a lonely task, which I undertake sitting in my attic with a rapidly ageing portrait painting of myself looking down at me. Even the photo of myself in this column is 10 years old, so remember that if you ever meet me, although I remain eye candy while that portrait survives.

This month in 1912 the most famous sea tragedy of all time took place. Of course I refer to the loss of the SS Titanic and so many lives. Since then there have been greater losses at sea but the fascination over the Titanic never ceases.

There is a local link insofar as the chairman of the White Star Line, J Bruce Ismay, who was on board, went to school in Elstree. He made the mistake of saving his own life and in doing so was castigated and spent the rest of his life as semi-recluse. What would we have done in a similar position?

In the late 1920s, Elstree Studios decided to cash in on the disaster and made the world's first multilingual film. This was the beginning of the sound era and dubbing on foreign voices was not an option. Therefore the studio employed three casts of English, German and French actors, who would take it in turn to film a scene so it could be released around the world . The film was called Atlantic but everyone knew it was about the Titanic and the Board Of Trade wrote to the studio protesting it would damage the image of British liners. Watched today it is interesting, but one scene now provokes laughter rather than tears. It is when an officer tells a couple of passengers that the ship is doomed but in such a drawn out way - with great pauses - that it always makes you laugh.

My favourite movie version of the disaster was actually made at Pinewood in the 1950s, starring Kenneth More and called A Night To Remember. It almost looks like a documentary and captures the human side of the story in an era when special effects were limited. After all these years the end sequences can move me to tears and to me that is the test of time regarding a good film.

Many years ago I was invited to the Royal Film Performance in Leicester Square of a film called Titanic, which had cost an enormous amount to produce but contained all the special effects technology of that time. Sitting a few rows away from me were its stars, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet and director James Cameron.

I think the audience, including myself, were stunned by the film and at the end we stood and gave the movie a standing ovation. I have been to a number of Royal Film Performances but that was the first time I had felt such a reaction. Again I cried at the end sequences but that is me as I guess we get more sentimental as we get older.

Ironically in the last decade of her life I became a friend of a lady named Eva Hart. She had survived the sinking of the Titanic as a seven-year-old with her mother, but her father stayed on board and perished. She agreed with me that the film A Night To Remember was the best version of the tragedy, especially as that production was able to call upon over 50 still-living survivors as advisers.

On a lighter note I must say how much I enjoyed a 1960s concert with the original artists at the St Albans Arena. Singing along to the likes of Peter Noone, Mike Berry, Brian Poole and Vanity Fair was great fun. That reminds me, where do I store away my winkle picker shoes? Until we meet again, carry on twisting the night away and if you are going on a sea cruise, good luck.