Amberley Publishing

Moscow in the Cold War. Karachi during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. Buenos Aires at the time of Perón’s death. Three critical chapters of twentieth-century history – and as a young diplomat, Tony Rossiter had a box seat.In Moscow in 1968, Western diplomats were kept under surveillance, their flats were bugged, and they were harassed by the KGB. From Moscow, Tony went to Karachi, a quasi-colonial world of servants and snobby expatriates. When war broke out, his young family huddled together as bomb blasts shook the walls. After a week of air attacks, women and children were belatedly evacuated. Transferred to Buenos Aires, it was out of the frying pan into the fire. Tony arrived, shortly after Perón’s reinstatement as president, as the Montoneros urban guerrillas were stepping up terrorist attacks against Western targets.Unlike the memoirs of most former diplomats, this book is not about high-level bureaucracy. Instead, it provides rare insight into the day-to-day life of a young man working at the coalface. Rossiter’s background was unusual for his era, and this vivid and evocative memoir offers a unique glimpse behind the curtain of international diplomacy.

Cardiff has seen multiple changes in the last two decades. Large areas of Wales’s capital city have been redeveloped, high-rise apartments and other tall buildings have transformed the city centre and the Cardiff Bay area, new shopping centres have been built, and the city has become a popular tourist destination. Author and photographer Chris Hunt has photographed Cardiff from the top of many of its tall buildings and here presents a fresh perspective on how much the city has changed over recent decades, revealing the evolving cityscape from above.From its iconic landmarks and historic buildings to new developments, these rooftop views show readers a fascinating perspective on Cardiff’s rich and varied heritage allied to the present-day vibrant city.

‘We knew that this time we were on the verge of a battle such as the world had never seen. Soon our excited talk rose to a pitch that would have rejoiced the hearts of any freebooters, or of Frederick’s grenadiers. A few days later there were very few of that party still alive.’Everyone is familiar with the story of the Battle of the Somme: on the morning of Saturday 1 July 1916 the finest army that Great Britain ever produced climbed out of their trenches and jauntily walked towards the German lines. In a few terrible, blood-soaked minutes they were mown down in their tens of thousands by merciless German machinegun fire – the flower of an entire generation lost, lions led by donkeys. The Somme was the worst defeat Britain ever suffered, a tragic lesson in history – but is this true? If it was then why did one German staff officer of the time write that ‘the Somme was the muddy grave of the German field army’?In truth the Battle of the Somme didn’t end on that fateful Saturday but continued for over four months as the astounding German victory of 1 July gradually evolved into a shattering defeat that would alter German strategy for the rest of the war. It would see the core of their army in the West gradually ground into the mud. The mass of histories on the battle have focused on the British experience, and especially on the tragedy of 1 July, but the German side has been largely forgotten. This is the story of the German soldiers who manned those deadly machineguns on 1 July and who were then forced to fight a losing battle until its remorseless end.

Lieutenant John Blomfield Dixon, East Riding Yeomanry, was twenty years old when he was captured near the village of Watou, Belgium, on 31 May 1940 during the retreat to Dunkirk. His combat career had been short but eventful, and now he began a long journey in captivity. He would be held in number of Oflags, POW camps for officers, including Laufen, Warburg, Posen, Biberach and finally Eichstätt in Bavaria. During his captivity, John recorded the highs and lows of camp life in a series of diaries. As the war progressed, he became more involved in camp theatrical productions, which included works by William Shakespear, Noël Coward and Benjamin Britten. John often played female roles, which he eventually grew to hate. He was finally released on 10 May 1945 after five long years behind the wire.Paul Johnson explores John’s account – his military service and capture, camp life, the efforts to escape, the killing of comrades, his hatred of both captors and captives, his participation in many theatrical performances, a forbidden love and his eventual return home. A fascinating selection of black and white and colourised photographs is also featured, depicting the life, laughs and love of a British POW in Germany during the Second World War.

Scarborough of the 1940s to 1960s was a fascinating place for a young bus enthusiast. Travelling from Hull to visit relatives at Newby, outside Scarborough, whether for a day or longer, provided an opportunity not only to observe and ride on United’s buses, but also to travel by East Yorkshire buses.The main attraction was United’s buses which were often in a state of transformation, from 1930s Leyland Titans to the forward-entrance Lodekkas of the 1960s. They were always well turned out in smart red-and-cream livery. Especially fascinating were the three variants of the centre-entrance single-deckers which worked the seafront service. In summer, frequencies were intensive to serve crowds of holidaymakers at the attractions, especially near the Corner Café and on the seafront.East Yorkshire used 1930s Titans (some with new bodies), post-war Titans with ‘Beverley Bar’ bodywork, Bridgemasters and Renowns, while the West Yorkshire fleet had standard Bristol double-deckers and saloons, some with ‘Bible-style’ destination indicators.This selection of evocative photographs provides a flavour of a long-departed but not forgotten time on Scarborough’s buses.

