'Now Then Lad...'
Tales of a Country Bobby
by PC Mike Pannett
P.C. Mike Pannett was born and raised in North Yorkshire, but for most of his police career was pounding the mean
streets of London. In 1997, he transferred back to his home county and had a total change of scene and pace, as a
rural "bobby" and wildlife officer. This is his story about his first year "up north" where he makes friends with
some real country "characters," holds up the traffic on the Last Night of the Proms to allow a mole to cross the
road, chases sheep rustlers and more.
If you are a fan of the long running TV show Heartbeat (or the books which inspired it by Nicholas Rhea,
also reviewed on this site - this
link will take you to a site search showing links to the various reviews) this will have a lot of appeal. P.C.
Pannett’s Yorkshire career took place between 1997 and 2007 but the gentle pace, homespun wisdom and unspoiled nature
of the rural parts of the county seem little changed from the 1960s world of Rhea’s Yorkshire beat. This is sure to
have even more appeal - it certainly did for me - as Pannett witnesses the sort of wildlife spectacles normally
reserved for most people to TV documentaries, and makes some wonderful friends.
Naturally it is not all honey, and Pannett describes more than one fatality, but overall this is uplifting stuff,
told in the first person by a born raconteur who seems well pleased with his lot, and very suited to it. I hope he
decides to write other books about his decade as a rural constable. |
The Book |
Constable (Constable and Robinson) |
29 May 2008 |
Paperback |
184529811X / 9781845298111 |
Autobiography / Contemporary North Yorkshire, England |
More at Amazon.com
UK |
Excerpt |
NOTE: Not yet available on Amazon US site |
The Reviewer |
Rachel A Hyde |
Reviewed 2008 |
NOTE: |
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