The Life of a Scilly Sergeant

by Colin Taylor

‘Policing is like this everywhere but not everywhere is Scilly’

Meet Sergeant Colin Taylor, he has been a valuable member of the British police force for over 20 years. So valued indeed that he was shipped off to one of the remotest outposts in the British Isles to a unique beat on the Isles of Scilly not once but twice. He has now spent a total of 7 years policing the 'quiet' group of islands in the Atlantic, off the southwestern tip of the Cornish peninsula.

Colin was tasked with making it his purpose to keep the streets of Scilly free from crime and disorder which brought him face to face with drunken anchor thieves, goldfish kidnappers, unexploded bombs, ship wreckers, low speed bicycle pursuits and other policing exploits. This book is the first hand account of how he policed the community he lived within and how it policed him back.

Known world wide by tens of thousands for his cult blog posting on the exploits of the Isles of Scilly Police, this book charts the day to day trials and tribulations of a small-island police officer, told in Colin’s inimitable style that is both humours and affectionate.

The Life of a Scilly Sergeant charts the career of the longest serving police officer on these remote and tranquil islands, recalling some of his favourite incidents during his years of service there. Colin’s story is a warm, nostalgic and truly unique portrait of the Islands and the daily life of its inhabitants.

He has now returned to the relative simplicity of policing on the mainland.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Autobiography, Travel

Kindle Edition

Published June 16, 2016

About the author

Colin Taylor is a Detective Sergeant in the south west of the United Kingdom.

Reviews

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This account of the lighter side of policing a small community is like James Herriot's tales of Yorkshire. We get ordinary life of the Scilly Isles coupled with efforts to police the safety of cars, the occasional arrival who thinks he can push drugs to the community (and tells the off-duty copper without realising in the pub) and rowdy stag parties or drunk drivers.

In the background we explore the sheer logistics of policing an archipelago and why there isn't a police launch any more, the stresses on a small team and finite number of jail cells, and contrast with the mainland. The author had honeymooned on Scilly and spent a short time policing there, then returned to Exeter and grabbed the chance later to go to Scilly as sergeant with his young family.

I laughed a few times all right, and I enjoyed the sheer number of facts woven in to the account about the islands and some of their residents; like a lady who had worked in Bletchley Park. This is a fine, light and interesting read.
This is an unbiased review.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

thanks to netgalley and the publishers for a free copy in exchange for an open and honest review.
found this book of a police offer serving in the isle of scillies very funny and light hearted as we follow him around the islands in his duties, as the book is very much like the island mike pannett

[Bettie]

http://forreadingaddicts.co.uk/new-re...

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful look at policing in the Isle of Scilly.

The book has filled me with a desire to visit as well, which is probably an added bonus.

Colin Taylor writes with wit, warmth, and the book will make you laugh out loud on many occasions.

Colin needs to write more books about policing. He reminded me most strongly of former London Met copper PC Harry Cole, whose books in the 1980s provided me with many joyful moments of reading.

[Hilary Tesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having visited the Isles of Scilly - my cousin and her family live there - and followed Colin's witty posts on Facebook, this book was a delight. Not only does it outline the pleasures, difficulties and funny sides of policing the islands, it was an outing there without leaving home! It could only have been improved by better proof reading (p256 longitude not latitude, Colin!) and a set of maps, one of St Mary's and another of all the islands.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you thought the Facebook page was good, it has nothing to the book. I read it whilst recuperating after an operation and my only complaint is that it should come with a health warning: do not read immediately after abdominal surgery as you'll laugh so much everything will hurt. Highly recommended in any other circumstances.

[Julie Haigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. Some bits very good, some not as interesting to me.

I received a free pre-publication copy of this book from Netgalley.

The cover of this book really made me want to read it. Colin Taylor spent his honeymoon on the Isles of Scilly. When he got back, he was offered the chance to transfer there for his job as a policeman. He had fond memories of his time in Scilly and patrolling the small, peaceful community appealed to him so he took up the post.

