Search results for ""quiller publishing ltd""

BHS Riding Out has been written primarily for people who work, or are thinking of working, in roles that include leading or escorting rides from licensed riding schools, trekking centres, horse hotels and similar establishments. It is recommended reading for those working towards a British Horse Society qualification of Stage 2 or Stage 3 Ride Leader.In addition to providing information to those whose professional role includes taking out rides, this book will be of value to those being escorted, whether newcomers to riding or those of greater experience. It contains plenty of practical advice that will be of use to private horse owners who habitually ride out by themselves, or in the company of small groups of friends.

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Canadian born Suzan St Maur has lived in the UK since childhood. After an early career start in journalism on a local newspaper, she transferred her allegiances to advertising and later became a highly successful scriptwriter in business television and live events. Today she writes prolifically across most media for a wide variety of business communication purposes. She has also written several published books on consumer and business topics.

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Training the Working Labrador looks at all aspects of the care, management and training of the modern working Labrador. It discusses many of the issues affecting today’s dog owners in a society which may not always seem to be providing enough time to own and train working gundogs. The book provides advice and guidance on a host of practical feeding, management and training matters based on the author’s lifelong experience and chapters are included on nutrition and care – especially for those who may be away from home for part of the day. The very latest Labrador health tests are covered in detail and their relevance to their owners. With its wealth of instructional photographs and detailed training guidelines, Training the Working Labrador is essential reading for the first time owner/trainer of a Labrador. It is equally useful as an important update on Labrador issues for the experienced owner.

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For nearly thirty years Annie Tempest has entertained ‘Country Life’ magazine readers with her weekly strip cartoon, Tottering-by-Gently, reaching much greater audiences worldwide through the associated merchandise, including book compilations such as this new volume on the subject of drink. A whole generation has grown up following the gentle everyday observations of this very British extended family with their dogs, daily struggles and difficulties in adapting to the fast-paced, technological and now woke world. Cheers to all! Onwards and upwards without spilling a drop. Snifters at Tottering Hall is the eagerly awaited, post-lockdown offering from Lord and Lady Tottering on the subject of liquid refreshment. It is well-timed to put a smile back on our faces after a notably unamusing confinement. Annie Tempest’s superb cartoons, depicting this delightfully eccentric couple, remind us that life must be celebrated and taken with a pinch of salt and a stiff upper lip.

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Land of Milk and Honey is the long-awaited sequel to Red Rag to a Bull. Author Jamie Blackett finds himself in danger of losing the family estate as his beef business encounters difficulties and the spectre of Brexit bears down on the farming community. Meanwhile he feels under threat from extreme environmentalists attacking the very concept of livestock farming and by resurgent Scottish nationalism threatening the break-up of the United Kingdom. The book is the honest and forthright account of how he copes with the crisis by following the example of New Zealand farmers in similar circumstances and successfully embracing the new creed of regenerative agriculture and switching the farm into pasture-based dairying. Through Jamie’s struggles the reader comes to understand the crossroads facing the British countryside as it attempts to adapt to free trade after eighty years of agricultural subsidies. We are also guided through the complexities and contradictions in the quest to reach Net Zero carbon and reverse biodiversity loss as he explores the current craze for re-wilding the land and puts some of its ideas into practice for the benefit of wildlife on the estate. Along the way Jamie becomes an outspoken newspaper columnist and establishes an unlikely political alliance with the maverick socialist George Galloway in an attempt to break the stalemate in Scottish politics and defeat Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP in the Holyrood election. The book contains humour, vivid passages of nature writing and numerous polemical digressions on a wide range of countryside issues.

