The Water Man: Memoirs of Jim Hodge compiled by his daughter Janet Mitchell the book recounts the complicated history of supplying St Ives with water, which for decades came from disused, flooded mine workings. Jim Hodge had many death-defying adventures underground maintaining the water supply as well as supervising the local resevoir. In July 1970 he became a 'local' hero after he prevented an, already devastating. fire from engulfing St Ives by making a unilateral decision to make the resevoir water available to the Fire Brigade. As well as water, topics covered include: shipwrecks, mines and mining pitcblende for radium to dissapearing kitchen floors! and the town's social history. Proceeds from the book go to the Alzheimer's Society.