Porto Press Ltd

A fascinating guide to early train disasters, illustrated through contemporary postcards and explained expertly by John Hannavy. The track record of Britain’s railways in the early 20th century was not a good one – in 1909, a report titled ‘General Report to the Board of Trade upon the Accidents that have occurred on the Railway of the United Kingdom during the year 1908’, was published, concluding that over 1,000 people had died on the railways during the year, and nearly 8,000 others had been injured. With the Edwardian era marking the heyday of the photographic postcard, many of the accidents which occurred were photographed in often-graphic detail and, in the days before photographs in newspapers became commonplace, postcards disseminated those news pictures rapidly across the world. John Hannavy is a writer, photographer and historian, with a lifelong fascination for both postcards and railway history.

A guide to cast-metal signs, an under-researched aspect of Britain’s industrial history. Discover a hidden chapter of Britain’s industrial pastUncover the artistry of unsung metalworkers whose skill informed, guided, and protected millionsExplore the signs you’ve seen but never truly noticedLearn how simple metal signs helped save countless livesA tangible connection to Britain’s industrial heritagePerfect for railway enthusiasts and history lovers

A book that follows the story of reindeers and humans. Both arrived in Europe at roughly the same time. The reindeer took a winding route from South America, through North America and Beringia in far-eastern Russia, before crossing the Ural Mountains and beginning the journey southwestward into Europe. Humans, on the other hand, started in Africa and entered Europe from the south. One adapted to a life surrounded by snow and ice; the other was entirely dependent on the heat of the sun. A claim that such vastly different species would forge strong bonds and become mutually dependent would have seemed far-fetched. But that’s exactly what happened!For over 500,000 years, large herds of migrating reindeer sustained three different human species during the harshest climatic periods. Time and again, as cold and glaciers pushed humans into small ice-age refuges, it was reindeer that were consumed by the light of flickering fires. Today, a steadily warming planet and habitat loss threatens the survival of the reindeer. Now, it is the reindeer that needs help from humans. The time has come for a role reversal in the mountains.

Adventure Skiing is a book that places adventure at the centre of the skiing experience. It's your gateway to a new world of skiing—one where the thrill of exploration, freedom, and wild terrain take centre stage. In an era where traditional ski resorts are becoming crowded and expensive, this book offers a refreshing alternative. Whether you're frustrated by crowded pistes or seeking to escape the impact of climate change on the ski industry, Adventure Skiing shows you how to reclaim the true spirit of the sport. This isn’t another guidebook or technical manual—there are plenty of those already. Instead, it’s an invitation to explore the vast possibilities of off-piste skiing, where you can escape to uncrowded slopes of fresh, "wild snow." It empowers you to rely on your own skills, fitness, and judgement to discover the exhilaration of ski touring and adventure skiing—whether on a one-day trek through the Scottish Highlands or an epic multi-day journey through the Alps. What you’ll gain from Adventure Skiing:Inspiration and Confidence: Real-life adventure stories that will inspire you to venture beyond the resort and explore new terrain. Clarity on the Skiing Adventure Path: Step-by-step guidance on progressing your adventure skiing skills, so you can gradually take on more challenging objectives—without feeling overwhelmed. Practical Insights: Personal accounts that detail what to expect, helping you make informed decisions and prepare for a variety of skiing adventures, from remote snow-camping to hut-to-hut tours. A New Perspective on Adventure: Learn how skiing can offer different kinds of adventures based on your goals, risk tolerance, and fitness level—no matter where you are or how much time you have. If you're ready to take your skiing to the next level and experience the true adventure of wild, untouched snow, this book is your guide to making it happen. It’s about more than just skiing—it’s about pushing your limits, finding your own path, and embracing the journey.

‘This textbook on tanker operations has been written to provide the knowledge and skills required to improve work safety, and enhance a seafarer’s awareness of their social responsibility to the marine environment in easy-to-read text. It covers all the aspects of tanker operations with lucid explanations using enhanced graphics and diagrams and is bound to be of immense value for those keen to serve on board an oil tanker as a cargo officer’. Extract from Foreword by Ms Mary Liew, General Secretary, Singapore Maritime Officers’ UnionThis vital new handbook complies with the learning objectives of the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) Advanced Oil Tanker model course (2-3-2). It is easy to read and understand and is supported by several photos, enhanced graphics, links to video sites (for relevant topics), tables and examples of tanker calculations. It will be indispensable reading for students who wish to pursue a career at sea and serve on tankers as officers. It will also be essential for maritime colleges for use as teaching material for their tanker courses and also as a reference book. Tanker companies will also find it of great value where it can be kept on board their vessel/s as a handy reference.