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This is the story of Giles Darby, a former British banker who was extradited and jailed on account of his entanglement in a $7m wire-fraud case. In 2001, Giles and his co-defendants — branded the ‘NatWest Three’ — became the subject of extensive media coverage when the US government demanded their extradition in regards to the financial collapse of energy giant Enron, noted as one of the biggest bankruptcy filings in history. They found themselves the centre of national debate which sought to question why three British citizens accused of defrauding a British bank should be tried in America — a question that found itself in the hands of Prime Minister at the time, Tony Blair. However, after 10 gruelling years of appeal, they each pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, facing up to 37 months in a US prison. Focusing on the emotional aftermath of extradition and his life in prison, Inside Allenwood is an eye-opening appraisal of the American justice system, and one man’s profound story of how he managed to keep his health and sanity intact during the drudgery of lockdown, the dangers of routine violence and the agony of being separated from his young family in UK.

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When the music impresario Bryan Morrison died aged 66 in 2008, after two years in a coma following a polo accident, he left behind his unpublished memoir. As a music publisher, manager and agent, Morrison had represented the Pretty Things, Pink Floyd, T. Rex, The Jam, Wham! and many others. He was also the founder and owner of the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club.In this candid and outspoken book, Morrison reveals the true stories behind why Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd once bit his finger to the bone, the Pretty Things were banned for life from New Zealand, and he became involved with the Kray Twins. He also tells how The Jam kissed goodbye to success in the USA, he received death threats when Robin Gibb left the Bee Gees, and signing a publishing deal with George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley as Wham! Spanning the golden age of British rock ’n’ roll from the 60s to the 80s, this is the extraordinary story of a cigar-chomping, East End entrepreneur, with a passion for art and design, fashion, music and polo.

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Alexander Lebedev is best known as the Russian businessman and public figure who bought the Evening Standard and The Independent newspapers in the UK. A former KGB intelligence officer in the USSR’s London Embassy, his book covers the years from his birth in 1959 to 2016. Written in a wry and humorous manner, the book is mainly a memoir of Lebedev's own hair-raising experiences as someone who aspires to show that an 'honest banker' is not an oxymoron. There is the thread of a whodunit as his attempts at constructive and charitable business enterprises are systematically torpedoed by a person or persons unknown. He describes the dirty tricks used against him and the attempt to assassinate him and details how the Russian and international political and business elite live. Lebedev openly tells of his relations with leading politicians, businessmen and cultural figures in Russia and abroad, and investigates corruption scandals, dodgy multi-billion-dollar deals and contract killings. A comical episode on how he faced five years of imprisonment for a minor fracas during a television talk show, and how world show business stars (Elton John, Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, John Malkovich, Ian McKellen, Stephen Fry) rallied to his defence. He describes in detail how and why he became involved with two prominent UK newspapers. Lebedev reveals his access to inside sources of information, with policemen and secret policemen slipping him memoirs and transcripts of episodes which would otherwise have remained unknown. It is ultimately a portrait of a political system which ensures that genuine attempts to improve the fortunes of his country and its citizens are built on sand.

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Based on a series of articles published in The World of Fine Wine, Bursting Bubbles is a ground-breaking new book that offers the reader an alternate history of Champagne and its greatest growers. Often controversial, it is a no-holds barred look at the world's most famous wine region and the sparkling wine that it produces. It has the potential to change the way wine lovers think about Champagne. In his foreword, multi award winning author Andrew Jefford has called Bursting Bubbles, 'The most engaging book about leading Champagne growers I've read, full of insight and detail' and '...the most refreshing, pretension-pricking, myth-busting and amusingly unfrothy book on the subject I've read.'

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How To Look Cool Whilst Learning Polo takes a very modern approach to the traditional game of polo. The author, SteveThompson, is a veteran polo instructor and professional player with over twenty years of teaching experience across the globe and this book is a culmination of his teaching and playing experience over two decades in the sport. This book, followed correctly, will save one a lot of pain, frustration and cash by teaching an aspiring player how to function correctly from the very start. More than just a technical 'how to' guide, it provides everything one needs to know to go from zero to hero on the polo field, and more importantly - make sure one looks cool whilst doing it!

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A unique collection of fishing stories from the past 200 years that prove that when it comes to fishing, things can and often do go hilariously wrong. From stories of record breakers that got away to boats that sank, rods that broke and pike and salmon that ran amoke, Great Angling Disasters is the ultimate chronicle of those less than triumphant days on the riverbank. For everyone interested in fishing with rod and line whether they are game, coarse or sea fishermen.

