Customer Reviews

47 reviews

• Amber Hoddinott

  Not sure if his was my cup of tea, but delighted I read it and throughly enjoyed it. It had me laughing and shedding a few tears too. An uncomplicated tale not just of a fireman as he steadily climbs the promotion ladder but a delightful look at the people and events that brings so much colour and life into this excellent book. A firefighter is someone we can so easily take for granted, I know I did, but the book informs and educates in a refreshing and interesting fashion. I live in Exeter, not London, but could relate to the tales as they flowed easily from the page. The addition of the pictures was a very good move and added value to the storytelling. A book for anyone to enjoy.
  

• Kath Hickman

  Interesting, informative, amusing and honest. All words that describe this cracking autobiography of a London fireman, and later senior officer. Neither a Londoner nor a fireman(woman), but someone who enjoys a really good read, I found this book ticks all the right boxes. A very enjoyable read and written by someone who the reader quickly relates to with his style of writing. This is a must for everyone.
  

• Ashley Pegram

  There it was all 580 pages of this long anticipated book waiting for me at the Post Office. What had I let myself in for? If I wanted to do this much reading I would have done a degree! But no a promise to review is a promise, and so I began.
  Were things really that different back then? Clearly they were, for this was a time when large sections of the Fire Service had served in the Second World War. This remarkable book recounts life in the London Fire Brigade over a 4 decades for the author, David Pike
  He starts in the 1960s as a mere Junior Fireman up until the 90s and his medical retirement. During that time he undertakes various roles culminating in the rank of Divisional Officer Grade 1. Was he ever a stay at home lad? Clearly not with the amount of high profile fundraising & charity events he both arranges and takes part in. He also finds time for fire service events that, sadly, are consigned to history and sadly are no longer around.
  What you do get most is a sense that these were good times in the London Fire Brigade. They were happy times and plenty of them, with lifelong friendships made, but tinged with this were moments of personnel sadness and service tragedy. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this most enjoyable of books and one thought constantly came to mind. Would the author like the Fire Service of the 21st Century?
  

• S. Dudeney

  Absolutely loved this book. Brought back some wonderful memories for me of fighting fires in South East London throughout the 70s and early 80s. Met once again, through the pages, some old friends and colleagues, some of whom have now left us. A really good read, interesting more because the stories are real. These are real events that happened just a few years back and I was there. Brought it all back in vivid colour.
  

• Grant Williams

  I've read plenty of Fire Service autobiographical accounts. Beyond the Flames is up there with the best
  

• Mike Small

  I've read plenty of Fire Service autoboigraphical accounts. Beyond the Flames is up ther with the best of them. Highly recommended..

• Sally J Hunt

  This is not the usual type of book I'd choose but a friend read it and said it's something different and that I would enjoy it, so. I bought a copy, started to read it on Sunday and finished it later the next day! It is funny, sad, nostalgic and very entertaining and the author's own tale in the London Fire Brigade. Good stuff.

Write a Review