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The Penzance Smash-bookcover

By: Frankie Moffatt

The Penzance Smash

Pages: 68 Ratings: 5.0
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This is a story about love and family. It captures a period in time, the post-war era, when people were beginning to put their lives together again after the horrors and shortages caused by the Second World War. Whole communities were springing up all over the United Kingdom in newly built housing estates and this story is focused on one family within such an estate. It also tells of a sport, homing pigeon racing, which was once so very popular amongst the working classes but has now almost disappeared.

Through this setting, the author evokes a very moving and visual tale of the hardships faced by one family and recounts how one man brought up two young boys, giving them the best life that he could. There were no manuals or self-help groups then, but this man quietly went about raising his boys and teaching them the values that he believed would be necessary for their futures. He taught them to be independent, to be respectful and to never give up matter what life threw at them. Most importantly, he showed them what real love is.



Frankie Moffatt was born in Coleraine, Northern Ireland in 1953 and attended Millburn Primary School, Coleraine Academical Institution and Dalriada School Ballymoney. After starting work, he continued his education on a part time basis at Jordanstown Polytechnic and the University of Ulster in Coleraine.


After spending a lifetime in business, specialising in the field of Procurement and Supply Chain Management, retirement accompanied by lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic afforded him the time and opportunity to fulfil a lifetime ambition to write a book and The Penzance Smash is the result of these efforts.


He now lives very happily in the beautiful North Coast town of Portstewart with his wife Anne, with his three daughters and five grandchildren living nearby.

Customer Reviews
5.0
12 reviews
12 reviews
  • KBM Hartnett

    A wonderful book for all ages! Full of delightful personalities (bird and human), thrilling adventure, and history of a sport that is rich in tradition. Frankie Moffatt's writing transports the reader to a simpler time and does so with humour and grace.

  • Mark Roughan

    The Penzance Smash by Frankie Moffatt is delightful. It offers a wealth of intrigue from the start, evoking a family life full of joy, happiness, and a shared passion for the fascinating workingman's sport of Pigeon Racing. The narrative succinctly captures the mood of the country Post-WWII and creates a story full of colourful personalities, good sportsmanship, and a very engrossing competitive tension. A book not to be missed!

  • Gary Irwin

    This is a beautiful book. I loved it, and it will appeal across the ages. It works on so many levels but mostly it has a feel-good factor that brings a smile and sometimes a little tear to your eye. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

  • Neil Loughran

    Thoroughly enjoyed this - the telling of the story reminded me of the great English author Dick King Smith, whose work I enjoyed so much as a child.
    Despite Frankie Moffatt's past career on the soccer field, there is little more than the odd passing reference to his love for the beautiful game among these pages. Instead, The Penzance Smash is about all different kinds of love - the unspoken love between father and sons, the love for a mother who was gone too soon, and the love between man and bird that brought so much joy to a family finding their way.
    Riveting from start to end, and highly recommended. Well done Frankie.

  • bryan mcneill

    A wonderful book! It brought back many memories for me, especially of my own father who owned pigeons and would have been a good friend of Joe. I smiled the whole way through this lovely touching story. Frankie really hit the back of the net with this beautiful story.

  • Ronnie Moffatt

    A thoroughly enjoyable book which kept me entertained throughout. It moves seamlessly between fact and fiction to weave a story of pigeon racing that culminates in a happy and inspiring ending. The feel-good factor that we need at the minute.

  • Kay Crumley

    From start to end this book grabs not only your attention but your heartstrings. It is written with love and a strong family bond, in a time of innocence. The author holds your attention in a light hearted manner which makes this book a fantastic read for adults and children. It is a compelling read and I hope there are more to follow.

  • Sean Devine

    A really enjoyable read for all ages, a story that will put a smile on your face and one that you will not want to put down. My 11 year old scored it 10/10 which is up there with Harry Potter and l would not disagree. A very visual book with potential to being made into a short animated film and there's definitely room for a follow up book.

    A must for school libraries!!

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