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'Have I remembered everything?' 'What shall I wear?' 'Who am I likely to be shooting alongside?' 'Will the dog behave?' 'Will the birds be there?' These are all questions that might keep the Gun, the picker-up, the keeper and anyone else connected with a day's game shooting awake the night before a much anticipated day. 'Why did I say that?' 'Why did I do that?' 'Why did my dog do that?' 'Why did I think about the weather?' 'What was I thinking?' These are all questions one might ask oneself the evening after! Fortunately, you are not alone in your nightmares! If you've ever encountered a particular incident or experience on the shooting field, whether it be a formal day, or as a rough shoot with a couple of friends, it's a fairly safe bet that others will have it too. The Imperfect Shot illustrates in words and cartoons, light-hearted errors and ill-judgment of those who have experienced minor faux pas and misdemeanours on the shooting field — and also glorifies those who have got the better of a particular situation! There are, among its pages, real pearls of wisdom; there is, though, much advice written somewhat 'tongue-in-cheek'. All immediately bring a mental picture to mind. A mental picture is not, however, required. The illustrations, brought to life by renowned country and field sports artist, Oliver Preston — himself a shooting man of no ill-repute — has negated the need for the cry which otherwise might go out: 'Oh, if only I had a camera!' As if the situation was not clear enough, Oliver adds more. Some tales might, of course be apocryphal — and I'll leave it for the reader to decide which they might be!

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An essential reference guide to port, this book is recommended reading for the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and other certification programmes. It describes the unique features of the Douro Valley, the cycle of work in the vineyards, historical production techniques and more recent innovations, and the role of the wine lodges where port matures before being shipped to its worldwide markets. Ben Howkins offers a concise history of port and the port trade as they have developed over the last 300 years. He covers important changes in recent ownership of the major shippers and highlights the people driving change in the industry while protecting port's heritage.

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This is the 45th Anniversary Edition of The Decline of an English Village. When The Decline of an English Village was first published in 1974, its appearance was greeted with immediate critical acclaim. As a young writer, born into declining village life, Robin Page’s message simultaneously struck a chord and sounded a warning. Now, after forty-five years, it reappears with a new and updated introduction, in which political activist Robin Page exposes greed, political ineptitude, and social and environmental indifference as the driving forces behind the deterioration of village life and the communities around it. Robin Page transports readers back to a time when villages were founded on the value of community, and when people still worked the land in the traditional sense. He reflects and ruminates on his own experiences of rural life, raising sensitive topics, such as the intensification of farming, over-population, and environmental degradation in some of England’s most beloved places. Robin shares his concern for the alarming loss of wildlife in England, and offers his own perspective on what he perceives to be the most pressing issues. His passion for English tradition, reflected through his involvement with the Countryside Restoration Trust, radiates from within the pages of this book, along with his enthusiasm for preserving the countryside and its wildlife. Throughout his life, Robin has observed dramatic changes in the way people live their lives. It’s in this book that he reiterates the tragedy behind a countryside increasingly misused and abused in the name of urbanisation and industrialisation.

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A collection of shooting and dog cartoons that affords insight into a world that can only really be understood by the participants, for whom it is more than a sport; it is a way of life.

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There are probably more deer in the United Kingdom now than there have been in the past thousand years. As they have increased in numbers and distribution so, too, have the issues associated with them. Practical Deer Management offers candid and comprehensive advice for anyone who has to deal with deer and the issues they present, be they gardeners suffering attacks on their flower beds, foresters looking to prevent damage to newly planted trees, or landowners with larger scale problems. While a wealth of information on deer exists already, a career in teaching countryside managers quickly made it apparent that there was a need for a straightforward and comprehensive volume that is accessible to all. Written to be clear and easily understood, Practical Deer Management looks at the deer themselves and suggests non-lethal protective measures in addition to more active management, with attention given to other considerations such as health, the law and the practical construction of infrastructure such as high seats. A humane approach is stressed throughout. Practical Deer Management is an essential handbook for anyone who has to deal with deer and the problems that they may present.

