A little book of slang used by Brummies

Ta-ra-a Bit, Our Kid.  (Link to book page on Amazon)

A great little stocking filler for Mom, Dad, Nan or Grandad – or for yourself. Full of nostalgia, humour and the origins of the words and sayings used in Birmingham going back generations. Use it as a translation aid with Grannie, or to convince your ‘out of town’ friends that there is such a thing as a ‘Gambol’, an ‘Outdoor’, and a traffic ‘Island’.

See the full Brummie Alphabet on http://www.bostinbooks.co.uk.

Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean and possesses a rich blend of European and Eastern influence, as it stands facing east and west, with its history shaped by the Roman, Greek and Turkish Empires. Androulla Christou-Layton was born on the island in 1965 – it is her home and where her heart truly lies. In a place with a resident population of less than one million people, families are inextricably linked to each other, and whatever the distance between them those bonds remain strong. This book tells the story of Andry’s life in Cyprus between 1965 and 1983, beginning with the creation of the Christou family, and then moving on to the generations that followed. It reveals a very personal insight into the world of a child growing up in difficult circumstances during years which included the dramatic events of a coup and invasion in 1974, plus a host of tragedies which touched her life, in some form or another. Above all else though it is a tale of hope and happiness as new births, christenings and weddings added to the family. If you like history, culture, customs, and food mixed in with a real-life story, and the odd ‘fairy tale’, told in a simple fashion then this is a book for you. It’s a must-read for people looking to holiday on the island who want to experience and feel what life is really like behind the sun and the beaches. It will also appeal to historians and those with an interest in other people’s way of life. You will certainly know much more about the real Cyprus by the end of it!

‘The Night The Owl Cried’ – A Taste of Cyprus stands out for three reasons – I had the privilege of co-writing the book with my wife Andry – a unique experience which we shared together – sometimes challenging to put the pieces of history together, frequently fun and above all hugely satisfying. The second reason is that it portrays the life of her father Costas Christou – the ‘colour’ in Andry’s life. He was at various times an artist, a freedom fighter, a government official, a poet, a philosopher, but above all a man who loved life to the full. Sadly he has passed away since publication of the book but his memory lives on. The third reason is Andry’s ‘rock’ her mother Loukia Christou – fiercely independent, a proud mother who lives for her family and provides universal love and support to this day without expecting anything in return.

This book currently enjoys twenty-eight reviews with an overall score of 4.7 stars out of 5 stars. It is a book that we are immensely proud of. #Cyprus #History #Truestory #Family life https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1549649485/

Steve Burrows and I had the pleasure of giving a talk on ‘Top Secret Worcestershire’ at a U3A gathering in Evesham yesterday, with over forty people in attendance. Its a bit of a double-act with a detailed PowerPoint with lots of images from the book and some readings. Although there is some technical explanation about the development of radar during the Second World War we very much focus on the human side of the story which includes an explanation as to how British Paratroopers launched a raid on Occupied France and seized a piece of German radar. The only thing we forgot to do was to take some photos but the mince pies were most welcome! We are both extremely proud of this book which very nearly ‘hit the rocks’ during the early stages of writing but we persevered and Brewin Publishers took it on without hesitation. The book can be found in major bookshops and on Amazon UK. https://www.amazon.co.uk./dp/1858585813/

An ideal stocking filler which will promote discussion among ‘Brummies’

A little book of slang used by Brummies

at Christmas.

When I took a police posting on the sun-kissed island of Cyprus, I was excited by the challenge of policing in a totally new environment as well as looking forward to ‘long sandy beaches, blue skies and equally blue seas, sleepy villages, cold beers, and good food’. I found all of those things, but also discovered something sinister: a culture of football violence that had all the hallmarks of that seen over decades in the UK game. I  was experienced in combating soccer hooliganism but discovered that many of the tactics deployed successfully in the UK were not being effectively promoted in Cyprus. Supporters of the so-called ‘Big Five’ clubs, APOEL, Apollon, AEL, Omonia and Anorthosis, were locked in a series of bitter and enduring rivalries that routinely led to mayhem on match days. Often with radically opposed political affiliations, gangs launched attack after attack on each other, seemingly oblivious to the consequences. Mass brawls, knifings and, most disturbing of all, a number of bomb attacks led to countless injuries and even death. No-one was safe, with players, match officials and police all being routinely targeted. As a result of what I learnt from the media and through speaking to genuine football supporters I decided to write a historical account of this extraordinary phenomenon. From first-hand knowledge and research, I traced the history of the problem in the Republic of Cyprus, highlighting the most startling incidents, and proposing a series of counter-measures to eradicate the gangs and their thuggery. When you are born in Cyprus a number of things are often pre-ordained namely your Christian name, your religion, your party politics and your football team. Cypriots are passionate about the ‘beautiful game’ and its worth reminding people that only a minority are engaged in such activities. That said with a population of less than one million Cypriots in total that’s a minority that the police and the government have a duty to address. ‘Violence in the Sun’ is available as an E Book published by MILO on Amazon and also self-published in paperback format on Amazon UK.  This is a book that makes no distinction about which group of so-called supporters was more to blame – it merely seeks to record the facts and lets the reader make their own mind up. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1521299536/

