Another Review at MyShelf.Com

'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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