NATIONWIDE BOOK DISTRIBUTORS - Key Persons
When Adrian Hayter set out single-handed from Lymington, England on his thirty-two-foot Albert Strange-designed yawl Sheila II, local betting was seven to one t...
When Adrian Hayter set out single-handed from Lymington, England on his thirty-two-foot Albert Strange-designed yawl Sheila II, local betting was seven to one that he would get no further than the English Channel. His destination was New Zealand, and the odds were definitely against him. In 1949 perhaps only eight people had sailed solo around the world, and single-handed long-distance sailing voyages were rare. Adrian, then thirty-four, was a soldier, not a sailor. In the previous decade he had been a close observer of the Partition of India and fought as a soldier in the Second World War and the Malayan Emergency. The latter, Britain's brutal reaction to the Communist uprising of 1948, had driven his decision to sail halfway around the world, single-handed. More than sixty years later, and in the thirtieth anniversary year of Adrian's death, Lodestar Books is republishing the story of that voyage, Sheila in the Wind, first published by Hodder and Stoughton in 1959. As a sailor, Adrian recounts his foray into celestial navigation, a back-street appendix operation in India, armed escort by Indonesian authorities at sea, and eating barnacles off the hull to avoid starvation. As a writer he is trying to make sense of the humanitarian disasters that brought him to this voyage. Sheila in the Wind is more than a report of a 13,000-mile adventure; it's a story of the human spirit.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Johns reflects on his illustrious career in this fascinating autobiography. During his time in the RAF, Sir Richard attended RAF C...
Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Johns reflects on his illustrious career in this fascinating autobiography. During his time in the RAF, Sir Richard attended RAF College Cranwell, served as an operational fast-jet pilot on Javelin night-fighters and then fighter-reece Hunters operating from Aden and Oman. He also commanded the Harrier Force in Germany. As a qualified flying instructor, he taught the Prince of Wales to fly to wings standard. During the 1990s, Sir Richard held a succession of senior national and NATO appointments and played an important role throughout conflicts such as the first Gulf War and the Balkans war. It was in 1997 that he received his appointment as chief of the Air Staff where he was responsible for the operational efficiency and morale of the Royal Air Force. During his last three years of service, the air chief marshal was fully involved in the decision-making process of the Strategic Defence Review, the commitment of RAF aircraft to operations over and within Kosovo and continuing air operations over north and south Iraq. His distinguished career gave him the privilege of a rare, if not singular, perspective of the RAF, its sister services and national defence matters, witnessing a steady decline in the combat power of the UK's armed forces as financial management took precedence over identifying strategic priorities and maintaining the vital skill-set of service personnel. His views are forensic and forthright, balanced and thought-provoking and this autobiography should be essential reading for anyone interested in the development of Allied air power over the last fifty years.
Job Titles:
- Churchill 's Right - Hand Critic
Lord Alanbrooke was Churchill's right-hand man during World War II, and as Chief of the Imperial General Staff he had an integral part in shaping the strategy o...
Lord Alanbrooke was Churchill's right-hand man during World War II, and as Chief of the Imperial General Staff he had an integral part in shaping the strategy of Britain and the Allies. Despite this crucial role, he is very little known compared to military commanders such as Montgomery, Alexander, Slim, Mountbatten, Patton, or Eisenhower. This new biography of Lord Alanbrooke uses archival material and his diaries to trace his life, including his experiences in World War I and the development of his military career in the interwar years, with a focus on his post as the Chief of the Imperial General Staff during World War II. Voted the greatest Briton of the 20th century, Churchill has long been credited with almost single-handedly leading his country to victory in World War II. However without Brooke, a skilled tactician, at his side the outcome might well have been disastrous. Brooke more often than not served as a brake on some of Churchill's more impetuous ideas. However, while Brooke's diaries reveal his fury with some of Churchill's decisions, they also reveal his respect and admiration for the wartime prime minister. In return Churchill must surely have considered Brooke one of his most difficult subordinates but later wrote that he was "fearless, formidable, articulate, and in the end convincing". As CIGS, Brooke was integral to coordination between the Allied forces, and so had to wrestle with the cultural strategy clash between the British and Americans. Comments in his diaries offer up his opinions of both his British and American military colleagues - his negative assessments of Mountbatten's ability, and acerbic comments on the difficult character of de Gaulle and the weaknesses of Eisenhower. Conversely he was clearly over-indulgent in the face of Montgomery's foibles. Brooke was often seen as a stern and humourless figure, but a study of his private life reveals an little-seen lighter side, a lifelong passion for birdwatching, and abiding love for his family. The two tragedies that befell his immediate family were a critical influence on his life. Sangster completes this new biography with a survey of the way various historians have assessed Brooke, explaining how he has lapsed into seeming obscurity in the years since his crucial part in the Allied victory in World War II.