A deeply researched, well crafted biography of Admiral Sir Jock Slater, whose career culminated as First Sea Lord from 1995 to 1998. It illuminates pivotal moments in the evolution of British naval and air power during the late twentieth century. Reveals what made Slater one the most successful and longest serving admirals of the Cold War eraTouches on Slater’s relations with the Royal familyDiscloses previously unknown episodes in the making of British defence and naval policyUses as primary sources the memories of those who took part in events, such as the making nuclear policy, the decision to send women to sea, the end of the gay ban, UK-Russia relations and the establishment of British Maritime DoctrineThis book will appeal to anyone interested in naval history.

An extraordinary book, with its origin in the author’s long-standing interest in monuments and memorials, arising from many years of wandering Scotland’s hills and glens. It reflects and encapsulates a huge variety of monuments in every style imaginable – pillars, towers, obelisks, mausoleums, cairns and many more curious shapes. Everything from much-loved dogs and horses to seemingly obscure members of the aristocracy have been commemorated. Sculptors, artists and designers have let their imagination run free resulting in a glorious collection of places to visit. Grouped into 20 categories, the monuments and memorials are placed in proper context, which is important in understanding their timing and location.With the aid of this book readers will be able to anticipate the joy of discovering a monument and unearthing the reason for its creation.

A book that provides an extraordinary and rare glimpse into the daily life of a cadet and midshipman in the Victorian Navy. After two years at the Britannia Naval College at Dartmouth, Bryan Godfrey Faussett joined his first ship, HMS Dido, in June 1879 when he was just 15. He wrote long letters home to his family and friends, remarkably making copies that have survived. These provide a very rare glimpse into the life of a midshipman in the Royal Navy of Queen Victoria. His descriptions of West Africa include the death of the Dido's captain and a conference of local kings and chieftains aboard Dido ship that aimed at resolving disputes among them. Dido also spends time on Africa's east coast at the time of the first Boer war and his descriptions of that conflict, in which some of the crew of the Dido were sent to fight, are fascinating. In his Foreword, Rear Admiral John Lang says: 'Although still a teenager, he writes well, with an eye for a good story. His sense of humour shines through much of his writing, and he was very evidently a congenial colleague among his shipmates. Common themes include his interest in animals, both dead and alive, and we are introduced to monkeys, a leopard, a turtle, buffaloes and even the cockyollie bird!’

A book that tells the story of courageous people with strong family values who persisted, against all odds, in the years prior to the birth of the Irish nation. In 1837 an Irish Catholic peasant laboured from dawn to dusk farming land owned by the Marquess of Ely. Trapped in a feudal system from which there was no escape Alec Power should have lived and died working these fields, be he escaped. Through strength of character, tenacity, and some luck, Alec gained admittance into the Irish Lightkeeping Service. The author brings alive the story of Alec and his wife, Maggie, who spent their lives in dangerous places on the coasts of Ireland, contending with nature at its wildest. Enduring incredibly rugged, dangerous conditions, surviving the Great Famine, this was truly life on the edge. Read about Alec's son, Thomas, who trained to be a lightkeeper, but was inexorably drawn to the most advanced technology and the most dynamic business of his times, the railway. He became part of the new Irish middle class, emerging just as the Irish people intensified their struggle to seek freedom and nationhood. "...[the] writing style is outstanding...mixing in large elements of Irish history, such as the Land wars and the strikes before World War 1... the style of the book flows exceptionally well...[the] re-creations of so many deaths were incredibly poignant and very moving."  Peter Graves, Australia