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The “Scales of Training,” “Training Scale,” and “Training Pyramid” are familiar terms to riders. Around the globe and across disciplines, equestrians hear reference to them or study them as a part of their equestrian education. Dressage rider and trainer Sue Grice grew up with these concepts, too, and like many, found them to be not only fairly boring, but also confusing when it came to actually implementing them as part of daily training. In the course of her work with other riders, she came to realize that although many seemed to know about the Scales of Training in theory, few actually applied them in practice. Grice determined that this was because there was really no clear framework or methodology for implementing the system in a progressive manner. So Grice conceived a new approach based on the standard but with a focus on a better rate of success. Success could be achieved when the rider was engaged with the system and understood how to continually adhere to it, even as advances (or falters) might occur. For over 30 years she has continued to develop and apply her ideas, and now she has finally brought them together to share with the world in this book. Here readers find a detailed plan for applying what Grice calls the “Training Spiral.” She does not try to rewrite what history has shown to work in the development of the riding horse, but instead simply provides a fresh framework that enables riders and trainers to: - Apply the classical elements of the Training Scale in a more progressive and logical manner, and, - Employ them systematically within daily training as well as over a longer period of time. Grice provides clear explanations of how to use each of the six elements (Rhythm, Suppleness, Contact, Impulsion, Straightness, and Collection), how the elements are to be used in order, and what can go wrong if they are applied in the wrong order. Clear examples are given at all levels of training, and detailed case studies demonstrate how the Training Spiral can succeed where traditional systems have failed. The spiral structure provides a means of applying the Scales of Training in practice that is not just logical but also extremely easy to follow. The clarity of Grice's approach also helps horses understand what is being asked of them, leading to a happier relationship between horses and riders, and training that progresses more quickly and easily overall. The Training Spiral is an invaluable and immensely practical guide for trainers and riders at all levels, from novice to advanced.

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"This is a much needed book on the Weight Aids which should be close to the heart of all who teach and coach riding." - Patrick Print OBE FBHSThis book is designed for all riders from the very novice to the most advanced. Sylvia Loch teaches through illustrations and photos how each tiny shift of the riders weight will affect the horses balance.The weight aids are generally taught only to higher level students especially those learning the more advanced skills. Yet, by including them from the beginning, novice riders will develop a much greater understanding of their own bodies and abilities and those of the horse from day one.In Sylvia's words...: The time has surely come to show all riders how their body-weight impacts on the horse for good or bad. Feel and balance should govern the whole ethos of equitation. In this book, I show through pictures how the giving of the aids can transform the horse in each and every movement so that our communication with this wonderful animal takes us to new levels of understanding and empathy. The Rider's Balance is well written and easy to understand, and is yet another classic riding book from one of Britain's leading classical riding advocates, Sylvia Loch.

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A great foundation for any aspiring equestrian, providing safe, modern and current foundations to progress from in the equestrian industry. Filled with practical knowledge in horse riding, knowledge and care, the first volume in the foundation series is a must for anyone looking to learn the highest standards of equestrianism from the world leading British Horse Society education team. Recommended reading for the British Horse Society Stage 1 award in horse care and riding for those wishing to start their career in the professional industry.

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Rider Biomechanics begins by explaining fascia — the 'cinderella of body tissues'. Until recently, this was ignored by science, consigned to its apparent role as the body's packing material. However, research shows that, in reality, this biological fabric links muscles into functional chains, rather like strings of sausages. Recent research has shown that the horse's fascial system is remarkably similar to our own, with equivalent 'lines of pull' that affect posture, movement, stability and mobility. Inevitably, the problems inherent in sitting and riding well are magnified when there is imbalance within and between the fascial 'guy-ropes' of rider and/or horse. We should realise that imbalance in either partner can send the other 'out of true', whilst the 'equipoise' of one partner helps the other to regain that poise. By working through this book, you will learn to access and rebalance your own fascial net to significantly improve your stability, skill and 'feel'. Practical exercises, enhanced with copious photographs and diagrams, show how to balance your front and back, left and right — yielding skills that simultaneously address the equivalent imbalances in your horse. Mary explains how effective force transmission within the fascial system enables riders to push their hands forward, taking away the temptation to pull on the reins. Later chapters show how twists and distortions in both human and horse can be addressed through accessing the fascial lines that wrap diagonally around the body. Lastly, a look at the core of both partners shows just how profound their connection can be.

