The Accidental Screw

In a departure from his usual genre of aviation history, the author has produced a whistlestop narrative of a life less ordinary. Encompassing a rural upbringing experienced amongst a largely now-vanished way of life, his chaotic and carefree adolescence and over three decades in Her Majesty's Prison Service.

The graphic at times perhaps controversial, but in being completely honest about his personal experiences both in the Service and his private life John has given us a snapshot of not only Furness industries long vanished but also of an undervalued and at times almost invisible Prison Service.

What makes this book so engaging is the self-deprecating and humorous manner in which his story is presented, a must-read for those curious for a glimpse into the prison system and of interest to anyone who remembers the old industries of the Furness area.