In this first biography of David Henry Lewis, Ben Lowings examines his lifetime of adventure forensically yet sympathetically, and unlocks the secrets of his de...
In this first biography of David Henry Lewis, Ben Lowings examines his lifetime of adventure forensically yet sympathetically, and unlocks the secrets of his determination. This British-born New Zealander was the first person to sail a catamaran around the world, the first - in Ice Bird - to reach Antarctica solo under sail, and the first to make known to Westerners how ancient navigators reached - and could reach again - the Pacific islands. His many voyages resulted in thirteen books published and translated worldwide; many were bestsellers - We, the Navigators has not been out of print since first publication in 1972. David Lewis's achievements have been acknowledged with a series of awards, including that of Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. But the price of David Lewis's adventures had ultimately to be paid by others in the succession of families he created, then broke apart; and many of his actions brought him into conflict with the feelings of friends and contemporaries. We may legitimately ask 'was it really all worth it?' For the first time his six marriages are revealed, through more than a year of original research in Britain, Australia and New Zealand - including interviews with all surviving family members, as well as friends and fellow voyagers. Events thinly-sketched or omitted in his own writings, such as his father's own failings, are investigated. His kayaking, mountain-climbing and sailing were struggles all the more difficult because of a fractured backbone, shattered elbow and impaired vision. David Lewis's early years get the comprehensive documentation they deserve - in his own memoir he jumps straight from child to fully-fledged explorer. Inaccuracies are corrected in his tale of kayaking four hundred miles home from school. As playboy medical student, British paratrooper fighting in Normandy, and political activist in Palestine, Jamaica and London, he grappled with academic and colonial prejudice, and fought anti-Semitism and inequality; all is examined. As a general practitioner in the East End's impure 1950s air he worked where the new National Health Service was most needed. Professional frustrations and marital disappointments were not soothed by weekend sailing. He would join a pioneering single-handed yacht race to America in 1960, leaving his first daughter to find him on board in Plymouth to say farewell only at the last minute. In 1964 he would race again, but this time in a catamaran, and then, with Fiona, his new wife, and their daughters, girdle the earth in it. For the first time, their circumnavigation is described in part from Fiona's perspective. Media accounts and passages from his many books build up a picture of a consistently experimental, and utterly untypical, middle aged man. Every word in the Antarctic logbook of Ice Bird - scrawled with freezing hands - is closely compared with literary sources, National Geographic articles and his commercially successful book-length account. A new critical appreciation shows the white heat at the core of his being. He has abandoned his children again, and been drugged by ocean solitude. But in the act of writing he is earning his place among humanity. To hell with the frozen hands.
Billie Eilish is a phenomenon. With distinctive visual flare and darkly poignant lyrics that are unparalleled among music icons of the 21st century, Billie is a...
