According to Mr Phinn himself his books are "about my life as a school inspector in the Yorkshire Dales. ...a humorous account of the children and teachers I have met - sort of gentle, life affirming, observational writing."
This book bobs backwards and forwards in time with anecdotes from both school life and his own personal life. It covers stories from being a small child growing up and going to school in Rotherham, working as a teacher and inspector in schools where he met many interesting characters, being retired and still being recognised by pupils he taught decades before, attending events as a speaker and also observing and overhearing people in conversation in everyday life. The book is split into a lot of small sections and stories and so can easily be picked up for just a few minutes to read an anecdote or two.
I have previously, many years ago, read the books in 'The Dales Series'. These are:
'The Other Side of the Dale', 'Over Hill and Dale', 'Head over Heels in the Dales', 'Up and Down in the Dales'. I don't remember reading the final one - 'The Heart of the Dales'.
On my bookshelf I have 'Trouble at the Little Village School' still to read.
I have seen Gervase Phinn speak a couple of times. He is very entertaining and has his audience laughing out loud.
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