Appalled by the catastrophic decline of the capercaillie – once a common and widespread bird in Scotland – Roy Dennis has come up with solutions. The numbers of capers in Scotland’s pine forests have tumbled from 20,000 in the 1960s to about 400 today. The bird is facing extinction and without major conservation recovery could die out again, as it did in the early 19th century.Roy Dennis has known the caper since 1960 and writes about how to save this beautiful ‘great turkey-like bird’. The story – illustrated throughout by magnificent colour photographs – concerns its old pine forest habitat and how the capercaillie’s living space has become dysfunctional. The key to recovery is to mimic the original ancient ox, the great aurochs, which had a profound beneficial impact on the ecology of the woodlands. It was eliminated by humans millennia ago, but its place was taken by Neolithic cattle arriving here after a long migration from the Middle East, where they had been domesticated from local aurochs 10,000 years ago. It was a major step in human evolution.Those early cattle morphed into the Highland cow, which is the closest relative of its ancient ancestor. These cattle, herded by the people living in Scotland, were part of the woodland scene right through until the middle of the last century. Roy explains why they are the key to recovery – the cattle would restore the ecosystem, creating path networks, increasing biodiversity and invertebrate populations to the benefit of capercaillies but also for the whole of wild nature.The life of the capercaillie is dealt with in detail, as is the history and present situation of Highland cattle – the most recognisable cow in the world and a favourite with everyone. The contrast with commercial cattle is explained, as is how to get the maximum benefit for the capercaillie, including greatly increasing the Scots pine woodlands. This is a book by an expert, written for everyone.

In 1954 the decision to locate the country’s fast reactor R&D nuclear programme at Dounreay’s disused military airfield in Caithness, eight miles west of the town of Thurso, changed the fishing and farming county forever. Thurso’s population trebled in just eight years, with the incomers being labelled the 'Atomics'. The recreational, economic, social and welfare upheaval was immense, but due to good foresight and planning by the UKAEA in conjunction with local councils and officials, social integration was viewed as successful. Throughout its lifespan Dounreay was mired in controversy and this book doesn't shy away from the bad press, incidents, health scares and court fines that became the backdrop of its existence. Not to mention the continual standoff between the Government and anti-nuclear campaigners over the activities on site. By the late 80s fast reactor technology was no longer required and the last reactor was shut down in 1994. But that wasn't the end of the story as the challenging work programme of clean-up, decommissioning and demolition will extend to the 2070s. Only then can Caithness and North Sutherland look forward to life after Dounreay.

This is the story of a WW2 airfield that wasn’t there. RAF Wick was a decoy airfield near Sarclet, by Thrumster in Caithness. For a brief period it was busy, active and vital, full of people and buildings with three broad and very obvious tracks with lights and noise. It was very much on the map, specifically designed to draw attention to itself. But it was an illusion dreamed up by military strategists and cinema-set designers. Air Ministry cartographers transposed the design of a real aerodrome onto a blank area on the map. Planners added standard building designs in the right places. Construction workers created runways that a plane could not land on. Artists and craftsmen made planes that couldn’t fly. Men and women from all over the country came to work at a place that was not a working airfield, although their very presence was an essential part of the deception. This book tells the story of how RAF Wick became a part of the lives of the people who built it, worked there or lived nearby.

From Cassackia to Kazakhstan is a collection of fascinating historical maps. The uniqueness of the collection lies in the fact that all the geographical maps presented are original and authentic historical documents from the 16th to the 20th centuries, starting with a 1540 map ornamented with sea creatures. It is particularly noteworthy that in addition to maps from Europe, Russia, and the United States, maps published in China and Japan are also included. The maps which have undergone expert verification for authenticity present the development of Kazakh statehood and demonstrate the changing boundaries of the historical territory leading to modern Kazakhstan. This enables the reader to clearly appreciate the historical process of the evolution of Kazakh statehood. The maps and illustrations are compiled in chronological order and each map is accompanied by a bibliographic description with additional information, including the origin of the map. This collection of 51 antique historical maps was donated to the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan to provide public access for anyone interested in the history of Kazakhstan.

