A TALK about one of Brunel's greatest engineering feats will take place in May.

Writer Nicolas Fogg will be talking about the SS Great Britain a ship whose design changing the world of marine engineering forever.

Her greatest success was on the Australia run, taking emigrants and fortune hunters in such numbers that some 250,000 modern Australians can claim a forebear who sailed in the Great Britain, pictured.

Mr Fogg's talk looks at life onboard the ship, food, drinking and gambling as well as the many dubious and eccentric characters who could be encountered onboard.

The talk will take place on May 10 between 5.30 and 6.30pm at the University of Bath in Swindon's Oakfield Campus. Admission and parking are free.