Billie Eilish is a phenomenon. With distinctive visual flare and darkly poignant lyrics that are unparalleled among music icons of the 21st century, Billie is a musician who stands out from the crowd. Between her record-shattering award-winning music and her uncompromising and unapologetic attitude, it's no surprise that her fanbase continues to grow by millions month after month. She is that rare combination of wildly popular and highly respected for her prodigious talent, a once in a generation superstar. Now in this stunning visual narrative journey through her life, she is ready to share more with her devoted audience for the first time, including hundreds of never-before-seen photos. This gorgeous book will capture the essence of Billie inside and out, offering readers glimpses into her childhood, her life on tour, and more. A must-have for any fan. Recommended for ages 14 and over.
NEW REPRINT - More praise for the one book that explains New Zealand and the public psyche in 2020, 2021 and beyond like no other. "James has over several dec...
NEW REPRINT - More praise for the one book that explains New Zealand and the public psyche in 2020, 2021 and beyond like no other. "James has over several decades honed his skills at political and economic analysis, with the result that he is uniquely able amongst our present cluster of political commentators to analyse trends, discern shifts in our cultural values and attitudes and point out defining issues facing our policymakers and societal leaders, whether in government or business." Ross Tanner, former Deputy State Services Commissioner, in Public Sector Journal In Unquiet Time, Colin James describes a world in disorder as it rebalances politically, economically and demographically with a technology that is changing the way we live and ‘work' and globalising us in new ways; looming environmental limits, climate change and biosecurity and pandemic threats; a need for new thinking; and likely major shocks such as pandemics. This, tiny Aotearoa/New Zealand must navigate as it goes into the 2020s. Much has changed since the last big social and policy upheaval in the 1980s - how this country conducts itself internationally, its bicultural makeup turning multicultural, its management and mismanagement of a unique but threatened natural environment, its economy and its now unequal society. There are many challenges but also many opportunities. Who will we be? Unquiet Time poses the questions and suggests some answers. Author Colin James is a journalist who has specialised in politics and policy since 1969. He has written six books and many chapters in books and papers, given many briefings to business, not-for-profits and government agencies, including future projections, and has contributed to many conferences at home and abroad.
Caught in the clutches of addiction, Denise Cloughley knows what it's like to visit the depths of hell and stay for a while. From blackouts to forced instituti...
Caught in the clutches of addiction, Denise Cloughley knows what it's like to visit the depths of hell and stay for a while. From blackouts to forced institutionalization, her life was a maze of twists and turns that cost her nearly everything and sent her on the run from police, family, and the shady rehab facility that hunted her like a dog. With her business, family, and friends gone, there was nothing left but her addiction that threatened to permanently extinguish the light in her eyes. How can anyone survive the grip of its tentacles that pulls its victims back to the very behaviour that destroyed their happiness? Her addiction seized it all: work, families, and health. Then it threatened to take the last of what was left of her shattered life. Hundreds of millions of people are currently battling addiction worldwide. "Poured Me a Glass of Life" is an explosive expose of the ugly side of addiction rehab. In a perfect blend, she shares her life story, offers analysis of the fatal flaws of rehab, and offers inspiration and real-world advice about overcoming adversity. Whether you have suffered from addiction or love someone who has, this raw and authentic look will have you on the edge of your seat. It is painfully honest without ever been depressing, far from it. Although it describes moments of crushing desolation it is extremely engaging and beautifully written read with a direct and personable style that quite often provides laugh out loud moments. Most importantly, you will walk away from this powerful read challenged and changed. The inspiration it offers is priceless and will last long after you read it.
Dennis Nilsen was one of Britain's most notorious serial killers, jailed for life in 1983 after the murders of 12 men and the attempted murders of many more. Se...