The book felt a little slow to get into at the beginning. For me, and I am someone who always reads introductions/prologues etc, I felt that the introductory chapter wasn’t that good and did restart it and give it another chance. It seemed to settle into it after this and I was enjoying it………and then it would ‘go off’ again.

It’s a quiet area, not much is happening: Ok, it’s great that it’s a low crime area but I guess I’m more used to reading true crime, the extremes of things criminals will do. This is much lighter-so, not as book-worthy to me. Of course it will be of interest to many people-and I did learn about an area I knew nothing about. There are some lightly humorous moments but I did struggle with this. It did get more interesting and provide a few light chuckles. It was okay-some bits were good and interesting, but sometimes it just didn’t hold my interest.

[luke ayoub · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my opinion

I had a hard time putting this book down,brilliant piece of writing.I would enjoy more books written by Colin Taylor.I sincerely hope he continues to write.

[Joy Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is part travelogue and tourist guide, a fun visit to the Isles of Scilly, and insight into police work on a small island(s); it helps that it's harder to escape from because access is extremely limited--and it's surrounded by treacherous shoals and rocks (interesting background). It's full of anecdotes about coping with problems-- such as stag parties and tourists--and some crime, though it's not at all like police work in the big city. I enjoyed learning about Scilly and Cornwall too--and the color photos.

[Becci · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the best advert for the Isles of Scilly, you can feel the authors love for the islands in every page.

I picked up this book because i was a fan of the isles of scilly facebook group and this did not disappoint.

This was a lot of fun, i laughed out loud a few times some parts were very interesting and now REALLY want to visit the islands.

highly reccomend to fans of the islands, small town stories, etc

[Mothwing · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a complicated view on the police in my country, specifically my city, but if the Peelian principles still apply anywhere today, then only in the Ankh-Morpork City Watch and on Scilly.
My favourite is the seventh:
To maintain at all times a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and that the public are the police, the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.
Our main character shows in this book in a very humorous way that this is possible if the police truly ARE members of their community policing that community by consent of that community.

[Kenneth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lighthearted insight into the life of a Police Sergeant on one of the UK’s most remote islands. It’s a great insight into a place where the pace of life is very different and a glance into a job so oft filled with negativity and drama, but in this location it simply mirrors the simplicity of island life.
Great little book for some casual reading and enjoyable.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Been following Colin Taylor and Scilly police on Facebook, up until he left . Very funny but when I was brought the book I did think "what ? How can this be any good ?"

It's hilarious , it made me laugh , it made me a bit teary , everything you expect from a 5 star read .

[Mark Iliff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was dimly aware of Scilly as the place admiral Cloudesley Shovell piled up 4 ships in 1707, sparking the search for a reliable way to establish longitude, and as wily PM Harold Wilson’s preferred holiday retreat. Taylor’s book brings it to life as an enchanted place: a group of 5 islands of 2,200 souls, a little piece of England west of Dublin. It sounds idyllic to visit, but scary to navigate: Taylor tells that, on a hazard scale of 1-10, Scilly was rated 11.

Taylor’s style is gently engaging, taking us on a wide-ranging tour of Scilly, revelling in the absurdities of the policeman’s lot when there are 3 officers, 1 special and 1 PCSO to cover 5 islands and the nearest backup is a helicopter ride away, but never compromising on the essence of the job. The dearth of law-breaking is more than offset by the sheer variety of topics: disposal of munitions, boating & fishing, wildlife conservation, working with the school, broadcasting and sitting with the elderly particularly stick in the mind.

A lovely read.

[marlin1]

After honeymooning on The Isles of Scilly, off the English coast in the 1990's he is lured back to the Isles as a young PC. He and his wife make their home there for 2 years. Many years later, a Sergeant position becomes available. Seduced by their previous time there, Colin jumps at the time to bring his now young family back to the Isles. Being the only applicant means he's a shoe in for the job.

