In 1985, Jackie Floyd watched a television programme about the discovery of the wreck of the RMS Titanic.

Fascinated by the tragic tale of the White Star liner, which sank after hitting an iceberg on its maiden voyage in 1912, she began to read books about it, and to amass what would become a huge collection of memorabilia.

Now, the mother-of-four from Cutteslowe is planning the ultimate Titanic adventure taking part in a cruise, retracing the journey of the ship, complete with a dramatic re-enactment of its watery end.

"The Titanic memorial cruise takes place in April 2012, on the hundredth anniversary of the ship's sinking and is the ultimate for a fan like me," said Mrs Floyd, 37.

"We will set sail from Southampton, just as the Titanic did, and during the seven-day trip will stop at the crash site, where there will be lectures, plus the chance to speak to people who have visited the wreck and even those whose relatives were aboard."

She added: "At the crash site, there will be a re-enactment of what happened and a memorial service will also be held. I think it's going to be exciting, but also emotional."

Mrs Floyd's fascination with the Titanic began when its wreck was discovered, 12,500ft beneath the surface of the Atlantic Ocean, 350 miles south-east of Newfoundland.

Like many, she was captivated by the grandeur of the 'unsinkable' passenger liner, which set out on its maiden voyage, on April 10, 1912, with 2,227 enthusiastic passengers and crew members on board, only to collide with a massive iceberg early on April 15. Only 705 of those on baord survived.

She said: "Watching the wreck of the ship, all that way down in the water, and hearing about how beautiful it was, but also how tragically all those people died, I just wanted to find out more about it.

"I started reading books and collected a lot of them.

"From there I moved on to collecting postcards, and then the collection just grew and grew.

"I have managed to buy a lot of through the Internet, and particularly eBay," she said. "Looking at it all laid out, it's quite surprising to see how much I actually have. I suppose it must have cost about £1,000.

"There are pictures, postcards, autographs of survivors and quirky things like a Titanic salt and pepper shaker, and even an inflatable Titanic, complete with iceberg."

James Cameron's 1997 blockbuster film Titanic only served to fuel Mrs Floyd's passion.

"I loved the romance of the story, and how he had recreated the inside of the ship," she said. As a result, she has watched the film about 10 times.

She has the autographs of Mr Cameron and the film's stars, Kate Winslet and Leonardo Di Caprio. But her favourite piece of memorabilia was found by accident and has a poignant connection to Oxford.

"I was at a Titanic memorabilia auction in Devizes, Wiltshire, and found a programme for a concert, which was held at Exeter Hall, Cowley, on Monday, May 13, 1912, a month after the Titanic sank," she said.

"It was organised to raise money for the families of those who perished in the disaster and was in memory of one of the victims, John Woodward, a cellist in the ship's band, who lived in Oxford, and I knew straight away I wanted it. Lots of people bid for it, but I managed to buy it for £170.

"I was shaking afterwards, I had never bid in in an auction before. Now it has pride of place in my collection."

Mrs Floyd later learned that Mr Woodward lived in Windmill Road, Headington.

He left Oxford to join a band at Eastbourne, but when that didn't work out, he joined the White Star Line, making several voyages across the Atlantic and to the Mediterranean.

He was on board the Olympic, (the Titanic's sister ship), when it collided with the cruiser HMS Hawke in September 1911, and narrowly escaped injury.

He was due to play at Magdalen College's May Ball on his return from Titanic's maiden voyage.

Mr Woodward and his fellow bandsmen played on the deck as the ship sank. He is remembered by a plaque at All Saints' Church, in Lime Walk, Headington.

"I think people will always be curious about the Titanic," said Mrs Floyd. "It was such a beautiful ship, with such a tragic story."

Mrs Floyd would like to hear from other Titanic enthusiasts. Email her at jacquelinefloyd@ntlworld.com