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I had bought David Pike second, London's Firefighters, and had to buy his first. This book is an absolute pleasure to read, the book amazingly brings a fireman's dramatic and eventful career into perspective. His story offer a surreal insight into real events and show the true formidable side to the firefighters, then firemen's, bravely. I would definitely read this book if firefighters nterests you, however if you are not, like me, someone that doesn't have a particular interest in them I would still give it ago! It's an engaging read which is hard to put down once you pick it up.
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A good book and a lot to read. I joined the LFB in the late 70's, just after the strike. I only knew Dave Pike via our in-house magazine. This book is probably the boldest I've read and I've pretty much read all the LFB books now ! Dave doesn't hold back with his memories of drinking on the stations it was rife and was getting well out of hand. We only had one sober driver one night duty and two fire engines ! The junior firemen part of the book was quite an eye opener, no wonder those lads stood out at stations after two years of virtual military service. I served with a fair few of those lads and they certainly knew there stuff. So pleased that Pageants Wharf got a mention, my mum and dad and two older brothers lived in brigade accommodation at that station 1957 to 1959. Dave's out duty there just cracked me up !
Fascinating to read about his time at Lambeth, not to mention the non-stop station work ! I never actually got to do station cleaning as the union had kicked it out in '72. Not sure if that was a good thing judging by the state of stations in the late seventies. The book covers over thirty years of service by the author and it's got everything but the kitchen sink in it, tons of charity work, fires, senior management doing there best to cock things up, all in all a brave book by someone who has finally told it as things really were.
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While collections of amusing anecdotes make good reads, this book is different in that it takes you right to the heart of what it means to be a career fireman - warts and all. Written in a light hearted but committed style, the author takes us through the highs and lows of a truly varied and inspirational career. There are lessons to be learned for us all at some point in his story, but that doesn't prevent it being fascinating throughout.
An absolute must for anybody who wants to learn what it is like to be a fireman, and both how and how not to manage others.
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Read the authors first book second having seen it in his London's Firefighters. This is an excellent account, that pulls no punches, of a lad becoming a man in the London Fire Brigade. A damn good read. Recoomended to aanyone who enjoys an autobiography.
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Wishing Shelf Book Awards
The following review was originally written by a Wishing Shelf Book Award reader.
"I work in the fire brigade up in Lincolnshire so I was delighted to read this book for The Wishing Shelf Award. I thought it was facinating particularly how different the service is now compared to back then. A long book but, then, it had to be to cover the history of such a noble service. Very well done."
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This is a book that gives you an accurate account, frequently humerious, occasionally very funny and sometimes painfully sad as to what the London Fire Brigade was once all about. It covers 30 years of operational activity of the author, who whilst a fireman first was presented with some exceptional challenges that you don't readily associate with the fire brigade, such as unveiling a 12 foot statue at St Paul's Cathedral! Simply a good read, filled with history, detail and tradition but all linked together by some wonderful anicdotes of David Pike's interesting, varied and at times amazing career.
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This book is gripping and fills in all of the missing pieces. It is a
humorous and easily readable account of a remarkable man. It does not
disappoint on any level. I would highly recommend it to anyone.
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As you might expect, it is a personal journey. But one that is filled with humour, real life drama and an unique insight into the people that make up the varied layers of the London Fire Brigade. You do not have to be a \'fire brigade buff\' to enjoy this tale, that is written in a style that involves you in the story from page one. The various black and white images add an additional fascinating dimension, interspersed between the chapters, the tell there own story, of the people who are proud to call themselves firefighters.
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A highly enjoyable and entertaining read. It brings to life the times in the fire brigade in the 60s to the 90s, and whilst there are tragedies along the way the humour, that seems to be an important part of the fireman's coping strategy, does not in any way, devalue the dedication of the firemen in doing their job to the best of their ability. Even if your not an aficionado of fire brigade stories it is an enthralling autobiography that does credit to the author and to the London Fire Brigade. I liked the mix of London's fire service history, the Brigade's highs and lows, and the dangers the fireman faced with little or no public recognition of the challenges they faced. A book to be recommended.
