Amberley Publishing strana 2 z 20

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vehicles, making Newport Bus the largest operator of electric buses in Wales at that time.With a wealth of previously unpublished images, Simon Ingham documents the changing face of the city’s municipal bus company.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.

Colchester is popularly the oldest recorded city in England, dating from before the Roman invasion. Under the Romans, Camulodunum, as it was known, was a major city. Later, Saxon settlers and the Normans used Roman ruins for their buildings, not least for the Norman castle. During the late Middle Ages Colchester became rich again on the wool trade and by the eighteenth century became known as a garrison town. Today, Colchester is at the heart of a fast-growing area and was awarded city status in 2022. A–Z of Colchester reveals the history behind the city, its streets and buildings, industries, and the people connected with it. Alongside the famous historical connections are unusual characters, tucked-away places and unique events that are less well known. Readers will discover tales of scandal, clockmakers, radicals, the Great British Earthquake of 1883 which destroyed many local buildings, and zedonks in Colchester Zoo, among many other fascinating facts in this A–Z tour of Colchester’s history. Fully illustrated throughout, this book will appeal to all those with an interest in this ancient Essex city.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a family of long-range, mid-size, wide-body, twin-engine jet airliners that can accommodate 242–330 passengers in a typical two-class seating configuration. The airliner features a high degree of technological innovation in design concepts, construction materials and control systems. It is the world’s first major commercial airliner to have a fuselage, wings and tail made from composite materials. The variable camber wings with raked wing tips lead to a high cruising speed and reduced fuel consumption. The airliner makes extensive use of electrical systems in place of many pneumatic components; it has an advanced fly-by-wire control system which automatically optimises the wing’s configuration for maximum efficiency, and new technologies are used for the flight-deck instrumentation. The aircraft is powered by next-generation engines – General Electric GEnx-1B or the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000. Three variants have been built: the initial 787-8, a stretched 787-9 variant and the largest variant, the 787-10. The 787 first entered service with ANA on 26 October 2011. It is now operated worldwide by over seventy airlines including major flag carriers, low-cost long-haul operators and leisure airlines. Nigel Richardson describes the evolution, design and development of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner with high-quality illustrations and technical information.

Serving the main towns of Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and South Bedfordshire and with Green Line routes into Central London, Arriva The Shires had around 350 vehicles by the early 2010s. In 2013, the Milton Keynes fleet was absorbed into The Shires licence, around the same time as a guided busway opened between Luton and Dunstable. Following Arriva’s changes to management and licences, the Hertfordshire operations and garages moved to Kent Thameside in 2016. At the same time, the London-contracted services passed with Watford Garage to Arriva London North, leaving the company to serve south Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire. It was all change again in 2024 with the closure of Aylesbury and High Wycombe garages, leaving a much-slimmed-down fleet based in Luton and Milton Keynes on the Shires licence.With 180 colour images and informative captions, Gary Seamarks details the vehicles operated over the last twenty-five years, many of which have cascaded in from the Midlands fleet, along with new rolling stock for use on the Luton Busway and the Green Line 757 between Luton and its airport into Central London.

The city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the towns and villages of North Tyneside, including Wallsend, North Shields, Killingworth, Tynemouth and Whitley Bay, were important settlements in the mediaeval era but the shipping trade and growing industrialisation in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries saw the population in the area increase rapidly. Alongside the ancient churches, many more churches were built to support those communities and today, the churches of both boroughs act as significant historic records of the architecture, cycle of life, and the growth of Christian faith in the region. The churches have become recognized as a part of the landscape. In addition, many visitors are drawn today to the pilgrimage routes that pass through this area, some centred on Newcastle Cathedral.This fascinating picture of an important part of the history of Newcastle and North Tyneside over the centuries will be of interest to all those who live in or are visiting this part of the country.

Bedfordshire may be amongst England’s smallest counties but its 700,000 residents and increasing numbers of visitors have a wealth of places to explore within its boundaries. Alongside the urban areas of Luton and Bedford, the county offers plenty of green spaces, including the Chiltern Hills. The county has connections with John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim’s Progress, Catherine of Aragon and the Whitbread family, dating back some 250 years when the brewing pioneer was MP for Bedford. In this book local authors John and Jenny Jackson reveal the vital role a Bedfordshire barn played during World War, exactly why Luton Town Football Club are appropriately nicknamed ‘The Hatters’, the churchyard that inspired J. M. Barrie’s character, Wendy, in Peter Pan, and much more.50 Gems of Bedfordshire explores the many places and their history that make this part of the country so special, including natural features, towns and villages, buildings and places of historical interest. Alongside justly famous attractions, others will be relatively unknown but all have an interesting story to tell.

