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THE SPLENDOUR OF THE GALA
OBVIOUSLY nothing to do with angling Splendour of the Gala by Ken and Jean Smith goes to the heart of the North East - its strong links to the region's mining communities,
writes George Macintyre.
This well produced book - written, published
and printed in the North East - will not only find its way on to the desk of serious students of the history of the Durham
Miners' Gala and the Northumberland Miners' Picnic but, undoubtedly, it will also be popular with general readers.
The spirit and excitement of these annual events
is vividly captured by the authors who have researched their topic thoroughly and the book is freely illustrated with many
colour - and black and white - photographs not only of the pit bands who accompanied the marches to the "picnic"
areas but also of the colourful and evocative banners from long closed collieries. The authors make no claims of telling the entire history of the Durham Miners' Gala since it was first held in
August 1871 but, instead, tell in clear, vivid detail the stories behind the big day - the process behind the selection of
those who would proudly carry their pit banners, the pre-Gala parades through the villages and the trip to and from Durham. With family links to the Northumberland coalfields, the tales
relating to the Northumberland Miners' Picnic - which every June or July became a point of focus of the pit communities
of the county - were especially interesting especially those reminiscences of the former pit men and their families. I had
heard some of the tales before but many others were new and highly entertaining. Splendour of the Gala (ISBN: 978-09557510-7-3) is an excellent read and continues the high standards
established by the Smith writing partnership in their earlier works. It can be ordered from any bookshop or from the publishers
Ergo Press of Hexham on http://www.ergopress.com or ergo.press@yahoo.co.uk Splendour of the Gala by Ken and Jean Smith, Ergo Press, £9.99, published with the generous
support of Durham County Council and the Fire Brigades Union.
 LIFE
BEFORE
THE CROCODILE HUNTER
LIKE the above book this one, My Mate Steve Irwin: Life
before the Crocodile Hunter by Tony Frisby & Julie Gatehouse, has absolutely nothing to do with angling.
Like the above book this one was
co-written by a former colleague.
Julie Gatehouse, like Ken Smith, worked alongside me as a sub-editor on The Journal in Newcastle
upon Tyne before returning to her native Australia to pursue a successful career in newspapers and magazines.
My first impressions were that
this would be a shallow, uninformative spot of cashing in on a passing acquaintance with a superstar in the world of wildlife documentaries and conservation.
After the preface and the first
chapter I realised how wrong I had been, poured myself a glass of Coopers Sparkling Ale and a large Bundaberg rum-based dark
and stormy and settled down to thoroughly enjoy a well-written and illustrated series of memories that give an insight into
what had gone into the making of Steve Irwin who was to gain worldwide renown as the Crocodile Hunter.
This book looks at some of the
highs and lows in Irwin’s life from his rise to Hollywood superstar status, rubbing shoulders with the great and the
famous to the utter devastation wrought on him and his father, Bob, by the untimely death of his mother Lyn in a road
accident in 2000.
There
are glimpses, too, of a Queensland of 20 or 30 years ago before the onslaught of resorts and holiday homes and the encroachment
of humans on the territory of crocodiles, kangaroos and other wildlife.
These emphasise the importance of
the conservation work done by the Irwins and others such as Frisby, a parks ranger based at Yeppoon in Queensland.
Frisby, one of the early curators
at the Irwin’s reptile and fauna park – now Australia Zoo – often joined Irwin and his father, on reptile
catching trips in the remote bush, speaks fondly and passionately about his friendship with a man who was so far ahead of
his time in many ways.
I wholeheartedly agree with Frisby that if the media were looking for a name to hang on Irwin today it would be that
of Crocodile Whisperer.
Irwin richly deserved his reputation for safely relocating threatened crocodiles. He was
“bring them back alive” Irwin, a rescuer not a hunter.
One description of the trip to America for Irwin’s marriage to Terri Raines brought
a smile. Frisby pointed out that “their June summer meant maxes of 22 degrees Celsius (72 degrees Fahrenheit), only
just bearable for the cold-hating sunshine Coasters”, stirring memories of co-author Gatehouse snugly wrapped up in
a heavy, black winter coat while the rest of us made our way to a Newcastle pub in our shirt sleeves.
Apart from Frisby, Before the Crocodile Hunter
features equally fond memories of fellow home town friends and others who had met and worked with Irwin in the early years.
Far from being soppy and overly
sentimental this is a good read and, although not yet available in the UK, is certainly one worth looking out for.
My Mate Steve Irwin: Life
before the Crocodile Hunter by Tony Frisby & Julie Gatehouse, Longueville Books, www.longmedia.com.au
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