WARRINGTON author Gill Hoffs has published her second shipwreck book – and will be launching it on Thursday, September 8.
“The Lost Story of the William & Mary: The Cowardice of Captain Stinson” (Pen & Sword) follows her earlier work, “The Sinking of RM S Tayleur” and she will be talking about both books at Waterstones’ bookshop from 6.30pm to 8pm.
She will also bringing some artefacts from the Tayleur wreck, original newspaper cuttings, and Victorian clothing as seen in an episode of BBC TV’s “Coast” featuring the tragedy.
A dream of Gill’s has come true with the new book already, as one of her favourite authors, Simon Garfield, famous for “Housewife, 49” among other things, read it and described it as: “A terrific, rollicking adventure that will stay long in the memory.”
She said: I’m so thrilled about that!”
Gill is also giving a free talk entitled “A Tale of Two Ships” in Warrington Museum and Art Gallery on Saturday, September 10 at 2.30pm.
The talk will describe how, while RMS Tayleur was being built in Warrington in the summer of 1853, another new emigrant ship, the William & Mary, was sailing from Liverpool to New Orleans.
Neither ship reached their destination.
Two ships, two mysterious wrecks, two very different captains, and a strange case of attempted mass murder at sea …an intriguing agenda for the afternoon.
Gill, who lives in Latchford, said: “Since it was staff at this museum who first told me about RMS Tayleur and assisted with my research, and there are two exhibits of Tayleur artefacts there, this should prove to be a very special talk indeed!”