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I just want to say what a great book and read. I managed to get a copy from one of the very few book stores here in Sydney. Although I served in the Brigade from 1988 to 2004, some of the images you portrayed reminded me so much of my younger days spent with Dad at Barbican fire station (C26 Red Watch). It was them younger years that craved for me to join the London Fire Brigade. Now some 26 years on, and a senior fire officer myself. I will always pride myself at being a London Fireman. Thank you for your incisive thoughts, your memories and education. Good luck at the Awards on the 28th May 2014.
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Although I've not read many biographies I enjoyed this book immensely as it wasn't a 'me, myself, I'. When the author did give himself a tongue in the cheek pat on the back it was always after praising the skills etc. of the rest of the team(s). It was a book featuring many harrowing events "behind the lines" which I remembered well, having worked in the City of London for 30 years before moving to France. To all female readers this is a book that takes us 'beyond the uniform'!"
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I really enjoyed this book. It was funny, poignant, sad and thought provoking. A very personal story brought alive on the page in very engaging writing. A book I would recommend and I can see why it has been nominated for a book prize. I loved it.
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I saw that this book had been nominated for the People's Book Prize 2013 and thought I would give it a try. It was a very good move, since after the first introductory pages I was hooked on the career of this fireman, later senior officer, in the London Fire Brigade. His story is engaging, full of humour, at times gripping and he delivers the sad and tragic events with the style of a seasoned reporter rather than a firefighter. It is both honest and refreshing as it is not all about him, rather its the people (many of whom are wonderful characters) and the events that accompanied his long, and distinguished, career.The title also delivers exactly what is say's. It takes you behind the scene of a service as it was almost two decades ago, and its a poignant reminder of the influence that political correctness and health and safety has had on our everyday lives. I thoroughly recommend this read to anyone who enjoys a good autobiography.
A first rate read and it has got my vote in the People's Book Prize. Well done David C.Pike.
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Dave Pike served at the next station to me on the same watch, yet I only spoke to him a couple of times. His reputation was well known but contact always seemed to allude me.
His book arrived on my desk like a house brick from above and when he asked me to write a short review of it for the RMA Magazine I thought that I would be in for a long and boring task.......wrong!
After the usual couple of pages to introduce you to Dave’s formative years in south London the book suddenly became a procession of memories of people that I had known, some quite well, Len Knight was my first guvnor at Manchester Square fire station, others just fleetingly but I was hooked. I couldn’t wait to turn the page and find another memory of a job/person or station that I had encountered over my time in the London Fire Brigade. I spent some time trying to work out who some of the described but not named individuals were and I think that the pen picture did provide evidence enough to identify those individuals, if you actually knew them.
The comments made when in a smoke filled room when not in breathing apparatus rung in my ears; like they were said yesterday and as for the mention of the Lambeth bar, I felt that I was back there, going through ornamental glass and metal door to the dark and warm interior and ordering a pint of Youngs bitter.
As Dave progresses through the ranks, his experiences at the hands of those above him will ring a peal of bells in the head of anyone who has tried to even climb on the first rung of promotion and his colourful description of individuals, named and unnamed will spark further memories in many of you.
It’s a great book for those of us who were there, and for those that weren’t. Even as he advanced further into management and he describe s his achievements, he doesn’t wander off in telling us how good he was, well, not often anyway, without crediting those who he worked with who helped him onwards. A rare feat in books written by former senior officers.
I really could go on forever with the points that raised long forgotten memories but ...... buy the book hard copy or kindle version and re-ignite your own memories.
