Daughter of Titanic Chief Interior Draftsman reaches 100
Eleanor Thompson’s centenary celebrations are set to be held at the iconic venue this weekend. Her father Ambrose Willis, the man behind Titanic’s beautiful carved wooden fireplaces and panelling, features in one of the visitor centre’s key artefacts – a paybook of Harland and Wolff employees. Ms Thompson said: “When I watch James Cameron’s ‘Titanic’ or visit Titanic Belfast, I look out for the woodwork, including the famous staircase, fireplaces and panelling as I know that’s what my father worked on. He used to come home smelling of varnish and paint.”