This book is a wonderful selection of inspiring photographs reflecting life along 147 miles of fretted Caithness coastline in the far north of Scotland. Divided into five broad habitats: harbours; seas; beaches, dunes and links; sea cliffs and stacks; and rocky shorelines, each photograph is accompanied by explanatory information, opening the door into a wider world for the interested reader. From tranquil, sandy beaches to imposing sea cliffs, rocky shorelines to wild surf, the Caithness coast is a delight for those who love nature and treasure the great outdoors. The geology of the coastal cliffs, where the Old Red Sandstone bedrock has been exposed to erosion from wind and wave over millennia provides a home for the vast colonies of breeding seabirds over the summer months and the dunes and links a haven where special little plants thrive despite their exposure to the raw energy of the sea to the north and east ? all these factors combine to create one of the world?s great coasts. This is a coast where life is challenged by the unforgiving conditions of Scotland?s northernmost county; where life is at the edge of land and sea. Harbours provide a focal point for wildlife, from the familiar sound of the herring gull perched on the harbour wall, always on the lookout for an easy meal from an unsuspecting summer tourist, to less familiar birds, such as sawbills and divers taking advantage of the calmer waters of the harbour basins during the winter. At sea, the sight of an otter feeding on a fish close to shore makes the heart sing, whilst a tall triangular fin cutting menacingly through the water, indicating the presence of an orca, makes the heart beat just that little bit faster. Waders scurry along sandy beaches feeding on the tide?s bounty, and in the dunes and links there is an array of charming plants blooming during the summer months, among which the Scottish primrose (Primula scotica) takes botanical pride of place; all attracting a range of pollinators. There is so much to discover and such a remarkable diversity, whether in the sea, on the beach or a rocky shoreline. Life at the Edge takes you there, and in such captivating detail through both words and images. This is a book of natural wonders to be savoured and enjoyed, time and again, enabling the reader to experience the essence of the natural history of the Caithness coast

For one hundred years Scottish medical explorers were at the forefront of exploration within the British Empire, as exemplified by these five individuals. This dominant role was facilitated by the convergence of four events: the unification of Scotland and England, the Scottish Enlightenment, Scotland’s unique method of preparing doctors, and the need for a new type of explorer. These events provided the men of Scotland with a trajectory that was quite different from their English counterparts.Throughout the century of exploration, Britain concentrated on expanding its already extensive global empire, and leading this movement were the men of Scotland.  Over half of the British explorers from this era were Scottish and often doctors who had received their training at Scottish universities. Those graduating from the University of Edinburgh outnumbered those from other Scottish universities by a ratio of almost 9 to 1. Why were there so many Scottish doctors exploring a dangerous and unknown world and why were these medical explorers uniquely more qualified to lead this effor? key factor was that the British Imperial Century required a new type of explorer.  Prior exploration had focused on finding new lands, establishing trade routes, and creating colonies. Although trade and profit were still significant considerations, new focuses like economic botany and voyages exclusively for the sake of science took precedence. Losing Sight of the Shore shines a light on this most productive and adventurous era while providing detail and context about the people and the times in which they lived.Although Losing Sight of the Shore profiles five medical explorers in detail, this is not a biography but a history which aims to understand and explain the ideology and philosophy of a group of Scottish-trained physicians and surgeons; and how their interaction within the political, cultural, intellectual, and social context of the time helped define the British Imperial Century.

In this sequel to Life in Lethinnis, Rory offers a further collection of pen-portraits from those early years in the place he has called Lochuisge. In the tradition of Lillian Beckwith’s The Hills is Lonely, or Sybil Armstrong’s A Croft in Clachan, the anecdotes inevitably revolve around the strong characters that made up this isolated community and became part of everyday life. With the author continuing to earn a living as a professional biologist, the characters featured are both human and animal as the various tales capture the atmosphere of living and working in this tight-knit community into which he and his wife were so immediately welcomed.After 20 years leading a research group in wildlife biology at the University of Southampton, Rory Putman decided to ‘retire’ to the Highlands of Scotland, moving with his wife to a croft at the edge of a small and somewhat inaccessible village on the west coast. In the same vein as the well-received Life in Lethinnis, he offers a further collection of cameos from those first few years as they moved into and settled in their remote smallholding.The author’s intimate writing style draws the reader with him into the heart of that same community. But in this sequel there is perhaps a greater darkness as Putman registers that life on the Peninsula is changing and that he is in effect chronicling the end of an era.