The Five Stone Steps

by John Orton

Tom Duncan, a Scot, joins the South Shields Police fresh from the trenches after the Great War. Little does he realise, when he first walks down the five stone steps into Keppel Street Police HQ (pictured opposite), that fifty years later he will be writing his memoirs at his desk by the fire, a glass of malt at hand. He tells of his early days as a bobby on the beat in Shields – tales of life and love in a major seaport, shipbuilding, and coal mining town where people liked their beer, their bets, and stuck together in the face of poverty and adversity.

South Shields born John Orton brings to life the memoirs of a Shields bobby in the 1920s and gives an authentic picture of his home town, its character and its characters nearly a century ago.

276 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 22, 2014

Reviews

[amy pullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant look at at my home town.

Anyone from South Shields should give this a go. It's lovely to read about the town I grew up in and all the places that are still there or were when I was a child. My mams home street Taylor street is given a mention too which was lovely and set of a massive conversation between us of things I'd never heard from her childhood. Really enjoyable read. One thing though and yes I'm aware of the data protection act, I do wish I could know the real names of all the villains as South Shields is a small town and my monies on the fact I'll know most of their desendants! That would have been a much better read ;)

[gj indieBRAG · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are proud to announce that THE FIVE STONE STEPS by John Orton is a B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree. This tells a reader that this book is well worth their time and money!

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must-read for anyone who belongs the South Shields area. This is a historical dramatization of the career of a Police Officer in South Shields. It was base upon the notes of a real Police Officer, who was related to the author and has a really genuine feel to it.
A little slow in parts but overall a great read!