Focusing on the life of Vivian Woodward, this biography highlights his significant contributions to English football, including leading the national team to victory in the 1908 and 1912 Olympic Games. Celebrated for his sportsmanship and embodiment of the Corinthian spirit, Woodward remains a notable figure in Essex's sporting history. The book is a must-read for those interested in the evolution of English football and the legacy of one of its greatest players.
In its early days, Rye House was known as a track where riders could learn
their trade under 'Queensberry' rules, but where the rigidity of the rulebook
was occasionally sacrificed in the name of an enjoyable day's racing. This is
the story of the first seventy years of Rye House speedway and the
personalities associated with the track.
Set against a backdrop of Rock 'n' Roll, the Cuban Missile Crisis and the
assassination of President Kennedy, funny, poignant and sometimes sad,
Norman's is a story full of innocence and happiness that will take you back to
the best of times - the days we thought would never end.
Norman Jacobs offers an insider's perspective on the British Museum, detailing his 37 years of service during a transformative era. He highlights key developments such as the British Library's separation and the construction of the Great Court, alongside notable controversies like the 'Hypocrisy at the Top' scandal. Beyond the institutional changes, the narrative provides a warm and humorous glimpse into the personalities and daily happenings that define this iconic British institution, showcasing both its challenges and charm.
Focusing on the rich history of speedway in the South-East of Great Britain, this book chronicles the development of the sport since its inception in 1928 at High Beech. It highlights the region's iconic tracks, memorable races, and legendary riders, offering a comprehensive look at the cultural significance and evolution of speedway racing in this area.
In this revealing memoir of childhood, the author shows not only what affected his family, but also reveals a large slice of social history concerning the lives of all ordinary working-class people struggling to live in the slums of the East End of London in those pre-Welfare State days. He writes with sympathy, and sometimes anger, of the overcrowded houses with families of anything up to eight children, as his own had, living in just two or three rooms with outside toilets and water tap; of the reliance on charity and the soup kitchen for food; of trying to eke out what little income they had by buying stale bread and cracked eggs or other cheap food from the many itinerant street sellers. Yet this is also a chronicle of what was a turbulent time in British history, and especially in the East End, with its then still large Jewish and Irish populations. So here too is an eyewitness account of the Depression, and of the provocative marches by Sir Oswald Mosley's British Union of Fascists through the area, culminating in the Battle of Cable Street that saw the marchers turned back by the efforts of Jewish, Irish, communist, and socialist protestors. Above all, however, Norman Jacobs writes with affection of the area and its extraordinary mix of peoples, as well as the now-vanished aspects of everyday life, such as the music hall, the two-valve radio, and the first Cup Final to be played at Wembley.