Dennis Nilsen was one of Britain's most notorious serial killers, jailed for life in 1983 after the murders of 12 men and the attempted murders of many more. Seven years after his conviction, Nilsen began to write his autobiography and over a period of 18 years he typed 6,000 pages of introspection, reflection, comment and explanation. History of a Drowning Boy - taken exclusively from these astonishing writings - uncovers, for the first time, the motives behind the murders, and delivers a clear understanding of how such horrific events could have happened, tracing the origins back to early childhood. In another first, it provides an insight into his 35 years inside the maximum-security prison system including his everyday life on the wings; his interactions with the authorities and other notorious prisoners; and his artistic endeavours of music, writing and drama. It also reveals the truth behind many of the myths surrounding Dennis Nilsen, as reported in the media. Nilsen was determined to have his memoir published but to his frustration, the Home Office blocked publication during his lifetime. He died in 2018, entrusting the manuscript to his closest friend and it is now being published with the latter's permission. Any autobiography presents the writer's story from just one perspective - his own, and as such this record should be treated with some caution. An excellent foreword by criminologist Dr Mark Pettigrew offers some context to Nilsen's words, and this important work provides an extraordinary journey through the life of a remarkable and inadequate man.
The manuscript of Guy Scholefield's engaging memoir, with fascinating vignettes about life in New Zealand early in the 20th century and England during World W...
The manuscript of Guy Scholefield's engaging memoir, with fascinating vignettes about life in New Zealand early in the 20th century and England during World War One, has been in the archives of the Alexander Turnbull Library since 1961. Ian F. Grant came across it when researching his 2018 newspaper history, Lasting Impressions. As Grant's Introduction to The Little Doctor notes, Scholefield made "a significant contribution to preserving and recording a wide swathe of early New Zealand history". The Author Guy Hardy Scholefield, 1877-1963, is listed in the Te Ara Dictionary of New Zealand Biography - the successor to his pioneering publication - as journalist, historian, archivist, librarian and editor. Scholefield's distinguished career included periods on the literary staffs of leading newspapers, war correspondent duties during World War One, and two decades as Parliamentary Librarian at the General Assembly Library and Dominion Archivist. He was the author of a number of books including the first Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, Notable New Zealand Statesmen and Newspapers in New Zealand.
The first major work dedicated entirely to the discography of the maestro Ennio Morricone. Unique in its genre, Ennio Morricone: Master of the Soundtrack origin...
The first major work dedicated entirely to the discography of the maestro Ennio Morricone. Unique in its genre, Ennio Morricone: Master of the Soundtrack originates from the idea of the collector, author, and cinema expert Maurizio Baroni. Baroni draws on his own archive to give life to a rich selection highlighting over fifty years of a prestigious career, largely unseen before, which includes handwritten scores by the maestro himself, the original album and single cover sleeves from his soundtracks, and much more. This book is a definite homage to this great Italian composer of film soundtracks, probably the most famous in the world. Texts included by: Dario Argento, Bernardo Bertolucci, Liliana Cavani, Lisa Gastoni, Franco Nero, Quentin Tarantino, and many more.
For more than thirty years, Giora Even-Epstein flew fighters for the Israel Air Force, achieving recognition as a highly skilled military aviator and the highes...
For more than thirty years, Giora Even-Epstein flew fighters for the Israel Air Force, achieving recognition as a highly skilled military aviator and the highest-scoring jet-mounted ace with the most number of confirmed victories in the French Mirage. Having overcome numerous hurdles just to learn how to fly, he went on to compile a record of Arab MiGs and Sukhoi kills that bettered any other combat aviators' tally in the entire world. This fast-moving autobiography details his experiences particularly in the intense conflicts of 1967, the Six Day War, and 1973, the Yom Kippur War. The reader shares the cockpit with him as he describes every action he undertook with 101 and 105 Squadron, including the greatest jet-versus-jet air battle in history with four MiG-21 kills in one engagement. His final score was seventeen aerial victories. After his last battle he became commander of the First Jet Squadron, 117, began civilian flying, retrained to command 254 MMR Squadron in the 1982 Lebanon War, and flew the F-16 at the age of fifty before retirement. Along the way he met numerous fighter pilot legends such as Douglas Bader, Al Deere, Pierre Clostermann and Randy Cunningham. Affable and enthusiastic, Giora gained the nickname ‘Hawkeye' because of his amazing vision of more than 20/15, enabling him to pick out enemy aircraft long before his squadron mates. His story is of one man's unfaltering dedication to his dreams and his country. As the leading jet ace it is one well worth telling and, critically, it can be told in his own words. Giora Even-Epstein was born in 1938 on an Israeli kibbutz and spent his early years in agricultural schools. He became fascinated with military aircraft and the aces who flew them. He desperately wanted to fly the French Mirage III but was turned down for flight training because of a heart defect. He tried again, was turned down again, but was incredibly accepted as a paratrooper. After 500 jumps, he tried again to enrol in the IAF pilot training programme and was accepted, eventually gaining his wings to fly and fight during the critical periods of the Israel Air Force's combat history. In 2019, after years of retirement, he was promoted to brigadier general and today lives peacefully in Tel Aviv.
