I was going through my mother, Jocelyn Greenway's things and found a manuscript called 'The Wreck of the Criccieth Castle', together with a letter from a Catherine Thomas of Gorsannedd, Llangybi, Chwilog. She was the wife of Captain Robert Thomas.

My mother met her in 1958, perhaps as part of the Cape Horners - an association for those who've sailed round Cape Horn. In her letter, Catherine confirms the story which my mother must have written up after a conversation with her. Perhaps my mum meant it to be published by the Cape Horners.

It's a fantastic story, and what's really amazing is that Catherine was pregnant when they had to abandon ship. She was also taking care of her four-year-old boy.

I think the story of the Wreck of the Criccieth Castle should be made into a documentary or film, and with the 100th anniversary coming up in 2012 now is the time for plans to be made for this.

My mother was a great writer and I've published a book of her articles which describe our family's sailing adventures over the years called 'Puffin's Log'. Cathy Woodhead

Read Catherine Thomas's story of survival in the South Atlantic.
Catherine's grand daughter looks back.