This book describes his time on the Isles and small antidotes of his daily job. Told in an easy voice, it's a very light hearted read and I really enjoyed his descriptions of the surrounding area and the life he experienced. He also has a very humorous way of describing some incidents....and it makes me want to visit.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy to read and review.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first saw the cover I just knew I had to read this book. Mad man zooming about on small bike, just my cuppa.
I really loved the day to day happenings of Colin's day. There are some very funny tales to tell and I laughed out loud.
I realise policing is a very serious matter and Colin seems THE man for the job.
A feel good read

[Andrew Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. I’m an ex-cop & I’ve visited the islands on many occasions, so double the interest. Several bits reminded me of life in “the job” and at quite a few points I found myself laughing out loud whilst reading - usually only a feature of reading Gervase Phinn or PG Wodehouse.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and funny, makes you look at the police in a whole new light.

[Phil Hall · Rating 1 out of 5]

Imagine “The Andy Griffith Show” crossed with “Doc Martin” and you will get an idea of Colin Taylor’s memoir of his time as a police sergeant in the Isles of Scilly, an archipelago off the coast of Cornwall that a British newspaper once referred to as the “land that crime forgot.” With a lack of anything that even vaguely resembles genuine criminal activity to keep them busy, the five-member Scilly police force headed by Taylor seemed to spend most of their time dealing with local eccentrics on minor parking and traffic concerns while coping with raucous tourists in various forms of inebriation.

Taylor packs his book with an excess surplus of light anecdotes, sometimes poking fun at his own shortcomings (most notably when he accidentally locks himself in a jail cell with an injured bird). Unfortunately, the quirkiness that he tries to achieve quickly become tiresome – it is a bit difficult to imagine that life on Scilly is a nonstop Ealing comedy – and the extremely uneven writing style suggests ghost writers were employed to punch up Taylor’s trivial mini-tales into something of value.

Conspicuously absent from the book is Taylor’s investigation of the disappearance of 23-year-old Joshua Clayton in 2015 and the subsequent discovery of his body 10 days later on the rocks near one of the smaller islands in the archipelago. Clayton’s family would later agitate for an inquest into the police handling of the case and Taylor was faulted for incompetence in leading the probe and insensitivity to the Clayton family during the investigation – the dead man’s mother stated a uniformed Taylor confronted the family in a pub after hearing they were critical of his handling of the case. The official inquest criticism of Taylor came three years after the 2016 publication of his book, and this knowledge leaves a sour aftertaste to his dismal book.

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't be put off by the start of this book! Taylor has obviously never heard that the reader should be grabbed by the first sentence. He starts off by congratulating the reader on having his book, tells them it is about what life is like for a police officer on the Isles of Scilly and then plunges into a couple of pages of history, followed by a wordy glossary of Scilly Terms which takes more than seven pages to define seven words or phrases! If you are tempted to give up at this point, persevere, because the rest of the book is much better.

Once we actually start to read about Taylor's life, it's interesting. While the low levels of crime might seem to make it an idyllic place to work, the remote location creates its own challenges. With only three officers on the island, each one is constantly 'on call' and getting from one island to another in an emergency can be tricky. Not to mention the awkwardness of bumping into someone in the supermarket shortly after cautioning or fining them! Taylor shares a range of stories, from the comic to the serious, and paints a fascinating picture of his role. He's not afraid to tell a funny story against himself either - such as when he accidentally locks himself in to his own cell!

The book finishes with a chapter of spoof 'crime reports' - I found these a bit tedious, but apart from the beginning and end, the rest of the book is very enjoyable. Recommended to those who enjoy light-hearted reads about rural life.

[Gill Belbin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having visited St Mary’s in 2014 and also having read some of the social media articles written by the author, I bought this book to gain some insight to life in the Scilly Isles.

We arrived by boat, on the Scillonian, to sun and beautiful scenery. The sea was calm to and from St Mary’s which I understand is uncommon and therefore the reason why a lot of people fly to the islands. The museum in town had photos showing how bad the conditions can be and how different it was in the old days when the older versions of the Scillonian used to throw it’s passengers around even more when the sea was rough. When you are on holiday, it’s easy to fantasise about living somewhere so remote but this book brings you back to reality as it is not all sun, sea and scenery.

