AS people across the country commemorate the 90th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, those from Colne will be remembering their own hero of the disaster -- Wallace Hartley.

Known as Colne's favourite son, Wallace Hartley, was an accomplished violinist and the heroic bandmaster of the Titanic who kept the eight-strong band playing as panic broke out around him and perished with so many others when the 'unsinkable' liner struck an iceberg and went down on its maiden voyage in 1912.

The band continued to play to calm frightened passengers and reassure them that everything was under control as the ship was sinking.

When the sea was about to engulf them Hartley told the band they could try and save themselves, but they stayed and played one last tune, believed by many to be Nearer My God to Thee. Wallace, 33 when he died, was born at 92 Greenfield Road, Colne, in June 1878. A memorial bust of the musician now holds pride of place in one of the main roads into the town and his grave can be found in Colne Cemetery.

The Mayor of Pendle, Councillor Colin Waite said: "Wallace Hartley is still remembered fondly in Colne and the historical side for Pendle is that he represented the best traditions of East Lancashire, which were to do his duty to the best of his ability. He is another subject that Pendle is well known for, apart from the Pendle Witches."

Although Wallace's family have since moved out of Pendle, the interest in the ill-fated bandmaster has continued and never more so than when the blockbuster movie Titanic was released four years ago. Welsh-born actor Jonathan Evans Jones, who depicted Wallace in the film, visited East Lancashire on April 27, 1998 and spent several hours in Colne at various sites, including Mr Hartley's birthplace and grave.

Christine Bradley, local studies librarian at the town's library, said: "About 18 months before filming was due to start, Jonathan was told he had got the part of Wallace Hartley. He rang me at the library and asked if we had any information on him.

"We posted quite a bit of information on to him before he went off to Mexico to do the filming. Since Titanic came out, we've had a lot of inquiries."

The visit included trips to see his birthplace in Greenfield Road and his grave, where Jonathan showed particular interest in the violin and musical notes inscribed on the headstone.

He also visited Bethel Independent Methodist Church, where the family worshipped and saw the memorial to the bandmaster erected in Albert Road and paid for by public subscription.