A Hertfordshire fruit farm has found itself at the centre of a social media row over its Titanic-themed ride, which critics have branded “disrespectful” and “odd”.
The attraction at Graveley Fruit Farm, near Hitchin, has drawn complaints from those who believe it shows a lack of respect for the more than 1,500 victims of the 1912 maritime disaster.
However, manager Will Campbell-Gray has pushed back against the criticism, and said: “We’re keeping the memory of Titanic alive and we’re not making fun of the dead at all.”
The farmer added that the prospect of any backlash had never even occurred to the team behind the ride.
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The attraction features a replica vessel, which tilts upward at one end – sending visitors sliding downwards in a simulation of the ocean liner’s famous sinking.
It was built using recycled farmingmaterials, with strawberry polytunnel hoops and a disused tipper lorry trailer among the components repurposed for its construction.
Of course, the original Titanic sank on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York after hitting an iceberg in the North Atlantic.
The real life ship measured 269 metres in length, 28 metres across and stood over 53 metres tall.
The vessel took roughly three years to construct at a cost of £1.5 million – equivalent to approximately £170 million today.
The farm initially responded to the online complaints by commissioning new signage and rebranding the attraction as The Big Tipper.
Yet this decision triggered what Mr Campbell-Gray described as a “far greater” backlash than the original controversy.
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His wife, who manages the farm’s social media accounts, became the target of threatening messages.
“My wife, who does the social media, got threats – death threats saying that we should change it back,” he said.
Following “serious deliberation”, the couple decided to reinstate the Titanic name.
“So we actually thought long and hard and thought, actually, we’re not making fun of the dead or anything”.
Mr Campbell-Gray also stressed the attraction’s role as a learning tool, noting how it has sparked genuine interest in maritime history among young visitors.
He pointed to autistic children with a passion for the Titanic as particularly enthusiastic guests.
“They love coming here and going on it because they know all the facts and all the figures,” he said.
“Actually it’s a nice thing to be a memory of the Titanic, and keep the Titanic memory alive.”
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