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From the author of the hugely successful titles How Your Horse Moves and Horse Anatomy for Performance, comes a completely different training manual, also based on the Horses Inside Out philosophy: 'Understanding Anatomy Improves Performance and Reduces the Risk of Injury'. Divided into three main parts: Principles of Anatomical Riding and Training; Exercises for Horse and Rider; Troubleshooting, the book contains a wealth of practical tips and exercises broken down into easy to follow, well-illustrated steps showing how riders can improve their riding skills and potential. The author suggests ways to improve horses' physique, posture, flexibility, stability, core strength, performance and movement and how to reduce muscular and movement problems, and reduce the risk of injury. This beautifully illustrated book looks at how to deliver a safe, varied, fun, effective and achievable training programme. It provides all the ingredients for riders to make informed decisions to maximise their own and their horse's potential, gain more enjoyment, satisfaction and improve their skills.

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Accomplished coach Islay Auty explains how to develop your teaching technique to bring out the best in your pupils, be they top-flight competitors or recreational riders. The text explains how modern coaching techniques can be applied to equestrian sport and, as such, the books is more about the skills of coaching than how to teach the actual skills of riding. It focuses on topics such as motivation, inspiring confidence, personal development, communication, awareness and judgement, psychology, and how people learn. The author examines the particular issues involved with teaching children, pleasure riders, and competitors at all levels — and brings her text to life with thought-provoking scenarios. - Deals with modern coaching techniques and how they can be applied to the equestrian environment - Written for riding teachers who wish to enhance their teaching skills, especially those who are newly qualified or still studying for their teaching certificate. - Excellent background reading for those seeking to achieve the UK Coaching Certificate in Equestrian Sport.

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If you want to progress up from novice and need some help with the more advanced novice and elementary movements you will find this book really helpful. Kottas looks at each of the horses paces and gives a clear guide to what is required and most importantly how to achieve this. There are some excellent illustrations which clearly show everything from the rider's aids to the flexion required from the horse. The book also includes some stunning photographs which again are very easy to understand. There are also sections on lateral movements, changes of lead and piaffe and passage for those with greater ambitions.

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This is the 51st "Threshold Picture Guide" where Perry Wood gives much needed advice on common riding problems. It gives practical tips on how to improve your horse's behaviour under saddle, making him safer to ride and a pleasure to own. Subjects covered include bucking, rearing, head-tossing, shying, jogging, bolting, napping, refusing to jump, nose poking, difficult to mount, hard-mouthed, overexcited and inattentive to the rider.

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This is a detailed guide to medicinal herbs for horses and how they can help in the treatment of a wide range of common ailments. The guide provides an A to Z of common ailments - from allergies to wounds - which can be effectively and safely treated using herbal medicine. It draws on research in herbal medicine as well as in traditional plant-based remedies. Throughout, the author underlines the importance of veterinary consultation, explaining how herbs can be used to complement conventional methods. To provide background information, a materia medica lists the properties of 50 readily obtainable herbs, giving details on habitat, collection, actions and uses, along with folklore and case histories. The author also discusses several non-herbal products, such as vinegar and yoghurt. There are guidelines on how to make herbal preparations, and how to use herbs in compresses and poultices. Advice is given on how remedies are selected and dosages determined, bearing in mind that most herbs take time to bring about a healing reaction. In the final part of the handbook the author describes a range of alternative therapies which can be used alongside conventional or herbal medicine.

