Please Sir!

Teacher #5

by Jack Sheffield

It's 1981, the time of Adam and the Ants, Rubik's Cube, the Sony Walkman and the Falklands War, as head teacher Jack Sheffield returns to Ragley-on-the-Forest School for another rollercoaster year.

Vera, the ever-efficient chool secretary, has to grapple with a new-fangled computer - and enjoys a royal occasion - while Ruby the caretaker rediscovers romance with a Butlin's Redcoat. And for Jack, wedding bells are in the air. But the unexpected is just round the corner...

Genres: Fiction, School, British Literature, Adult, Comedy, Historical

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Jack Sheffield (born Jack Linley, 1945) is a British author who wrote a series of books of fiction about the headmaster of a village school in a fictional Yorkshire village. The stories are set from the late 1970s to the early 1980s and attempt to portray life in Yorkshire as it was at that time.

He was trained as a teacher at St John's College, York and later became head teacher of two schools in North Yorkshire and then senior lecturer in primary education at Bretton Hall.

He took up writing after retirement, and his first novel "Teacher, Teacher!" sold 100,000 copies

Reviews

[Marietta · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual an excellent read. Can't wait on the next one as this book leaves you not knowing what has happened!!!

[Elvis Gregory-sayce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

[Amory · Rating 1 out of 5]

Written partly in English and partly in some dialect barely understandable. Why why why? With a million English words why doesn’t person writing use them?
Could it be an attempt at creating a new language?

[Sharon Bidwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

While it’s true these books get a little repetitive, after reading a few it’s hard not to be wrapped up in the lives of those at Ragley School. Charming and touching, at times funny or sad, and this one comes with a true cliffhanger.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another lovely read. Love the descriptive writing of the flowers, trees and the seasons in the Yorkshire village.
Also visiting the characters in the village school again.
Looking forward to the next book in the series

[Kaytee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Downloaded this as expected it to be a 1960s orginal novel on which the tv sitcom was based. It’s nothing like, it’s some boring drivel from 1981 a Yorkshire back of beyond village. I mean who gives a single fuck ?
Shouldn’t be allowed to use the ‘please sir’ brand

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous as always

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good easy, light hearted read, hadn't read any of the prev series. Had to get the next one out of the library to find out what happened next.......

[Pauline Bicknell · Rating 4 out of 5]

As good as all the others. Easy, gentle, fascinating reminder of how things were back in the 80s

[Georgette Goodwin]

great to follow the school through the years

[Adele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh no a, cliffhanger ending!

[Claire Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read and funny quotes from children in a classroom environment .

[Juliana Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Episode 5 in the Jack Sheffield teacher series and an instant return to the familiar storylines and characters. We're up to 1981 now so more and more of the social context is becoming familiar to me (as I was 5 at that time). The day to day events of the classroom mingle with life outside the school for the characters and the bigger national picture. Because of these various 'levels' of events, there is plenty for the reader to enjoy and a multi layered world is created which feels to me pretty realistic.

An enjoyable story, albeit with the regular niggles of slightly too many knowing jokes that come from having a crystal ball into the future and a few too many puns you can see coming a mile off. Overall though, an entertaining read and a spectacular cliff hanger which definitely requires the next book to be read!

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this one and true to form it was left on a massive cliff hanger - the biggest yet. Someone's life is going to change massively by the sounds of it.

As with the other books these are feel good nostalgia and you look back as you are reading and think, 'Yeah I remember that too'. It also evokes your own memories of a time when the summer seemed to go much slower and life was a little let rushed, but stating to speed a little. Some looks back on Charles and Di which are quite poignant now we know the true story.

Bring on the next book!

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful read, the anecdotes of village life the children's stories and the passing of another school year. All the school staff, Ann, Vera, Ruby the different school festivities and we have the full gamut of life, engagement wedding, birth all provide an endearing read. Then we have the ending! I need to know what happened and to whom

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not brilliantly written (the POV changes are all over the place) but very enjoyable all the same. I came away feeling very happpy, even with the cliffhanger ending.

[Ali Lester · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this as I have his other books they give a great cosy nostalgic feeling.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read to dip in and out of, but i found it amusing at times.

[Gloria]

not sure when I finished this but guessing 2012

[Simone Perren · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wrote a review for this book on my blog http://mesimonei.blogspot.co.uk/2016/...

[Francine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute and lots of fun to read. A bit like reading something you'd watch on PBS when you don't want a lot of blood and sex, just good old fashioned storytelling.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack Sheffield's books are always an enjoyable read. Full of lovely reminders of a time long gone, lots of touching moments along with humorous ones.

[Coyney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book - took me back to my youth

[Kate Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyable and witty, biggest cliff hanger ever, looking forward to reading the next