Barking and Dagenham Council remembers Titanic survivor and former local resident, Eva Hart, by renewing a commemorative plaque in St. Chad’s Park in Dagenham. 

Eva Hart’s life was marked with a tree, which was planted shortly after her death in 1996 along with a commemorative plaque. Over time, the plaque became damaged from the elements and a member of the British Titanic Society who became concerned about it asked if it could be replaced.

After discussions with other interested parties including the Swiss Titanic Society, they produced a replacement plaque for the site. On Thursday 20 February, council staff, members of the British Titanic Society and the Swiss Titanic Society, who flew over specially, attended a small gathering to install the new plaque.

It is important we commemorate Eva Hart’s life, not only because she was a local resident, but also because of her time dedicated to tell her story of what happened on that fateful night the RMS Titanic sank.

I would like to thank both the British and Swiss Titanic societies for working together to source a replacement plaque.

Eva Hart was only seven years old when she boarded the RMS Titanic with her parents as second-class passengers on April 10, 1912 at Southampton. Eva and her Mum survived, but her father unfortunately died in the catastrophic event. During her time, she was one of the more outspoken survivors and criticised the lack of lifeboats on the vessel. She remained active in Titanic related activities and in 1994, wrote her autobiography, ‘Shadow of the Titanic – A Survivor's Story.’ Eva died on 14 February 1996 in Chadwell Heath, where she resided in the later part of her life.

Cllr Saima Ashraf, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community Leadership and Engagement said: “It is important we commemorate Eva Hart’s life, not only because she was a local resident, but also because of her time dedicated to tell her story of what happened on that fateful night the RMS Titanic sank.

“I would like to thank both the British and Swiss Titanic societies for working together to source a replacement plaque.”