Grimsby Telegraph columnist Peter Chapman is celebrating the publication of his fourth book.

Peter (64) has been collecting data for Grimsby: The Story of the World's Greatest Fishing Port, for the past 40 years, and has spent several months putting it together.

It covers the history of the military, social, commercial and religious aspects of the town, the buildings, and the people.

In the space of 100 years, from 1800 to 1900, Grimsby's population soared from 1,000 to more than 63,000 and the town rose to become the premier fishing port in the world.

But over the last 50 years its importance has diminished and the book looks at the rise and demise of the Lincolnshire town and the people who made it great.

Peter, whose family has lived in the town since Tudor times, said: "It had to be written - a modern history of Grimsby was a story waiting to be written.

"I felt it was something that was missing, and it wanted writing before people began to forget.

"I enjoyed writing it, and I am very pleased with the result."

He has also written a brief history of the Grimsby Chums (the 10th Lincolns), a history of the Grimsby Evening Telegraph, and Images of North Lincolnshire.

Peter began his career as a junior reporter at the Grimsby Telegraph in 1958, following a stint in the army.

He later worked in Fleet Street before moving to Hampshire to become assistant editor at the Aldershot News.

In 1967 he moved back to the Grimsby area, editing Lincolnshire Life before running an antique shop for eight years.

He returned to the Grimsby Telegraph in the late 1970s and retired three years ago, but continues to write his weekly column, Odd Man's Week.

Grimsby: The Story of the World's Greatest Fishing Port is available now, priced £14.99.

Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
e-mail pastill@nep.co.uk