A GREAT Barrow son’s captivating short story which gives readers an insight into his mum’s thrilling life has won a place in a new book.

Andrew Porter wrote a 300-word story, titled I Don’t Drink But I Do Like Champagne, giving an insight about his mum Georgie Porter joining the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force and getting swept off her feet by her future husband.

He submitted it to creative publishers Blurb earlier this year as part of the firm’s Nation of Storytellers national competition.

Now Andrew has been named one of 20 winners to see his story in a new book, A Nation of Storytellers, with proceeds going to charity.

Andrew said: “It was the kind of story which was good enough to fill a Catherine Cookson novel as her journey has been remarkable.

“My story has been like the Twitter version of her life!

“She has had an extraordinary life and has an incredible memory, going back to her childhood.

“As a family, she always tells these stories to the 12 grandchildren and this way, we can have some concrete memories printed.”

The story tells how his mum, born Georgina Millar in Belfast, was named after her father George, who worked as a carpenter on the Titanic and served in the First World War.

Andrew said: “My grandfather’s story is remarkable as well. I have recently found out more about his history, about how he fought in Gallipoli in 1915, before fighting in Palestine and Egypt, then went back to working in the shipyards, but he was quite a changed man.”

The story goes on to tell how Georgie worked in a cigarette factory at the age of 14, became engaged to her childhood sweetheart, before joining the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force in the Second World War.

But while there, in April 1942, she met Bob, a Royal Air Force parachute training instructor from the Lake District, where he swept her off her feet.

Despite unwittingly standing her up on their first date as he had to go on a secret military operation, the couple became inseparable and after Georgie broke off the engagement to her fiance – who remained friends with her afterwards – the couple were married in September that year.

Andrew added: “It was a fantastic surprise to hear I’d won the chance to have my story published.

“Condensing the 92 years of my mum’s life into less than 300 words was never going to be easy, but the uniqueness of a life which has strong links with the Titanic and two world wars make it a story with, I think, a universal appeal.”

Teresa Pereira, UK director of Blurb, said: “This year’s Diamond Jubilee reminds us just how rich British culture has been in our lifetimes. Yet if we don’t capture stories from these significant events or personal experiences from today or over the past 10, 20, even 60 years – we stand to lose them forever.

“That’s why we launched A Nation of Storytellers to discover and capture unique stories, which have now been published in a book that can be shared today and saved for the future.”

Each winner received five copies of the final collection of stories to share with family and friends, as well an ebook version designed by Dean Pavit, and a voucher worth £250.

Georgie also got to have her picture taken by renowned photographer Ed Miller.

A Nation of Storytellers is available as an ebook for £2.99, and from £19.95 for a print book at blurb.co.uk, with all proceeds from sales going directly to support the children’s charity Read Well.