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Lungeing and Long-Reining, published in association with The British Horse Society, is a step-by-step guide to training, exercising and suppling horses from the ground, written by Britain's leading exponent of the art. The book begins with advice on handling untrained youngsters and works through a logical training progression, culminating in advanced dressage movements. Straightforward guidance is given on: Training foals and young horses Lungeing equipment and technique Introducing long-reins and early lateral work Backing and riding young horses Lungeing over poles and fences Advanced long-reining; including cantering, rein-back, shoulder-in, travers, half pirouettes, half-pass, renvers, canter half-pass, canter pirouettes and tempi flying changes. Piaffe and passage Olympic dressage rider and trainer Jennie Loriston-Clarke has broken and schooled countless dressage and jumping horses, and initially uses lungeing and long-reining to establish the horse's basic education and create mutual respect between horse and handler. The knowledge she has gained over the years while working with novices and older 'difficult' horses sent for retraining, is distilled in this book into simple instructions, so that others can avoid making costly mistakes when training their horses. The goal throughout is to produce a horse that is confident, keen and happy in his work — which should be the aim of every trainer. Illustrated with specially commissioned sequence photographs, this book will prove particularly valuable in the early training of young horses, as well as in improving or retraining older horses, and refining dressage movements in advance horses.

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As an instructor it takes time to develop a repertoire of exercises to suit all ages and abilities. This book has the answer: it provides a wide range of ideas for lesson plans, with notes on how these can be adapted and developed for different levels of recreational rider, from beginner to advanced, whether children or adults.The lesson plans are organised into teaching subjects to allow instructors to go straight to a chosen topic and find exercises to suit riders of different abilities, along with teaching tips for a professional delivery.

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The Deer Stalker’s Bedside Book provides an entertaining read for every deer enthusiast, whether experienced stalker, novice who would like to learn more, or indeed anyone who has an interest in these enigmatic and graceful creatures. Packed with a wealth of information – factual, practical, historical and biological – as well as anecdotes, advice, stalking tales, trivia and quotations, all backed up with personal observations and experiences, this expertly researched and authoritative book offers something for everyone. This treasury of all things deer is presented in an articulate, accessible and often humorous style, enabling the author to share his knowledge, experience and enthusiasm for the subject in an effortless and absorbing way. Above all, this is a book to enjoy, to savour and to return to, again and again!

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People often chose a dog that resembles themselves, consciously or unconsciously. Even scientific experiments have proved it. For example, you rarely find a Hell’s Angel with a bichon frisé, or a sweet little old lady with a bulldog. A gentle quiet academic wouldn’t normally chose a boisterous border collie, nor would an energetic teenager chose a basset hound. Our beloved dogs are rather like our choice of car or the clothes we wear. The science writer David Robson says, ‘The canine mini-me reveals a narcissistic tendency in us all.’ In these humorous, colourful illustrations of doppelgänger dogs, artist John Holder has depicted a superb, visually entertaining collection of dogs and their owners in all their lookalike glory. A treat for dog owners everywhere.

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Deer stalking is widely regarded as the fastest growing sector within shooting sports in Britain today. Those who stalk deer for sport recognise and appreciate the exciting challenge that comes from hunting a wild and wary quarry, moreover, they enjoy the opportunity to participate in a sport that can take them to some of Britain’s wildest and most beautiful places, from the hushed calm of an ancient English forest at dawn, to the magnificence of the Scottish hill. Successful stalking, however, demands a high level of knowledge and skill. Much of this can only be learned through long hours of apprenticeship and experience. This book provides a basic grounding in the principles which the newcomer to the sport needs to know in order to enjoy a safe, successful and responsible stalking career. The author explains the history, background and rationale behind deer stalking in the UK, covers the choice of stalking rifles, optics, ammunition and accessories, and deals with the all-important issue of safety. The law related to firearms and deer is covered in detail, together with guidance on firearm security in the home and when travelling, while the natural history of Britain’s six species of wild deer is described, with notes and illustrations to assist with recognition. Stalking tactics are discussed and explained from the perspective both of the stalking guest who is accompanied by a professional guide and of the more experienced hunter whose responsibility it is to plan and execute a woodland stalking outing on his own. Finally, the book deals with what the stalker must do should his day meet with success, from the gralloch and preparation of the carcass for the game dealer, through to butchering for the home kitchen. Here is a book to which the amateur deer stalker will want to refer time and time again.

