Titanic date is the right setting for new cutlery

It supplied cutlery for first-class passengers on the Titanic and now, 100 years on, the same Midland firm has brought out a 21st Century version of the iconic tableware.

Arthur Price is the holder of two royal warrants, and corporate customers include The Savoy hotel and Harrods in Knightbridge, but it is the firm's Titanic connection that has most recently thrust it into the spotlight after it brought out the new version of the cutlery that was used on the ship's tragic maiden voyage to coincide with the centenary.

Chief executive Simon Price said: "It was horrendously sad but we wanted to commemorate this historic anniversary in some way.

"I know my great-grandfather would have been proud of of the pieces we've produced."

Each knife features the ship owner White Star Line's famous logo on its blade, just as they did originally.

Collectors can buy single pieces as well as a full set.

Some of the original cutlery was recovered after the shipwreck was discovered two and a half miles below the surface in 1985 but the company is not allowed to reclaim the lost silverware because the wreck location is considered to be in no man's land.

Arthur Price holds royal warrants from the Queen and the Prince of Wales, a connection which brought an unexpected perk for Mr Price, who is the greatgrandson of founder Arthur Price, making him the fourth generation at the firm.

A slice of Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding cake arrived through the post. "I haven't decided what to do with it yet but I'm definitely not eating it," says the 52-year-old.