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Beyond the flames. David C. Pike. Well firstly I should say that although I have met Dave a number of times I am not a \mate\ and I have never served with him. Also he\'s achieved much more in the LFB than I ever could or wanted to and I couldn\'t write a book for toffee. The book starts as do many of this ilk with Dave\'s early days going into the Job, incidents, and career progression. It is written in a very easy to read style, absorbing and entertaining. So far very well done. However there are long passages dealing with how he arranged various displays and ceremonies and also his time supervising training school and the Museum etc which I found hard to get through. The star parts of the book were for me the \'inner workings\' of headquarters both Divisional, Area and Brigade and the back biting skullduggery of our leaders......great stuff. All in all an extremely good read, if there is a sequel- more fires and action please and more behind the scenes gossip.
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I have just finished reading Beyond the Flames. It is a first class account of what actually happens on fire stations in London. Some of the incidents mentioned were very insightful, as often national and local media does not give sufficient information on what actually happened. 30 odd years of a fireman working his way up the slippery slope of promotion, is a very hard thing to achieve. The pitfalls that often need to be overcome to achieve promotion are numerous, not least of all, falling foul of certain senior officers. I think that this book was very well written and would be understood by people outside of the Fire Brigade. I highly recommend this book.
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A walk though history and magic on a plate, a book that will be read for a few hundred years and used as an historical reference beyond that. Like all books we need to understand what draws people to read it, yes it's quite focused on the London Fire Brigade, yes it's about a personal experience, and yes it covers many years of dedication. But it is more than that, it looks at the life and the death of people in service, it looks at the humour in what can sometimes be a very dark corner for some, it explores the comradeship of a service that sometimes can be ultimate and it does it without favour....just truth.....I know cos I been there with them.
This is not a book to be read just by fire fighters, or just anyone serving in an occupation that is highly hazardous or life threatening, it is a journey of extraordinary personal experience with a quantum of learning, then experience, then finally teaching those that followed, how to survive together. A life's worth of knowledge and friendship that all people gather and give throughout their lives and gives the author a truly humanitarian and admirable quality. Read it if you dare, live the same principles if you can, relax in the satisfaction of a career well served. Well done David Pike...great memory never knew you had it in you...many heroes in it ......you too are one!
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I can't compete with the other reviews. I just thought this book an excellent read that I enjoyed from the very beginning to the end. I even like all the appendices, especially the Roll of Honour, which was very moving. Buy this book, its worth the money.
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I enjoy fire brigade stories and I place this book alongside Ray Chilton's 'Underfire' and Gordon Honeycomb's 'Red Watch'. There are no sides to the author's honest account of his varied operational career in the London Fire Brigade.He has skillfully written about what he saw and what he experienced in a way that makes you feel you are there with the firemen. He brings to life the experience of fighting fires or dealing with the other dire emergencies but without exploiting the distress of those in peril or in fear of their lives.
A strong point of this particular book is the way the descriptive and compelling narrative brings to life every aspect of the fireman's lot.The ordinary and the extraordinary is written with an energy and a clear passion for his 'job'. As the author's career develops so does our understanding of a side of the London Fire Brigade that is not normally in the public's gaze. He provides an insightful and absorbing peek behind the scenes and of its people. A strongly recommended read.
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A welcome read from this genre of work. It is a fireman's story but so much more than just fires and other emergencies that the author attended in a long, and distinguished, career. If your expecting an 'all action hero' account this read is probably not for you. If however, you want a captivating true life recollection of the last forty years of the twentieth century in the London Fire Brigade, with its action and high drama certainly, but also the sad events and humour that carries you through the highs and lows of London's true emergency service, this is the book for you.
It is all too easy to forget the culture of the non-PC and pre-Equal Opportunities regime of the 1960s and 1970s, but the author skillfully reminds us of those times with the humour that appears to be a prerequisite for becoming a fireman. Other reviewers have paid credit to the author, David Pike, for his honest, amusing and insightful recollections. I can only endorse those views and comments. This is a delightful book, with a wonderful mix and eye-witness accounts and anecdotes from a incredible cast of characters, real heroes who are just doing the job they are paid to do, being London Firemen. A well written book in most pleasing style that draws the non-fire brigade aficionados right in. Well done, cracking read.