In 1869, a businessman from China's Guangdong Province first set foot on New Zealand soil at Port Chalmers. It was the beginning of an illustrious career that would change the shape of commerce and industry in Otago and Southland. ‘Merchant, Miner, Mandarin' depicts the fascinating life of Choie Sew Hoy - from his early days in China before emigrating to Australia and then New Zealand, to his death in 1901 as one of Dunedin's most prominent entrepreneurs. The store Choie Sew Hoy established in Dunedin's Stafford Street was a huge success, while his revolutionary gold-dredging technology improved the fortunes of the gold-mining industry in Otago and Southland. He backed dredging, quartz crushing and hydraulic sluicing ventures in the goldfields of Ophir, Macetown, Skippers, Nokomai and the Shotover. Sharp as a razor, Sew Hoy was a visionary, able to spot opportunities no one else could, whether sending vast amounts of unwanted scrap metal from New Zealand back to China, or joining famous Taranaki businessman Chew Chong's fungus export trade. Sew Hoy was also a local character, always elegantly dressed and with legendary success in horse racing. His self-assurance and charm gained him entry to the Chamber of Commerce, the Jockey Club, the Masons and even the Caledonian Society. A benefactor to many social causes, he supported hospitals and benevolent associations to help his fellow Chinese immigrants. When the success of the Chinese in New Zealand aroused hostility, he fought the prevalent racism and unfair government legislation of the day. A man of two worlds, Choie Sew Hoy was a success in both. Richly illustrated and deeply researched, ‘Merchant, Miner, Mandarin' is both the compelling biography of one of the most distinguished figures of New Zealand business and an intriguing account of late 19th-century society, industry and race relations.
Llew Summers (1947-2019) was a rarity in the art world - a figurative artist in a scene dominated by abstract practices. ‘Llew Summers: Body and Soul' depicts the work and life of one of New Zealand's most recognisable sculptors, a man of great warmth and astonishing vitality, whose works are daring, sensual and provocative. John Newton takes us from Summers' beginnings as a self-taught artist, through his relationships and family life, to his success as a highly visible sculptor with works found in public spaces throughout New Zealand. We follow Summers' progression as an artist, a true independent, working outside the hierarchies of the art world. His early monumental works in concrete made him a public fixture, with themes of nurture and nature, sexuality and solidity seen in his idealised female forms. As he discovered carving in wood and marble, the work became more subtle and increasingly dynamic. From the early 2000s, following his first trip to Europe, religious imagery entered Summers' work in ways that extended both his visual and thematic range, and introduced a more overtly spiritual element. His later career features depictions of Christ, angelic winged figures and large, ambitious works in bronze. Illustrated with more than 200 photographs, including newly commissioned images of Summers' works, ‘Llew Summers: Body and Soul'is a joyful record of a life in sculpture and a testimony to the value of public art.
