A book chronicling the intriguing goings-on at a former Island pub has led to a reunion of long-lost relatives.

In November, we reported on Tales of the Jolly Sailor, which features the everyday workings of the once popular Blue Town pub and the colourful characters who inhabited it.

It was written by the grandchildren of William and Annis Ball, who ran the pub from the 1930s to the 1960s.

After reading the article, Bridget Cavilla, of Broad Street, Sheerness, realised the authors were long-lost relatives.

She got in touch with writer Vivien Bailey, who lives in St Albans, Hertfordshire, and a family get-together was arranged.

The two ladies were joined by mutual cousins Pam Blackmore, Val Wakeling, Carrie Stearns and Lilian Heath at the Blue Town Heritage Centre for tea and scones and they enjoyed sharing photos and stories of the old days.

Carrie, 92, and Lilian, 89, grew up in Blue Town and remember the Jolly Sailor well. They used to visit their uncle, aunt and cousins there.

Their dad Arthur Ball, also known as Ted, was landlord of the Druid’s Arms in Blue Town High Street and also worked at the Jolly Sailor.

Owing to public demand, Tales of the Jolly Sailor is now available in paperback from the Blue Town Heritage Centre, High Street, Blue Town; Fitch’s newsagent in Sheerness High Street, and after Easter at Minster Gatehouse Museum, Union Road, Minster. It costs £5, £2 of which will go to Macmillan Cancer Support.