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A book I really got into from page one and it grew and grew. It was difficult to put down especially as one minute you could be chuckling away to yourself and the next sitting on the edge of your seat with anticipation. Then there were the deaths of the many firemen, people we all too often took for granted. I know I did but after reading this book I will look upon them with a new found respect and admiration. A very good read, that pulls no punches. The pictures added names to some of the faces and was most welcome. Overall excellent.
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Simply a most enjoyable read. I have nothing to do with the fire brigade but I like biographies and saw this advertised on your site. However, I purchased it via Waterstones (as I didn't have to pay the postage). A first class piece of story telling about the authors varied and interesting time in the London Fire Brigade,between 20 and 50 years ago, and full credit to him for he wrote for the ordinary person in the street. Well done him. Loved it.
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A worthy contender for the shortlist of the People's Book prize. A thoroughly enjoyable and engaging read. In parts gripping, in parts sad and throughout a remarkable insight into an era of the London Fire Brigade now consigned to the history books, but which the author guides you through with humour and candor. Buy it and see for yourself.
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A story of the authors career in the London Fire Brigade, which you feel he is telling you over a quiet drink rather than you reading it from the page of his book. His easy conversational style brings to life the people and the events which built into such and interesting, fascinating and at times sad 30 years of serving London's public. He intersperses the action on the front line with glimpses at other side of fire brigade life, raising money for charity, the brigade's history and significant milestones in the London Fire Brigade's development. This is no technical manual of fire brigade working, but rather a wonderful, personal account taking you from the 1960s to the late 1990s in a changing emergency service in the UK's capital city. Strongly recommended..
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I would like to say how much I enjoyed Mr D. Pikes recently released book
\'Beyond the Flames\'. As an ex Fireman myself I was pleased to read about the other things Fireman do e.g organising fund raising events, as opposed to
the normal public perception of us being water squirting snooker players.
This has to be the best from recruit to senior officer honest no frills account of the good, the bad and the sad, seen through a time served London
Fireman\'s eyes and heart.
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Delighted to see today this book nominated for the People's Book Prize. It is a worthy contender, well written and a thoroughly enjoyable read. Although a fireman's tale you do not have to have served in the London Fire Brigade to relish the humour, relive the drama and learn of the sad events that firemen deal with. You are drawn into the characters and the fire brigade culture in this real life sequence of events whilst you follow the authors career and his many adventures along the way.
A very good read indeed.
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A thoroughly enjoyable read that amused and informed. An ex-serviceman myself, so much of this man's life connected with me, the humour and the comradeship of those facing danger. Growing up in south London in the 1950's many of the places mentioned I connected to. My only negative comment is that the book's print was a bit small for these old eyes, but it didn't spoil the enjoyment of a really good book. Recommended.
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A very interesting read indeed.
This insightful book follows a fireman's story from his rejection by the Metropolitan Police at 16 years of age to his hugely successful career as a London Firefighter from the 1960's to his early retirement in the 1990's.
A long read with highs and lows, but well worth the time invested in reading from start to finsh
It's an informative true personal autobiography of one of London's leading fireman.
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A very good read. A book full of excellent story telling which is made all the more enjoyable since it is based on real life events and the experiences of the fireman author.Highly recommended.
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An excellent read that I highly recommend to one and all,as an ex Fireman who served his whole career on the opposite side of the river in North West London from the late 60s and never knew Mr.Pike it bought back many memories of fire brigade life, incidents and past colleagues.Im not a reader but found this book hard to put down and feel sure it will appeal to all from whatever background.
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I bought this book simply because my late Dad was a London firemen but without knowing what exactly to expect. It is an astonishing read. I can understand know why my Dad loved his job as a firemen so much. Is very page full of excitement? No it's not. What it does contains is a wonderful description of a fireman's lot, how the author started his career.The book contains a rich mix of story's, real life experiences and every facet of what makes the Fire Brigade tick, and the problems and challenges it and its people have to face. A recommended read.