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Beyond The Pavilion spans seventy years of social, regional and cultural history through the eyes of one of cricket’s earliest Test match wayfarers, Barry Knight. As a ten-year-old, Barry saw Don Bradman’s 1948 ‘Invincibles’ at Lord’s. His early days were spent playing street cricket in London’s East End, captaining his school against Eton College, and later captaining England Schoolboys. At the age of fifteen, he was recruited to play for Essex and went on to become one of England’s finest all-round cricketers. In this memoir, Barry reflects on his international playing career and his experiences touring India, Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand in the 1960s. He recounts tours with Fred Trueman, Geoff Boycott, Ted Dexter, and Colin Cowdrey and playing against the era’s best Australian, Indian, Pakistani, and West Indian players. He also shares stories about life in London in the Swinging Sixties and his place in the D’Oliveira affair, and the anti-apartheid protests. After his retirement, Barry moved to Australia in the 1970s and became Australia’s first professional cricket coach mentoring and developing three Test match captains: Allan Border, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh. He also had a front-row seat in the development of World Series Cricket. The book includes endorsements from leading players, commentators and journalists, including Sir Garfield Sobers, Allan Border, Ian Chappell, Barry Richards, Geoffrey Boycott, Doug Walters and Sir Michael Parkinson. This sporting memoir is richly illustrated with photographs from Andrew Leeming’s and other private collections.

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In 1975, David Shepherd wrote The Man Who Loves Giants – an autobiography. Even though he was only forty-four, he had already achieved more than most could have in three lifetimes. In the intervening years, until his death in 2017, he painted a huge variety of subjects; founded the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation; renovated and restored everything from steam engines to dolls’ houses; and appeared on both radio and television. ‘Being the extrovert I am,’ he once said, ‘I like things large and exciting … especially elephants …’ However, this enthusiasm wasn’t restricted to animals; it extended to his love and ownership of several full-sized steam engines, including locomotive number 92203, otherwise known as Black Prince. David’s friends ranged from showbiz celebrities to well-known sportsmen and women; and British and European royalty to internationally influential politicians and presidents. He was awarded the Order of the Golden Ark by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands for his services to conservation in Zambia, and the Order of Distinguished Service, First Class, by President Kaunda. Her Majesty The Queen presented David with the OBE and CBE. David’s first gallery successes were not of the African wildlife for which he is now best known. London scenes, planes, boats and trains have long featured in his portfolio – as do English landscapes and bygone rural life. Since David’s autobiography, no book has dealt so comprehensively with his life, painting, and conservation work as this biography by J. C. Jeremy Hobson, professional author and David’s youngest son-in-law. With access to family archives and photographs, private diaries and reminiscences, this is a unique portrait of a remarkable man.

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A Drink at the Bar: A memoir of crime, justice and overcoming personal demons is the witty, opinionated and revealing memoirs of Judge Graham Boal QC, a criminal barrister for thirty years before serving as a judge for nine years until his retirement as a Permanent Judge at London’s Central Criminal Court, the Old Bailey, in 2005. Boal's career highlights included his being the legendary George Carman's junior in the Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe's trial for conspiracy to murder in 1979, leading for the Crown at the Appeal of the Birmingham Six in 1991 and becoming First Senior Treasury Counsel. His memories of key cases in his career are fascinating but his day-to-day experiences, and the underlying legal issues and happenstance, are every bit as revealing and interesting. Boal has been described as ‘clubbable’, a man who enjoys cricket, golf and life in a Norfolk village, but as his brilliant career progressed he found himself increasingly dependent on the demon alcohol. He went into treatment for alcoholism and depression in 1993, and has been a recovering alcoholic ever since, including his years as a judge at the Old Bailey, the court at which most of the most serious criminal cases in the country are tried. This intriguing memoir reveals the many inside stories of classic criminal cases and the author is unstinting in his analysis of his professional achievements and personal struggles. This will be an essential read for all those interested in legal and political issues and the toll that the pressures of high office can put on one’s personal life and wellbeing. The author is now a trustee and board member of WDP, a leading addiction charity.