British Airways has an almost unique history. Spanning over a century from the first flight of Aircraft Transport and Travel Ltd from London to Paris in 1919 to the modern fuel-efficient aircraft of its current fleet, British Airways has proudly connected Britain to the World and the World to Britain. Over that journey through the rapidly evolving early years of pioneering aviation, taking days to cross continents with biplanes and seaplanes, through the post-war piston-engine luxury, the iconic jet age of the fabulous Boeing 707 and 747, the supersonic marvel of Concorde into the modern era of travel, British Airways has seen many historic events and carried literally billions of customers. Along the way that journey has generated vast amounts of treasured items, many of which are now displayed or stored at British Airways headquarters near Heathrow in its truly incredible museum, the Speedbird Centre. Much of the archive has true national importance and is kept as part of the nation’s heritage. From simple in-flight mementos to the Olympic torch, the items featured in this book represent just a flavour of that collection and bring decades of flight to life.

Mick Graham, acclaimed artist and veteran soldier of the Royal Tank Regiment, has been interested in tanks his entire life. As a young lad in the late 1960s he used to play on the obsolete Bundeswehr M47s and M48s heading down range at Hohne, Germany, where his father was stationed. He went on to fire at these same ‘hard targets’ as a Chieftain tank gunner in the early 1980s. Always cherishing these moments, he dabbled in painting during his military career but never felt his work was anything special. Having resumed painting seven years ago, today, Mick’s stunning depictions of tanks in their natural environment with incredible attention to detail are highly sought after by veterans, serving soldiers, museums and companies such as Royal Mail.Lavishly illustrated with more than a hundred original artworks, this book tells the story of an ex-tankie with a unique and self-taught talent for bringing back to life the memories of service members, young and old.

For much of its history Ealing was a rural village in Middlesex, outside London. Improved communications encouraged first its development as a market garden for the capital and later as an attractive suburb in West London, nicknamed ‘Queen of the Suburbs’. In this book, local historians Dr Jonathan Oates and Paul Howard Lang look back over the centuries to uncover the fascinating history of the district. The new public buildings, churches and chapels played an important role alongside large-scale housing developments from the nineteenth century onwards. Leisure was important in Ealing too. The inhabitants of Ealing included many famous names recorded by blue plaques today but all benefitted from the growth of shopping centres in the area. Not only was it well-known for its open spaces but is also the home of film studios. The stories of Ealing’s places and people bring the history to life, together with illustrations to show where reminders of the area’s past can still be found.Illustrated throughout, this accessible historical portrait of the transformation that Ealing has undergone through the ages will be of great interest to residents, visitors and all those with links to the district.

Gosport has been associated with the Royal Navy for much of its history. Although the naval presence has been heavily reduced today, a few establishments remain but the town has many reminders of its history as a major naval base on Portsmouth Harbour. The first naval fortifications were built during the reign of King Charles II and further fortifications, training establishments, hospitals, barracks and other buildings were added in subsequent centuries. Many of the buildings have been converted to other uses and the harbour is now a marina.A-Z of Gosport reveals the history behind Gosport, its streets and buildings, businesses, and the people connected with the town. Alongside the famous historical connections, are unusual characters, tucked away places and unique events that are less well-known. Readers will discover tales about the Explosion! Museum, the ‘Gosport Tragedy’ folk song, an enclosed Victorian garden and the scientist who identified a rare genetic disorder among many other fascinating facts in this A-Z tour of Gosport’s history. It is fully illustrated with photography and will appeal to all those with an interest in this town on the Hampshire coast.

This book documents the surprisingly varied bus scene in Chelmsford, one of Britain’s newest cities, since 2000. Although the main operator is First, whose fleet in the city is mainly single deck due to the famous low railway bridge in Duke Street, the fleet does still have a number of double-deckers. In fact, the number of double-deckers in Chelmsford has increased in recent years as First have converted several inter urban routes to double-deck operation. The new liveries recently introduced by First are also featured in this book. In addition to First, Chelmsford continues to be served by other operators such as Arriva, Stephensons and Go Ahead Group subsidiary Hedingham. Regal Busways were also a familiar sight in Chelmsford before their demise. All are included here.Containing high-quality photographs, this book will appeal to those interested in the ever evolving and fascinating bus scene in Chelmsford.

