Customer Reviews

47 reviews

• Tim Jones

  I would like to say how much I enjoyed Mr D. Pikes recently released book
  \'Beyond the Flames\'. As an ex Fireman myself I was pleased to read about the other things Fireman do e.g organising fund raising events, as opposed to
  the normal public perception of us being water squirting snooker players.
  This has to be the best from recruit to senior officer honest no frills account of the good, the bad and the sad, seen through a time served London
  Fireman\'s eyes and heart.
  

• Michael Hayden

  Delighted to see today this book nominated for the People's Book Prize. It is a worthy contender, well written and a thoroughly enjoyable read. Although a fireman's tale you do not have to have served in the London Fire Brigade to relish the humour, relive the drama and learn of the sad events that firemen deal with. You are drawn into the characters and the fire brigade culture in this real life sequence of events whilst you follow the authors career and his many adventures along the way.
  A very good read indeed.
  

• Ed Clark

  A thoroughly enjoyable read that amused and informed. An ex-serviceman myself, so much of this man's life connected with me, the humour and the comradeship of those facing danger. Growing up in south London in the 1950's many of the places mentioned I connected to. My only negative comment is that the book's print was a bit small for these old eyes, but it didn't spoil the enjoyment of a really good book. Recommended.
  

• Sally Lane

  A very interesting read indeed.
  This insightful book follows a fireman's story from his rejection by the Metropolitan Police at 16 years of age to his hugely successful career as a London Firefighter from the 1960's to his early retirement in the 1990's.
  A long read with highs and lows, but well worth the time invested in reading from start to finsh
  It's an informative true personal autobiography of one of London's leading fireman.
  

• Clive Hart

  A very good read. A book full of excellent story telling which is made all the more enjoyable since it is based on real life events and the experiences of the fireman author.Highly recommended.
  

• Kevin Wright

  An excellent read that I highly recommend to one and all,as an ex Fireman who served his whole career on the opposite side of the river in North West London from the late 60s and never knew Mr.Pike it bought back many memories of fire brigade life, incidents and past colleagues.Im not a reader but found this book hard to put down and feel sure it will appeal to all from whatever background.
  

• Kiri Peacock

  I bought this book simply because my late Dad was a London firemen but without knowing what exactly to expect. It is an astonishing read. I can understand know why my Dad loved his job as a firemen so much. Is very page full of excitement? No it's not. What it does contains is a wonderful description of a fireman's lot, how the author started his career.The book contains a rich mix of story's, real life experiences and every facet of what makes the Fire Brigade tick, and the problems and challenges it and its people have to face. A recommended read.
  

• Brian Morgan

  A story that fills you with admiration for our firefighters, although they were called firemen and firewomen when this autobiography starts off in the 1960s. It is a well written account of the writers career in the London Fire Brigade and the pages are just not filled with fighting fires and dealing with emergencies. The book provides an excellent pen-picture of the various characters and a peek at the behind the scenes antics during his early career. Many tales can not fail to bring a smile to your face, whilst, of course, reminding us of the much sadder happenings that the fire service has to confront. Not overly technical but I was grateful for the helpful glossary, especially for someone who is not a firefighter. The Roll of Honour I found particularly poignant.A good read, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
  

Write a Review