Peter Crimmins.

A SOMERSET man was inspired by a relative’s journey on board the Titanic to write a book about the doomed cruise liner.

Peter Crimmins.

Peter Crimmins has marked the 100th anniversary of the ship’s sinking by releasing Titanic: From One Extreme To The Other.

The book tells the account of James Crimmins, cousin to Mr Crimmins’ father John, who was taken on as a fireman on board the ship, as well a wealth of other information about the fateful voyage.

Mr Crimmins, of Links Gardens, Berrow, first heard of his relative through his sister Mary Morton.

He said: “A few months before he passed away, our father mentioned that when he was younger he had a cousin who had come from Southampton to Weymouth to stay with him and his family to convalesce after being rescued from the Titanic disaster.

“That was James Crimmins.”

Despite never having written a book before, Mr Crimmins set about researching both the history of his relative, and of the disaster on April 15, 1912, in which 1,514 people died.

The 78-year-old continued: “I wanted to show the parallel that existed: while some of the passengers were living above decks in luxury, other people were working down below in tremendous heat, often in their underclothes because it was so hot.

“There was also a huge difference between her going off in great style, and then ending up at the bottom of the sea.”

Titanic: From One Extreme To The Other, is available for £4.99 by posting a cheque or postal order made payable P Crimmins, to 32 Links Gardens, Berrow, Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, TA8 2PT.