Sheffield grew rapidly during the Industrial Revolution to become one of the largest cities in the country by the nineteenth century. It was best known for its cutlery industry, producing stainless steel locally, and its steel and coal industries played a vital role in the war effort in the Second World War, leading to the city being targeted by German aerial bombardment. Despite the industrialisation, Sheffield has more green spaces than most cities in Britain and more trees per head of population than any other city in Europe. Lying on the edge of the Peak District, many streets climb into the hills with views beyond the city boundaries.Drawing on archive material as well as his own, extensive, local knowledge Robert Nicholls presents a fresh look at Sheffield - from a slightly different angle – as he delves into lesser known but fascinating tales from the city’s past. Quirky Sheffield celebrates the unusual and often strange history of Sheffield and its characters over the years. This fascinating insight into Sheffield will be of interest to all those who want to know more about the city’s quirky history.

Southdown Motor Services, the acclaimed South Coast operator with their instantly recognisable green-and-cream livery, were loyal Leyland customers for many years. They took delivery of their first Bristol RE buses in early 1968, further deliveries in 1969 and 1971 and inherited thirteen following the take-over of Brighton Hove and District, bringing the fleet total to eighty-five.The first batch of Bristol REs were forty-five-seaters with Marshall bodywork delivered between April and July in 1968. The second batch, seating forty-nine, also had Marshall bodies and were delivered from April 1969 onward. These buses were fitted with Gardner engines at the rear and Southdown specified manual gear boxes in both batches. Unpopular with some drivers and on some routes, they were nevertheless part of the history of the company. Nine Marshall-bodied examples were added to the fleet in 1971. These were semi-automatic, with Leyland supplying the engine, and were powerful and easier to drive than their earlier counterparts. Three more arrived that year featuring more conventional Eastern Coach Works bodies. Those acquired from Brighton Hove and District had Gardner engines, semi-automatic gearboxes and twin-door Eastern Coach Works bodies.Simon Stanford details Southdown’s Bristol REs with previously unpublished images and detailed captions. Three buses survive, regularly attending shows and rallies in the South East, and are also pictured here.

In the Tudor court, love blossomed when Henry Percy met Anne Boleyn. However, their romance was abruptly torn apart by Cardinal Wolsey, who chastised Percy, an earl’s son, for choosing to marry the daughter of a mere knight. Despite a spirited defence, Percy was ordered to no longer see her. Percy was forced into marrying Mary Talbot, daughter of the fourth Earl of Shrewsbury. The loveless match proved acrimonious and bitter, culminating in Mary accusing her husband of trying to poison her. After a quarrel in which Percy, now sixth Earl of Northumberland, mentioned his betrothal to Anne Boleyn, Mary wrote to her father to warn King Henry VIII that her husband and Anne had been precontracted, hoping to stop the king marrying her. But there was more to Henry Percy than being Anne’s first love. Though often ill, he executed all the rough and arduous duties of Scottish border warfare, proving to be a strong and effective Warden of the North. His was a full life, though not a particularly happy one. In June 1537, aged thirty-five and old before his time, he died poor and ostensibly alone. He was buried on the same day he died, the crown denying him even the usual aristocratic funeral. In the first full-length biography of this fascinating man, Jan-Marie Knights tells a story of love, duty and loss.

Although mammoths and straight-tusked elephants once roamed Britain before extinction, and there is reference to Roman war elephants being used in Britain, the first elephant explicitly recorded arrived in 1255 as a gift to King Henry III. The creature was kept in the Tower of London and was a source of wonder and entertainment: the role the elephant would play in Britain from that time on.In A History of Elephants in Britain, author Barclay Price takes the reader on a fascinating exploration of the animal’s associations with Britain through the ages. He charts mediaeval views of the first elephants seen, the early menageries and circuses and performing elephants to famous elephants such as Jumbo in Victorian London, elephants in popular culture and representations in public sculptures and paintings. Full with unusual tales and fascinating facts, this well-researched history will introduce readers to the fascinating history of elephants in Britain up to the twenty-first century.