There seems to be little crime on the islands but the stories in the book tell you much more than you might expect about living there. I think one of the most poignant moments was when the Scillonian sailed away for the last time at the end of the season, leaving the residents with air travel as the only route back to the mainland. Sometimes supplies of food would be held up by bad weather and shops would run short of the basics, so it is a very isolated community. Perhaps that dream of life generated by a few days on holiday were actually very far from reality after all!

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book! I read it whilst away on holiday and have only just now gotten around to posting a review!

I've not yet had the chance to visit the Islands, this book has only added to my desire to visit them. I'm only sad that Colin won't be there when I finally get there.

It's such an entertaining read, so funny and also at times informative. It just brightens your day!

I love how he often goes off on a tangent and somehow manages to get back to where he started out, meandering around his tale the way the tourists meander through the streets oblivious to life going on around them...

A great read, I'd strongly recommend it to anyone and everyone!

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars.
oh how i enjoyed reading this book.. it was just lovely and everything seems lovely. the world still seems to be okay there. i was just short of googling how i can get to scilly and how much a b&b costs or which kind of jobs there are for me.
by the way, it also made me smile and gives an insight into police work.
i'm still debating whether to keep my book or if i should bring it to a book swap for others to enjoy (as im living in germany its not known here).
the "soon to be a major television series" sticker makes it needless to say what ill do next..

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book probably got an extra star because of my personal experience. In 2017 while vacationing in Penzance, Cornwall I took the boat, Scillonian, on the 0900 excursion out to the Scilly Isle of St. Mary. It was a lovely few hours in Hugh Town before the 1600 return trip. I liked the boat trip too...the sea was calm. In my minds eye could see many of the places he talks about. It would have been nice to have more time to trip out to another isle or two. So, if you are ever in Penzance, Cornwall, I highly recommend the excursion!

[Gretchen Bernet-Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about the humorous and not so humorous side of policing made special by Sergeant Colin Taylor's excellent writing. I enjoyed reading about Colin and the daily lives of his local community on Isles of Scilly, a group of islands off the southwestern tip of the UK Cornish peninsula. There are lots of colourful locals, bicycle riding, picturesque scenery and a very low crime rate. There are tricky moments when the ferry arrives, and special events like the kids Christmas party which make for enjoyable reading.

[Alasdair MacCaluim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle, light-hearted read about the ups and downs of policing in Scilly. It gives a good insight into the life of the community and into policing in an ultra-rural and remote area. This will be of interest to all islands lovers and all Kernowphiles.

Island fans will also be interested to read of the author's childhood visit to Looe Island - Enys Lann-Managh - and his encounters with its interepid owners Babs and Evelyn Atkins, authors of We Bought An Island and its sequel Tales From Our Cornish Island.

[Michi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was approximately what I expected - funny, interesting anecdotes of police work in a very unique place. The only quibble I have is that the author sometimes gets a bit long-winded while setting up the necessary background for an anecdote and also the funny stories to tourist guide description ratio is a bit low.

[R · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be honest I normally read a good book in 3 days. This book I have given up on halfway through. As guilty as I feel for saying that, it's a lovely book but just not for me... I can only assume the sticker on the front 'soon to be a major tv series' or whatever, is a joke. Nothing happens on Scilly but I imagine its a beautiful place to visit.

[my.bookshelf.87 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a series of anecdotes from Sergeant Colin Taylor, a member of the police force who decides to relocate to Scilly after falling in love with the place on his honeymoon. Scilly is a group of islands off the southwestern tip of the Cornish peninsula. An interesting look into island life from the perspective of a mainlander.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colin Taylor is a sergeant with Devon and Cornwall Police and he's been posted to the Isles of Scilly for several years. Here he recounts various tales of life on the islands. This was mostly funny but quite interesting to read as well as I know little about Scilly.