A new book detailing the history of a stretch of the River Thames has been released thanks to the efforts of a family with a rich sailing heritage.

Mary Davies, using research compiled by her late father Ronald Hitchin before he died in 2008, put the finishing touches on a book about the Gravesend to Tilbury ferries.

When Mary retired she decided to take the last few steps to get it printed.

She recently published the book, titled Grandfather Thames: A History of the Gravesend to Tilbury Ferries, which includes mostly family photos.

Her grandfather Harry Smith was captain on the ferries for more than 49 years and came from a family associated with the river for many generations.

Captain Smith’s great-grandfather was Robert Plumb, a bearded shrimper who was well known in his day along the Gravesend stretch of the river.

Mary's father, Ronald Hitchin, was born in 1927 in Northfleet and later moved to Gravesend after his family home was bombed during the First World War. He got married and lived there for 20 years.

Captain Smith, who was his father-in-law, told him a number of stories about the boats on the Thames and showed him photos which he had taken.

Captain Smith kept a log of each ferry trip and when he retired in 1967 it was recorded that he had made 159,336 river crossings, which is approximately 80,000 miles, as well as 58 trips to London and several to Harwich.

Mary's dad was a mechanical engineer and interested in boats, aeroplanes, model soldiers, and taking and developing his own photos.

He was also a keen historian and spent hours collecting information and photographs about the river at Gravesend by visiting libraries and speaking to historians, artists, photographers with marine interests, and retired members of the ferry service.

His aim was to put together a small book recording the history of life on the Gravesend to Tilbury Ferries, from pre-history to modern days before the information was lost or forgotten.

When Mary retired and decided to get the book printed, she had to get the typed manuscript to be transferred to a more modern digital form, as well as the photos and diagrams.

The manuscript also was edited to bring the grammar and punctuation up to date and to pick up any spelling mistakes or other errors.

The book includes information about the boats and crews who worked the ferries as well as details about the naval and military installations that protected the river.

It also follows the rise of sail and oar, the coming of steam and the railways, diesel-powered boats, and the decline of the vehicle ferries when the Dartford Tunnel and QEII Bridge were built.

Yesterday, Mary travelled onto the ferry from Gravesend to Tilbury and presented a copy of the book to Jack the Master of the Ferry on that day.

To purchase the book, contact marydavies60@gmail.com.