There was a family get-together of historic proportions at Falmouth's Poly recently as more than 20 Pellows met to launch a book about their famous namesake.

People who shared their surname with Thomas Pellow of Penryn, who was captured during the 18th century and sold into slavery in Morocco, visited the Poly for the launch of Captured! The Incredible True Story of Thomas Pellow, which tells of his rise to become a respected military leader before escaping after more than 20 years and returning home.

The group of 25 met author Craig Green and illustrator Oliver Hurst, and several people brought along family trees, while one revealed that Thomas's younger brother, William, was the landlord of the Kings Arms in Penryn for some years.

Craig, who read from the book and signed copies, said: "It went incredibly well. Getting the Pellows on stage was wonderful: some came from Penryn, some were local, some came from much further afield. It was great to see them all together and celebrating this Cornish hero.

"I got to hear Pellows from different parts of the county telling their own parts of the story of his life after his return to Penryn.