Bus Stops on the Moon is a personal and a cultural history. As memoir, it is a sequel to The Dreaming Land (2015). A troubled and restless young Martin Edmond is on his way to becoming the wiser, older man who will sit down and write both narratives. As cultural history, the book gives us a participant's-eye view of the early years of Alan Brunton and Sally Rodwell's avant-garde theatre troupe Red Mole. Formed in 1974, Red Mole performed Dadaesque cabaret, agit-prop, costume drama, street theatre, circus and puppetry, live music, and became a national sensation. They toured the country with Split Enz and travelled internationally. One of Red Mole's five founding principles was ‘to escape programmed behaviour by remaining erratic'. They ticked that one off. In Bus Stops on the Moon Martin Edmond offers, with his customary elegance, a rich and entertaining picture of the high times and low lives of Red Mole.
How does Bumble-founder Whitney Wolf keep her cool while managing her tech empire? How did renowned Michelin-starred chef Skye Gyngell establish a sustainable kitchen? What inspired Luke Edward Hall's singular approach to decoration? What's Paris Hilton's view on climate change? Life Lessons (Working Title) offers a glance into not only the work, but also the inner lives of some of the world's most renowned tastemakers. This book of in-depth profiles opens up the world of industry-leaders to learn how they've made it to where they are -- from major life-changing moments and big ideas, down to to the books, playlists and holiday destinations that enriched their lives.
Hiding in a tiny dark cave in the border triangle between Iraq, Iran and Turkey, Mustafa Darbandi is facing his fear that he may not survive. On the run because...
Hiding in a tiny dark cave in the border triangle between Iraq, Iran and Turkey, Mustafa Darbandi is facing his fear that he may not survive. On the run because of his membership of a banned Kurdish freedom movement, he has begun an extraordinary journey. It will take him from Iraq to Turkey to Iran to Pakistan to Afghanistan and finally to New Zealand. Along the way he will be threatened by security forces, mercenaries, police, helicopters, landmines, wild wolves and even UNHCR indifference. After several years in exile he finally arrives in his new home. "In my desperation the idea crept into my mind that death was death whether I got killed or starved to death. Perhaps putting an end to my life would be preferable to being captured by mercenaries or eaten alive by wild animals..." "When I set foot on New Zealand soil, I felt born again. After I'd been uprooted from my town and village in Kurdistan, New Zealand became the bedrock of my security, offering me an opportunity to become who I am".
Neil Frances tells the story of the famous Rimutaka Hill marches during the First World War and the re-enactment in September 2015.
Neil Frances tells the story of the famous Rimutaka Hill marches during the First World War and the re-enactment in September 2015.
Masterton-born Len Frances joined New Zealand's war effort when qualifying for service in November 1940 and training became serious with the Pacific War's o...
Masterton-born Len Frances joined New Zealand's war effort when qualifying for service in November 1940 and training became serious with the Pacific War's outbreak in December 1941. He was called into camp immediately, spending the first months of 1942 at Masterton's Solway Military Camp, training for the infantry. After officer training, he was posted to anti-aircraft guns and helped prepare reinforcements in the Wellington area - and married Jean. Part of the 10th reinforcement, Len left New Zealand in July 1943, reverting to the ranks in Egypt to join 6th Field Regiment as a gunner. He served right through the Italian Campaign, feeding the guns at Sangro River, Cassino, Florence and up the Adriatic coast to Trieste, occasionally taking a little time out to continue accountancy studies. Len kept a diary for 31 months, detailing military and other experiences in the land of his father's birth, a Kiwi-Italian in the midst of total war. His story is also that of a young husband separated from wife and family half a world away. The Author A lifetime interest in military history led Masterton-born author Neil Frances to write on these aspects of Wairarapa's past. On the Move Again is his sixth book published by Wairarapa Archive/Fraser Books. While previous volumes examined people, events and places, this new book is more personal, based on the diary of his father, a gunner in Italy during World War Two.
The Fisher Monoplane and early aviation in the Wellington region. Paul Maxim tells the story of the first flights exactly 100 years ago - near Carterton - o...
The Fisher Monoplane and early aviation in the Wellington region. Paul Maxim tells the story of the first flights exactly 100 years ago - near Carterton - of an aeroplane wholly constructed in New Zealand.
