‘Tarn to Titanic’: Paperback & E-Book – Availability

Details

Title	Tarn to Titanic: Life & Times of Joseph Bell Chief Engineer
Authors	Barrie Bell Hodgson & Ann Freer
ISBN	978-0-9560506-2-5
Imprint	Clearline
Illustrations	Colour with Black & White throughout
Format	Paperback 148 x 210mm
Publication	2nd September 2013
Price	£10.00

Post publication orders

Copies of the book ‘Tarn to Titanic’ priced £10,00 plus post & packing, are now available  from the stockist ‘Books Cumbria’ in Carlisle & Keswick, and may also be accessed via their website http://www.bookscumbria.com  via email bookscumbria@aol.com or phone 01228 529067.  Other stockists are  The Moot Hall Information Centre in Brampton and the Merseyside Maritime Museum shop in Liverpool.   In case of difficulty obtaining the paperback or e-book version, please contact   tarntotitanic@gmail.com or bgfreer@mac.com

Background

This biography of Joseph Bell and his roots in Farlam, Cumberland, attempts to discover the life of a man of great courage and human endeavour in his part of the eventual tragedy of the sinking of RMS Titanic, on the 15th of  April 1912

Joseph Bell had a significant role, with his fellow Engineers, in  the saving of so many lives as a consequence of their heroism and bravery on that tragic night.  After 101 years, this largely untold story of such a remarkable figure of 19th century history needs and deserves to be more amply known.  His early life in Cumberland, known now as Cumbria, was very influential in his life for what was to be such an extraordinary and successful career in the Merchant Marine.

Under is the Introduction from ‘Tarn to Titanic’:

Book Excerpt: Introduction

History is where we have come from, and this biography of Joseph Bell and his roots in Farlam, Cumberland, and attempts to portray a man of great courage and human endeavour for his part in the tragedy of the sinking of RMS Titanic, on The 15th April 1912.  Joseph Bell had a significant role, with his fellow Engineers, in the saving of many lives as a consequence of their joint heroism and bravery on that night. After a hundred years this largely untold story of a remarkable figure of the 19^th century, deserves to be more amply known.   His early life in Farlam, Cumberland, now known as Cumbria, was influential on his life for what was to be his future Merchant Marine career.

The Bell families were Yeoman farmers in Farlam, Cumberland, and Joseph Bell was born at home in Farlam House, in April 1861.  Being a first child, he was named after both his grandfather and great grandfather who had been farmers there from the 17^th century.

In 1881 Joseph Bell left Mr Harrison’s Academy in Carlisle, at the age of 15, and was apprenticed as an engine fitter at R & H Stephenson & Company Shipyard in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.  George Stephenson was a regular visitor to the Thompson family of Farlam Hall, where the Thompson’s collieries were established along the fell side and were serviced by railways that had been developed with the Stephenson’s. The Rocket of Stephenson fame was used here, and must have been a fascinating and curious subject to young Joseph who may have seen this to be, a much more interesting future for himself than continuing on the family farm.

Having completed his apprenticeship in Newcastle Joseph, in 1883, entered the service of the Mercantile Marine sailing under the flag of the Liverpool & River Plate Steam Navigation Company. They employed him for two years, and then later in 1885, Joseph began his career with the White Star Line serving on some eighteen ships beginning with RMS Oceanic and eventually the Titanic, covering a period of 1885 to his death1912.

His memorial gravestone in St Thomas a Becket Churchyard, Farlam, Cumbria is annotated with the following:

 JOSEPH BELL AGED 51 YEARS SON OF THE

ABOVE MARGARET BELL CHIEF ENGINEER OF

THE SS TITANIC WHO WAS LOST WITH ALL

HIS ENGINEERING STAFF IN THE FOUNDERING

OF THAT VESSEL IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN

AFTER COLLISION WITH AN ICEBERG

APRIL 12^TH 1912

“NO GREATER LOVE HATH MAN THAN THIS.

THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR

HIS FRIENDS”

The 2nd of September was publication day for ‘Tarn to Titanic’.  The book received a ‘Wednesday Feature’ review in the Cumbria ‘News & Star’ by Stephen Blease, headlined ‘We won’t forget hero Joseph’.  Radio Cumbria’s Caroline Robertson, interviewed me about the book on her afternoon show too.

Both pieces of publicity mentioned the sources of availability of ‘Tarn to Titanic’ that are mentioned above.