Leicester is one of the most intensely excavated historic cities in the country, resulting in many fantastic archaeological discoveries comprising a rich array of ancient buildings, objects, and the remains of the people who once lived in Leicester’s Roman and medieval past. The city’s heritage hit the global headlines with the discovery of King Richard III below a car park in 2012 but look beyond this and there is much more to learn.This book takes the reader on a journey from Leicester’s Iron Age origins along the riverbank to its establishment as a Roman town and Civitas Capital with large public buildings and spaces, along with lavish townhouses featuring fine mosaics. After Roman rule, the ruinous former city was still lived in with evidence for rarely found Anglo-Saxon buildings. Later, the medieval town has evidence for houses, a brewery, monastic buildings, cemeteries, and the burial of King Richard III.The Archaeology of Leicester in 20 Digs selects twenty of the most important archaeological sites and celebrates the discoveries from over 100 years of investigations, which have transformed our understanding of the city’s rich 2,000-year history. This book includes the most recent discoveries, and newest interpretations, with Leicester’s heritage presented in a fresh and accessible way, with photographs, illustrations, and links to provide a gateway to further reading.

Many railway enthusiasts have at one time or other visited some of the vast number of diesel and electric depots located around Britain. The British Locomotive Shed Directory once assisted enthusiasts to find the depots, some of which made permits available to individuals and parties for weekend visits. Scottish Region depots were extremely popular as free permits were readily available at one time, enabling enthusiasts to spot the highly sought-after Class 24, Class 26 and Class 27 locomotives, which seldomly worked south of the border. Martin Bray explores many of these diesel and electric depots, bringing back fond memories for those who visited them.Alongside a wealth of previously unpublished images, this book features fascinating facts about the depots, their locomotives, workings and other interesting memorabilia.

The world of motorcycling is split like many parts of the world of motoring enthusiasm by the identity of its members’ vehicles. As with motor cars, every motorcycle make is identified by a specific marque name and badge, the origins of which are both wide-ranging and fascinating.Some makes remain well known, such as Triumph (a name chosen to be easily recognisable in every language) and Harley Davidson (named after the company’s founders), while other marques have been swallowed up by history. Once-great British names such as BSA (a name created from the initials of the parent company Birmingham Small Arms) and Douglas (named after the company founders) are no longer with us, but their owners’ clubs keep their names alive and well. BSA motorcycles would be badged with a ‘piled arms’ symbol comprising three rifles, while Douglas would acquire the figure of a Scotsman called ‘Douglas’. Overseas, Honda would choose a winged ‘H’ for all its motorcycles and Laverda would use the colours of the Italian flag.Michael Burgess explores the intriguing history of the names and badges of motorcycle manufacturers from around the world, some well-known, some more obscure, with a selection of high-quality images.

These are the women who ruled, the women who founded dynasties, the women who fought for religious freedom, their families and love. These are the women who made a difference, who influenced countries, kings and the Reformation.Heroines of the Tudor World focuses on the women who lived through the Renaissance and Reformation, examining the threats and challenges they faced and how they overcame them. Studying regents, writers, nuns and queens, and taking in the likes of Elizabeth Barton, Anne Boleyn, Catherine de Medici, Bess of Hardwick and Elizabeth I, Sharon Bennett Connolly shines the spotlight on the women who helped to shape Early Modern Europe.

Gloucester was a significant city in Roman Britain and has played an important role in the history of this country in the two millennia since then. It has also had an individual and often strange history over this period and in this book local historian author Paul James takes a look at his home city and uncovers some of its quirkier aspects. From Pinchbelly Alley to Rainbow Streets; from Ron Taylor’s Boxing Booth to W. G. Grace this book explores some of the oddities and characters that help characterise this ancient city. Readers will find stories of long-lost legal cases, ancient customs, modern myths, unusual foodstuffs, curious attractions, remarkable animals and much, much more.Drawing on archive material as well as his own, extensive, local knowledge Paul James presents a fresh look at Gloucester - from a slightly different angle – as he delves into lesser known but fascinating tales from the city’s past. Quirky Gloucester celebrates the unusual and often strange history of Gloucester and its characters over the years. This fascinating insight into Gloucester will be of interest to all those who want to know more about the city’s quirky history.

