The operators of a Titanic-themed ride at Graveley Fruit Farm in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, have defended the attraction following criticism that it disrespects the memory of the more than 1,500 people who died when the ship sank in 1912. The ride, which features a replica ship that lifts and slides customers downward to simulate the sinking, was renamed "The Big Tipper" last year after initial complaints. However, the original name was later reinstated after the farm's manager's wife reportedly received death threats demanding its return.
Will Campbell-Gray, the farm's manager, stated that the attraction aims to "keep the memory of Titanic alive" and is not intended to mock the deceased. The Titanic, which sank after striking an iceberg on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York, was a monumental vessel for its time. Construction took approximately three years, with a cost of £1.5 million, equivalent to about £170 million today. The ship measured 269 meters (882 feet) long and 28 meters (91 feet) wide.