Stories From Small Town New Zealand. Peter Best delves into the intriguing early history that gives Eketahuna town and district its special character.
Stories From Small Town New Zealand. Peter Best delves into the intriguing early history that gives Eketahuna town and district its special character.
PM Ardern announced in a very firm tone, ‘There's no going out. You all must stay home!' For four weeks at least the lockdown begun, The three boys looked...
PM Ardern announced in a very firm tone, ‘There's no going out. You all must stay home!' For four weeks at least the lockdown begun, The three boys looked worried, ‘This won't be fun'. OR will it? Join Tommy, Leo and Jordie Scott on their real-life lockdown adventures and see how they managed to enjoy their favourite activities at home their own special way. Ideal for pre-schoolers to eight years old. The Author and Illustrator: Abby Scott lives at Parkvale in rural Wairarapa with her husband Jase and three boys. She has a Bachelor of Applied Science from Massey University and has worked in the rural sector for 10 years. "Mum, will lockdown be fun" was inspired by the real-life adventures with her kids during lockdown 2020. Illustrator Mikyla Hull lives in Tauranga with her husband Joe and their two daughters, Indigo and Freya. A trained art teacher, who was taught all over the world, she enjoyed the opportunity to work on the book with her friend Abby. ‘Mum, will lockdown be fun?'
Rick Peacock-Edwards has led different lives at different times, but through it all has used a bonus in life nowadays often overlooked: he has consistently enjo...
Rick Peacock-Edwards has led different lives at different times, but through it all has used a bonus in life nowadays often overlooked: he has consistently enjoyed himself. One of three brothers of outstanding South African Battle of Britain pilot F/O S R ‘Teddy' Peacock-Edwards, his subtle and compassionate regard for a generation of wartime aircrew is clear: "As the proud son of one of the ‘Few', their selfless daring has inspired me throughout my life. Importantly, they influenced my decision to become an airman in the Royal Air Force, to become a fighter pilot like my father, and to live life with spirit as they had lived their lives. It is essential that their experiences live on." Rate of Climb, his original and continually entertaining biography, drawing on previously unpublished family and archival material, shows Rick in complete command of his primary subject: flying. A leading ex-RAF fighter pilot to his fingertips, he flew the Lightning, Phantom, Tornado F2/3 and other high-performance aircraft, and served in senior-ranking positions in the UK, Germany and the US. During a varied and distinguished career, he was closely associated with the Eurofighter Typhoon programme and was appointed as the Royal Air Force Inspector of Flight Safety. He ably demonstrated his uncommon skill and determined leadership during the Cold War era, first Gulf War and elsewhere. A past master of The Honourable Company of Air Pilots, he is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and the immediate past vice chairman of the Royal Air Force Club in London. He is equally as engaged in his post-RAF career as he was when a serving officer. This is an action-packed account of a foremost flyer's life with endless good stories, and a colourful cast of characters to match. Rick's compelling recollections in Rate of Climb reveal a life of considerable achievement, in a very personal book capturing the ties of airmanship that the author has been privileged to share. A must for all lovers of derring-do in the air.
Shropshire dairy farmer Roger Evans continues to delight his fans with his daily highlights from the farm and his views on everything from how to manage a happy...
Shropshire dairy farmer Roger Evans continues to delight his fans with his daily highlights from the farm and his views on everything from how to manage a happy milking herd to the state of the local wildlife and the views of the rural community in his local bar. Funny, topical and informative farmer's diary.
'Sir Bob Charles - The Biography' is the first comprehensive biography of Sir Bob Charles. His story begins in working-class rural New Zealand. In 1960 he e...