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In this much-anticipated autobiography, Raymond Gubbay brings to life his extraordinary fifty-year career as one of the most experienced and well-connected impresarios in British music and entertainment. With a provenance rich in history and talent, he retraces the musical legacy of his family, growing up in a liberal Jewish household in 1950s post-war London with the challenges he faced while embarking on his musical journey after a few failed attempts at corporate conformity. Beginning his career at the Royal Albert Hall, his introduction to the entertainment industry commenced under the guidance of the late Victor Hochhauser – Britain’s foremost promoter of Russian ballet and classical music. Passionate and enigmatic, this memoir delves right into the heart of 1960s performing arts, with Gubbay absorbingly recounting both the stress and excitement that came with marshalling three coach loads of Russian performers around the country at a time of conflicting traditions, theatrical decline, amid Soviet tensions – and this was only the beginning… Setting up on his own, he started with a handful of performers touring to modest venues around the country, building a brand and a style which seemed very much in tune with the times. Later, working alongside some of the most prestigious classical and popular artists of our time – from Yehudi Menuhin, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Luciano Pavarotti and the English National Ballet to Ray Charles, Miles Davis and Andrew Lloyd-Webber – Gubbay has witnessed and played a hand in promoting and producing some of the most iconic performances of opera, ballet and classical music ever staged in some of the largest music venues in Britain, the Royal Festival Hall, Symphony Hall Birmingham – and not least of all the Royal Albert Hall. He was in at the start of the Barbican in the City of London and provides a keen insight into the early years there. Lowering the Tone is rich with stories of showbusiness and the behind-the scenes business of the great musical venues, with appearances from a wealth of household and international names. This is the story of achievement, imagination and a desire to bring happiness and entertainment to generations of music lovers.

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The old adage ‘dogs are a man’s best friend’ can be tested when that sweet-but-naughty mutt misbehaves behind the owner’s back. This imaginative and hilarious collection of colourful, humorous and meticulously-illustrated cartoons captures with great affection both the joys and frustrations of caring for these lifelong companions. The perfect gift for dog lovers worldwide, it pays homage to the finest attributes and characteristics of our most-beloved breeds, while also serving as a reminder of past misdemeanours and acting as a warning of possible future calamities!

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As Roger Morgan-Grenville prepares for a new season with the White Hunter Cricket Club, he is starting to feel his age, so he embarks on a secret plan of coaching, yoga and psychology to improve his game. Will he emerge as a sporting demigod, or will his teammates even notice the difference. This is the humorous and heartwarming story of that cricket season, as the White Hunters go from disaster to triumph. It is a tale of competitiveness, suspense, excellence, hospitality and incompetence, such as the missing fielder found asleep in the woods and the two opening bowlers whose MG Roadster breaks down on the way to the game. From the Castle Ground at Arundel to a field next to a nudist camp in France, players such as the Tree Hugger, the Gun Runner, and their wicket-keeper, the Human Sieve, share the dream that this might be their day. Above all, it is the uplifting story of friendship among a team of not-very-good players who find enough moments of near brilliance to remind them why they turn up for more, game after game, season after season.

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Falconry is an ancient and noble art, still practiced today by falconers throughout the world. While, these days, falconry birds are mostly bred in captivity, they are still wild, independent animals and owning and training them requires the right commitment, knowledge and skills. Falconry Basics is designed to provide those new to falconry with the essential information they need, including the basics of types of birds and their individual characteristics; acquiring the proper equipment; how best to care for and maintain healthy birds, and all aspects of training, flying and hunting. Accompanied by diagrams and line drawings throughout, and with additional material, such as a glossary of falconry terms, this newly revised and updated edition offers a comprehensive, practical guide for a whole new generation of falconers.

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Entertaining, informative, and packed with unusual facts. Illustrated in color throughout.

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