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A story that fills you with admiration for our firefighters, although they were called firemen and firewomen when this autobiography starts off in the 1960s. It is a well written account of the writers career in the London Fire Brigade and the pages are just not filled with fighting fires and dealing with emergencies. The book provides an excellent pen-picture of the various characters and a peek at the behind the scenes antics during his early career. Many tales can not fail to bring a smile to your face, whilst, of course, reminding us of the much sadder happenings that the fire service has to confront. Not overly technical but I was grateful for the helpful glossary, especially for someone who is not a firefighter. The Roll of Honour I found particularly poignant.A good read, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
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An excellent read giving a true reflection of an era sadly gone.
Having worked alongside Dave, and known him since he passed his probationary period period, we have had many a good laugh together, which is illustrated in his book. He always liked to be at the 'sharp end' at jobs. A fireman who would eat, sleep, and drink the fire brigade.
The book illustrates that characters from all walks of life join the fire brigade, which explains why there is seldom a dull moment.
He was a true 'Gentleman Fireman'. With his promotion came a fair and professional officer. His charitable work, energy and enthusiasm at organising events was second to none.
I recommend this book to anyone interested in just people, or life 'on board' a typical inner London fire station where you will gain a fascinating insight into the services 'Esprit de Corps'.
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As a former London fireman (retired) this is a story that totally resonates with me. The author, who I never actually served with, caught the flavour of the times (the 60s to the 90s), and the changes that occured, exactly. He also taught me something of the Brigade's lesser known history, whilst giving me quite a few laughs along the way. I am only three-quarters finished but its a good read and I felt I just had to post my review. Well done Mr Pike.
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An apt title for this enjoyable read. The book is the autobiography of the author David Pike who on the surface says he was not particually gifted, but who then narrates us through an enlightening exploration of his varied, and interesting, fire service career in the London Fire Brigade.
It is an engaging book. It is also honest. David Pike not only points out the strengths and flaws he finds in others, he points out the flaws in himself. Something which in itself is refreshing to see. He paints a picture of a service culture before 'PC' directed our every thought and deed.
The book has one other interesting plus. It contains photos of many of the people mentioned. This helps put a name to a face, and is a welcome addition. The book is richly detailed. I highly recommend it. If you are interested in London, fire brigade stories, or just people, this is one you can't miss.
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Informative, well written and throws in some surprising aspects of life in the fire service very few of us even knew. The reader gains an illuminating insight into the life and the culture of the London Fire Brigade as it moved from life before 'PC' and 'elf and saftey' to a service more driven by external rules and regulations.It was not an easy transition.
Overall a very pleasureable read. A reminder, if one were needed, to the debt we owe to the firemen of the past and the firefighters of the present for their skills and techniques that come to aid when it all goes wrong! This is one of a number of fire service books on the market, but a clear contender for a best read of its type.
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A very good read. Clearly written with a great fondness about the authors choosen career, but refreshingly not through a pair of 'rose tinted glasses'. I have just read it on my Kindle, but it is a book I will now buy as a paperback. His story contains many outstanding moments and lots of chuckles along the way, despite the tragic happenings, in a story that flows off the page.
One of the seling points points of this particular book, compared to others in a same genre, it the clever introduction of the London Fire Brigade's history, and the workings of the brigade during the 1960s to the very late 1990s. As interesting career that I enjoyed reading about.
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A very informative and engaging paperbook on the authors active career in London's fire service. A well written tale which uses a series of black and white photographs as excellent milestones as he takes you on his jounney through his service and 'adventures'. A book which provides far more than just a series of 'firemen' fighting blazes tales, and a poigniant reminder of the scacrifices that members of the London brigade have made on our behalf.
