Customer Reviews

26 reviews

• Liam Hackett

  A well crafted and valuable piece of London's Fire Service History.Very accurate as it comes from the firefighters themselves. .. Easy reading and pleasing to the eye with photographs in profusion to capture the atmosphere of the times.This book will not dissapoint those who turn the pages and glimpse into a world now gone but thanks to the author, Dave Pike,himself a retired firefighter, not forgotten.
  

• A M Hoddinott

  David Pike’s second book is a remarkable achievement. His editing has combined enlightening stories and facts from the London Fire Brigade with an array of compelling images, many rarely seen before. It’s a pick me and put me down type of read, and each time you learn and enjoy a little more. I have no connection to the fire service, but this is a delightful book that gives the reader a feel of what it is to be a firefighter, in all its guises.
  

• Mat Greetham

  A very well put together collection of articles and photographs that provide a fascinating insight into the history of the London fire brigade, capturing key moments such as the Brixton riots and the London blitz, this would make a great read for anyone who has worked in this field or for any London history buffs out there! A brilliant read!
  

• Billy Dean

  I am an ordinary London, no connection to the Fire Service whatsoever. This collection of tales and images takes you on a special journey into the life and times of London's firemen and women of yester year. A great read and well put together. A first class book.
  

• Ian Goodenough

  Having read Pike's autobiography, charting his life in the London Fire Brigade I was keen to get a little more insight into Brigade life when this anthology became available. The book breaks down into various stories, prose, factual snippets and first-hand experiences from different contributors. As a result it delivers atmospheric descriptions of life in the Brigade and also many deeply personal and emotional accounts of events and their long-term effects. The many photographs and images drop you even further into the atmosphere and add a fascinating extra aspect to the book.
  

• Steve Cooper

  An interesting insight of how the men of The London Fire Brigade used to be. Personal accounts of incidents and occurrences during the busiest periods of London Fire Brigades history. A VERY GOOD READ INDEED.
  

• Graham Orange

  A rather special book that adds much to the genre of fire service writing. Special in the manner of its editing, special in the number and range of exceptional true and fictional stories the book contans, special because of the remarkable collection of fire service images.This is not a book for just fire brigade anoraks, it is a book for anyone who likes short stories that you can pick and choose. A recommended purchase and one worthy to place on your book shelf.
  

• Lauren Dawkins

  This book is an absolute pleasure to read, the book amazingly brings a fireman's dramatic and eventful career into perspective. The articles offer a surreal insight into popular events and show the true formidable side to it, the side the firefighters bravely tackled. Within the book is a variety of pictures, which allows us to have a special pass into the past of the fireman's history; each picture telling a different story, once again adding drama. The parts in verse are also wonderfully enjoyable, it was an inventive take to take on the fireman's tale. I would definitely read this book if firefighters history interests you, however if you are not, like me, someone that doesn't have a particular interest in it I would still give it ago! It's an engaging read which is hard to put down.
  

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