In 1997 the West Midlands Police were facing huge challenges with rising crime and anti-social behaviour which blighted the lives of thousands of people within communities who became victims of criminality.  As a national debate raged about the need to take a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to crime others argued for a problem solving approach and the preservation of the principles of policing by consent.
Radical measures were called for and in the Spring of 1997 the West Midlands Police were restructured into twenty-one Operational Command Units with the specific aim of delivering local policing to local people.
One of those command units became known as H2 and covered half of the Borough of Walsall situated in the ‘Black Country’.
The areas of Darlaston, Willenhall, Bloxwich, and Brownhills, steeped in industrial history, also faced high levels of social deprivation made growingly worse by the scourge of heroin which took control of many people’s lives and turned some of them into lifestyle criminals.
To face the challenges of drugs, routine arson attacks, violence, and anti-social behaviour just two hundred and sixty-four regular police officers formed the ‘thin blue line’ to preserve the peace in a community of 142,273 people.
This book is the story of how those police officers, supported by a small band of civilian support staff, and special constables, set about trying to improve the lives of the vast majority of law-abiding criminals and tackled the hardened criminals and hooligans head on.
Told through the eyes of two of the senior police officers responsible for bringing about drastic changes and improved performance during the first twelve months of reorganisation it provided a unique insight into the inner workings of the police.
At the heart of policing is the issue of community safety and this story measures the success of the few in trying to help the many, as they dealt with deaths, domestic violence, disputes and disorder on a daily basis.
The book also contains seventy photographs, many of which are previously unseen.
Above all this book is about hope and a philosophy that with the right support and direction small numbers of dedicated professionals can achieve great things. #Walsall #Police #History

‘The Hooligans Are Still Among Us’ explores the issues of football-related violence, past and present on the railway, as well as incidents in stadiums and city-centres during the 2015/16 seasons and Euro games – including a number of personal recollections. It was co-written with Bill Rogerson and published by Amberley. This is a book that does not seek to glamorize the subject rather it identifies new trends in violence and makes some suggestions as to how these might be combatted. There is no suggestion that the problem has returned to the levels experienced in the 70s and 80s but without doubt the figures show that there are still a substantial minority who will use the ‘beautiful game’ as a backcloth to excuse their violent behaviour. Often tribalistic in nature, sometimes fuelled by drink or drugs, or used as an excuse for racism or sectarianism there is no room for complacency. All this set against reduced police resources and changing Government priorities. The book is available on Amazon or in bookshops. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1445665883/

‘Keep Right On’ – historical crime fiction – the sequel to ‘Black Over Bill’s Mothers’

Birmingham 1976. Aston Villa and Birmingham City football clubs are in the First Division. They are blood rivals, whose hooligan ‘football firms’ are locked in a vicious struggle for supremacy. Two criminal families, The Murphy’s and the Carters, control the firms, and they hate each other. But love crosses the boundaries between them, setting off a tragic chain of events. Can it prevail over the violence?

In the background, the National Front fight on the streets, racism is on the rise, and it’s the hottest summer in living memory.

Mike Carter runs a team of hooligans with affiliations to Birmingham City Football Club. His arch-enemy is Colin Murphy who leads a like-minded group affiliated to Aston Villa Football Club.

Their stories are told against the backcloth of the 1975/6 football season, with factual accounts of many the games, when the names of stars such as Trevor Francis and Andy Gray were revered by the supporters.

Battling the violence is a third tribe – the police – and Detective Inspector Rob Docker makes a return from ‘Black Over Bill’s Mothers’ to use every means possible, whether lawful or otherwise, to destroy both groups as the ever increasing levels of violence lead to murder. Make ‘no bones about it’ Rob Docker is a ‘nasty piece of work’ and makes ‘Life On Mars’ look like a children’s story. A man on the ‘dark side’ of his profession.

On the streets of Birmingham, another struggle is being played out as the National Front try to seize the hearts and minds of some of those whose first love was the game of football. Who remembers the story of ‘Robert Relf’ who went to prison for placing a racially discriminatory sign outside his house and saw riots outside Winson Green Prison as right and left battled it out with the police sandwiched in the middle.

‘Keep Right On’ tells a love story entwined with football hooliganism and has plenty of surprises along the way. It will be enjoyed by lovers of a good story, football fans, those who seek a glimpse into the underside of the hooligan world, and those fascinated by the history of the 1970’s.

“Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I don’t like that attitude. I can assure them it is much more serious than that” – Bill Shankly.

Available on Amazon as an E Book or in paperback – 11 reviews and 4.8 stars out of a possible 5 stars. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XJV689J/ #Football #Fiction #Hooligans #Birmingham

‘Pretty Thing’ (Kindle version) is reduced from £4.99 to £1.99 from 8am on Thursday 28th November, to 11pm on Sunday 1st December. (sorry Amazon.uk only due to Amazon rules).

See the great reviews and précis by clicking this link

Pretty Thing (Kindle) Amazon UK

Find out about, or re-live the heady days of the early 70’s when ‘Ziggy’ was born and changed the world. Contains accurate historical information about Bowie’s rise to fame and recreations of what it was like at those concerts – from the point of view of a fan who has the best break of his life – becoming part of the Ziggy Stardust tour crew.

Also available as a Paperback (£12.99) which I would enhance any Kook’s Christmas morning.