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A gem of a book, concerning the authors rise through the ranks of the London Fire Brigade and his, and others, adventures along the way. From a 'boy' fireman to senior rank the book chronicles a wealth of fascinating real life tales and anicdotes that fills this excellent book. It transports you from the 60s to the envy of the century and shows you there is much more to the London Fire Brigade than just fighting fires. The start of this tale is set in a time that was much less PC, drinking on fire stations was legal and the men were men! It is full of real human stories that amuse, sadden and excite. But most of all it is book that will enthral you.
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If you are retired fireman, today's firefighter,an enthusiast or just curious, this book will excite, fascinate and reflect well on the men and women who run into danger when the public runs out! The story, starting in a less than 'PC' service explores the people, the events and the history of the UK's largest fire brigade. The author, from being lead to leading others takes you on a remarkable journey. A journey filled with excitement, laughter, tears and frequent danger provides a refreshing look at London's fire brigade before the new millennium. It provides an honest account of the authors career, a career where the skill of team building, the fighting of fire, can have tragic consequences if you get it wrong. A highly enjoyable read, a read that surprised me as someone who previously never gave much thought to those riding fire engines. Now I will. Recommended reading.Well done Mr Pike.
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Not sure if his was my cup of tea, but delighted I read it and throughly enjoyed it. It had me laughing and shedding a few tears too. An uncomplicated tale not just of a fireman as he steadily climbs the promotion ladder but a delightful look at the people and events that brings so much colour and life into this excellent book. A firefighter is someone we can so easily take for granted, I know I did, but the book informs and educates in a refreshing and interesting fashion. I live in Exeter, not London, but could relate to the tales as they flowed easily from the page. The addition of the pictures was a very good move and added value to the storytelling. A book for anyone to enjoy.
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Interesting, informative, amusing and honest. All words that describe this cracking autobiography of a London fireman, and later senior officer. Neither a Londoner nor a fireman(woman), but someone who enjoys a really good read, I found this book ticks all the right boxes. A very enjoyable read and written by someone who the reader quickly relates to with his style of writing. This is a must for everyone.
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There it was all 580 pages of this long anticipated book waiting for me at the Post Office. What had I let myself in for? If I wanted to do this much reading I would have done a degree! But no a promise to review is a promise, and so I began.
Were things really that different back then? Clearly they were, for this was a time when large sections of the Fire Service had served in the Second World War. This remarkable book recounts life in the London Fire Brigade over a 4 decades for the author, David Pike
He starts in the 1960s as a mere Junior Fireman up until the 90s and his medical retirement. During that time he undertakes various roles culminating in the rank of Divisional Officer Grade 1. Was he ever a stay at home lad? Clearly not with the amount of high profile fundraising & charity events he both arranges and takes part in. He also finds time for fire service events that, sadly, are consigned to history and sadly are no longer around.
What you do get most is a sense that these were good times in the London Fire Brigade. They were happy times and plenty of them, with lifelong friendships made, but tinged with this were moments of personnel sadness and service tragedy. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this most enjoyable of books and one thought constantly came to mind. Would the author like the Fire Service of the 21st Century?
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Absolutely loved this book. Brought back some wonderful memories for me of fighting fires in South East London throughout the 70s and early 80s. Met once again, through the pages, some old friends and colleagues, some of whom have now left us. A really good read, interesting more because the stories are real. These are real events that happened just a few years back and I was there. Brought it all back in vivid colour.
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I've read plenty of Fire Service autobiographical accounts. Beyond the Flames is up there with the best
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I've read plenty of Fire Service autoboigraphical accounts. Beyond the Flames is up ther with the best of them. Highly recommended..
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This is not the usual type of book I'd choose but a friend read it and said it's something different and that I would enjoy it, so. I bought a copy, started to read it on Sunday and finished it later the next day! It is funny, sad, nostalgic and very entertaining and the author's own tale in the London Fire Brigade. Good stuff.
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