Over half of the Wirral’s built environment is Victorian and the era has left a huge imprint on the area. In this period the first docks across the River Mersey from Liverpool opened and Birkenhead became a pioneering planned Victorian town, including its municipal park and lodges which was the template later for Central Park in New York, the coastal town of New Brighton was developed as a coastal resort and Lord Leverhulme built his masterpiece garden village at Port Sunlight. Alongside these, many grand Victorian public buildings, town halls, baths, markets, libraries etc, were built as well as more humble but noteworthy structures. Another Victorian gem on Wirral is the magnificent cemetery at Flaybrick and the work of many nineteenth century architectural greats such as Pugin, Gilbert Scott, Norman Shaw and George Street can be found throughout the area. The book is illustrated throughout.All those interested in the history of the Wirral will find this a fascinating exploration of the Victorian heritage of this area.

Think of Cambridgeshire and images of dreaming spires, gowned students and river punting probably spring to mind. In this book, local author Kathryn Brereton shares some of the lesser-known jewels of Cambridge City and the tucked-away treasures to be found across the county. Celebrating the remarkable landscapes, buildings, characters, stories and festivals; ''50 Gems of Cambridgeshire'' will appeal to all those who wish to learn more about this fascinating corner of the country.The author reveals that Cambridgeshire is a county that is different to any other in England. This superbly illustrated book explains its geography and history and shows how town, gown and the unique, watery landscape have shaped each other throughout the centuries. From Whittlesey’s strange Straw Bear Festival and the soaring splendour of Ely Cathedral to the ghostly goings-on in an historic riverside inn; Cambridgeshire offers something for everyone.Guided by an author who knows the county well, readers will discover the places and the heritage that make Cambridgeshire special.

Stockton-on-Tees was a small port and market town in the north-east of England for much of its history. Shipbuilding and other industries gradually established themselves over the years, but it was with the Industrial Revolution that the town received a massive boost. The opening of the pioneering Stockton & Darlington Railway enabled coal to be transported to the port. Industries developed around the discovery of iron ore locally, as well as engineering and potteries, and the population expanded rapidly. The town was transformed by large areas of Victorian dwellings, absorbing neighbouring settlements. By the turn of the twentieth century the town was supported by a thriving market, theatres, pubs, schools, libraries, fairs, parks and churches. The depression of the interwar years and the closure of shipyards saw many lose their jobs, but the period also saw the start of the chemical industry at Billingham, which grew into a vast complex. Although today Stockton has lost much of its traditional industry, sites have been turned into business parks, attracting service industries and a university campus. The story of the town tells of heroes, inventors, business leaders, rioters as well as the lives of ordinary folk. Illustrated throughout, this accessible historical portrait of the transformation that Stockton-on-Tees has undergone through the ages will be of great interest to residents, visitors and all those with links to the town.

Before its present-day affluence, the Notting Hill area of London once had a second-to-none reputation for its criminality. Victorian developers sought to bring in wealthy Londoners to the large villas, but in the twentieth century the houses became multi-occupancy and the area synonymous with cheap lodging and crimes of every hue. In Notting Hill and North Kensington Murders and Misdemeanours author Mick Davis explores some of the most notorious crimes associated with Notting Hill and adjoining North Kensington from the Victorian era onwards, including some of the less publicised but equally sensational crimes and infamous characters of this fascinating area. This collection of true-life crime stories gives a vivid insight into life in Notting Hill and North Kensington in the past. This book will fascinate anyone with an interest in the history of crime, as well as those who want to know more about the history of this corner of West London.

Newport Bus, the operating name of Newport Transport Limited, is the main provider of bus services in the city of Newport. It is one of a few remaining municipal bus companies in the United Kingdom and the second largest in Wales after Cardiff Bus. Newport has gone through a period of great change since the turn of the millennium, and so has its buses. The traditional green and cream livery has been replaced and now buses operate in overall green. 2020 saw the introduction of a fleet of Electric Yutong vehicles, making Newport Bus the largest operator of electric buses in Wales at that time.With a wealth of previously unpublished images, Simon Ingham documents the changing face of the city’s municipal bus company.

There have been many books on Victoria Cross heroes but this is the first one to explore the lives of those for whom the greatest accolade did not bring contentment, happiness or lasting fame. Men like the Cheltenham-born Duncan Boyes. The seventeen-year-old Midshipman Boyes won the VC in 1864, carrying the Queen's Colour through withering Japanese fire. Four years later, he would commit suicide by jumping out of a hotel window in Dunedin, New Zealand. How such tragedies unfold – and why – is the essence of this book. How do we judge the actions of Martin Doyle VC MM, for example? At the Battle of the Somme in 1916, under heavy fire, he carried a wounded officer to safety. Later he went to the aid of men in a blazing tank. When a machine gun opened up at close range, preventing the rescue of the wounded, he charged and silenced it, taking three prisoners. He also carried another wounded soldier to safety despite intense fire. Soon, he would be an IRA intelligence officer arranging the deaths of British soldiers. For Victoria Cross holders there is an observation that it is sometimes easier to win the medal than to wear it. Glory and Dishonour shows how true that can be.