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Step below decks to uncover the untold story of Titanic’s firemen, trimmers, and greasers – the men who worked in blistering heat to power the great liner across the Atlantic. This talk reveals their gruelling labour, the danger and stigma of life in the stokehold, and the courage many showed on the night she sank.
Drawing on crew records, census returns, and the Titanic Relief Fund, it brings these forgotten men and their families back into focus, offering a vivid glimpse of the real working lives behind the legend.
Nicola Johnson is a professional genealogist, writer and speaker, and founder of All About Ancestors (allaboutancestors.com). Alongside general English family history research, she specialises in maritime and Merchant Navy, the Titanic and DNA. Nicola won the 2026 British Commission for Maritime History Masters Prize for her Titanic research and holds an MSc (Distinction) in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies (University of Strathclyde). Formerly a BBC Broadcast Journalist, Nicola now writes for 'Who Do You Think You Are?', 'Family Tree' and 'Discover Your Ancestors' magazines. She also gives engaging talks to societies, organisations and conferences in the UK and overseas.
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