'Sir Bob Charles - The Biography' is the first comprehensive biography of Sir Bob Charles. His story begins in working-class rural New Zealand. In 1960 he embarked upon a career that no New Zealander had chosen before - that of a full-time touring professional golfer. The pressure was on the young Kiwi golfer as he took off around the world, with £350 in travellers' cheques to fund his new career. If he did not play well enough his cash would run out and he would be back in Christchurch as a teller for the National Bank of New Zealand. That prospect alone spurred his success. The book is an account of his 50 years touring the world with his golf clubs. The reader will encounter the key characters in the story who supported the young golfer on his way to the very top of his sport. You will meet Ivor and Phyl Charles, his wife Verity, mentor Ian Cromb and his agent Mark McCormack. There are over 150 stunning photos in the book, many from the Charles family's own collection. Combined with the narrative the images provide the complete picture of a notable New Zealand life. Bob Charles competed in the ‘'golden age'' of professional golf in the 1960s and 1970s. He played with, and at times defeated, each member of the ‘'Big Three''.The televising of golf from the early 1960s created an explosion in enthusiasm for the game. During this period, he acquired the title of the ‘'best putter in the world'' in the eyes of both journalists and fellow competitors. His senior career delivered another 20 years of success in the game he loved. For the first 10 years on the Senior PGA Tour from 1986 he became the man to beat. The book chronicles the success of Bob Charles as a golfer - but there is more to the man than that. With his 1999 knighthood and his elevation to the Order of New Zealand in 2011 he has been honoured not only for his success as a golfer but also for the way he has lived his life. His enduring and happy marriage to Verity and the closeness of his relationship to his children and grandchildren form an important part of the story. Verity's contribution to his career was enormous as Bob was able to travel the world, focusing solely on competing and succeeding at the highest level in his sport. Sir Bob Charles - The Biography is an in-depth study of the life and times of this great New Zealand sportsman. "Sir Bob Charles - the greatest Kiwi golfer of all. I may be accused of bias in describing the left-hander as the best New Zealand golfer of all. If we look at his record that lasted more than 50 years, I believe there is no argument.'' Bob Glading. New Zealand Open Champion 1946, 1947. Writing for The Cut magazine, 2008.
This is the fascinating autobiography of none other than Ted Dexter - aka Lord Ted - the ferociously powerful and debonair former England international cric...
This is the fascinating autobiography of none other than Ted Dexter - aka Lord Ted - the ferociously powerful and debonair former England international cricketer and captain. Dexter was a classical, hard-hitting batsman and right-arm swing bowler of the highest order. Having captained England in 1961-2, stood as England's chairman of selectors from 1989-1993 and then becoming President of the MCC in 2001, he is undeniably one of England's most prolific cricketers, playing alongside and standing in the same legacy as the iconic Fred Trueman, Peter May, Colin Cowdrey, Richie Benaud and Gary Sobers. But, as Ted is eager to stress in the introduction of his book, he also lived a rich, lively and fulfilling life outside of his sporting career. Featuring tales galore - of his various escapades along the French Rivera, his experience of running a sports PR company, flying planes (just "because he could"), playing championship golf, racing greyhounds, journalism, broadcasting and honestly *so much more* - you'll wonder if there's anything in life this man couldn't do! Fresh, vivacious and ridiculously entertaining, this book is destined to unravel as a rip-roaring read not only for those who recall his sporting legacy, but for anyone who resonates with Ted's fervent enthusiasm for both cricket and life. .
Wallace Bain retired in early 2020 after 28 distinguished years as a Coroner, most recently in Rotorua. During these years Mr Bain developed a national reputati...
Wallace Bain retired in early 2020 after 28 distinguished years as a Coroner, most recently in Rotorua. During these years Mr Bain developed a national reputation for his sensitivity and compassion in dealing with difficult cases such as those of Nia Glassie and Moko Rangitoheriri. That a child is killed in New Zealand as a result of abuse every five weeks he finds "unacceptable". He has also developed a reputation for being "a Coroner on the warpath" for his forthright demands from time to time that New Zealand's laws and regulations be changed to protect ordinary citizens. His work as a Coroner, says Wallace Bain, has been to speak for the dead to take care of the living. "After climbing the mountain I can finally enjoy the view."