What's Tha Up To? Memories of an Attercliffe Bobby

by Martyn Johnson

If you want to know what it was really like to be a policeman in a large working-class area of Sheffield during the 1960s and 1970s then Martyn Johnson's memories provide us with a superb insight of the twilight era of the 'beat bobby'. Centred on Attercliffe and Darnall, we meet a host of colourful characters, lovable (and not so lovable) rogues and a rich variety of incidents and events that could not have been imagined even by the most creative of fiction writers. But they are all true. Read about amazing traffic accidents, impromptu fights, antics of burglars and thieves, 'domestics', a dreadful house fire, a dead horse that moved, a lost peacock, suicides and suspicious deaths, mortuary training, and even UFO's. Along the way we meet a host of lovely people that made up an almost forgotten and fading part of old Sheffield; and a few visitors too, including the great Brazilian footballer Pele. At times hilarious, occasionally sad, but never dull, this book is highly recommended for anyone interested in our recent social history

Genres: Nonfiction, Crime, History

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Martyn Johnson is an author, metal detectorist and historian. He lives in the beautiful village of Wentworth in South Yorkshire. He was born in Darfield, some five-and-a-half miles north-east of Wentworth, the son of a coal miner. He left school at the age of fifteen and took up employment as a blacksmith. His work changed dramatically four years later when he joined the Sheffield City Police, where he served as a ‘beat bobby’ at Attercliffe in the east-end of Sheffield until 1969. A two year spell in the CID followed but Martyn found that he missed grassroots policing and returned to the beat for a further seven years. Martyn is a well-known metal detectorist and has appeared on many BBC Radio Sheffield programmes talking about his hobby.

Since the launch of Martyn's books he is regularly contacted by the media for advice and information on policing in the 1960's/70's regarding the authenticity of programmes.

Together with his wife Christine and due to the amount of interest from visitors to Wentworth looking for a souvenir he has published a book of local views and characters called the Wentworth Postcard book.

Martyn has recently resigned from Wentworth Cricket Club after being Chairman for many years but continues to have a great interest in Garstang Cricket Club, where his youngest son Paul is a keen member of the team.

Reviews

[Shirley Revill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book and have read it a few times since I bought it.
Really tells how it was for a bobby on the beat in Sheffield when everyone knew the police who safeguarded their area.
Really funny at times and I couldn't put this book down.
Recommended.

[Gail murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

brilliant read well told made me cry and laugh

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Martyn Johnson joined the Sheffield Police force when he was 19. In this book Martyn tells the tale of a real-life 'bobby on the beat'. Before the days of radio, cars or computers, Martyn patrolled the streets of the Attercliffe district of Sheffield night and day.

We hear about his first dead body, chasing robbers - on front and later on his bike - his bike being 'stolen' - in fact it was painted pink and yellow by his colleague's daughters! There are family disputes, there are tragedies and there is laughter.

It is clear from the writing that Martyn Johnson is a compassionate man, a man who joined the force because he cared about people and about the city of Sheffield. That's not to say that he let people get away with things though - he could hold his own and had many injuries to show for it - as did the criminals who crossed his path. There are times when the book is incredibly sad, Martyn had to deal with some awful tragedy during his career, but there are also times when the reader will laugh out loud. The incident with the mangle had me chuckling for a good couple of hours after I'd read it!

For those of us who are familiar with modern day Sheffield, this is a great way of finding out some of the history of the city - pre-Meadowhall and the Arena - the days of local cafes and grocer shops on each corner. The days when the local bobby would be offered a bacon butty in every cafe and a pint of beer in every pub on his beat.

This is a heart-warming read, well written with compassion and humour.

[Ipswichblade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. Basically stories from a bobby on the beat in Sheffield during the sixties and early seventies. Lots of places that I recognised from growing up but good news is that I wasn't featured!!!
Thanks to Anne for sending it me

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining look behind the scenes at old style policing.

[B P MALEY · Rating 5 out of 5]

A first class read.

I would just love to see a T.V. series based on this book , it would rival " Heart Beat. " and a sitcom combined. " wonderful !! "

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, sad and thought provoking. A fantastic memoir of policing in the good old days of common sense. One of the best books I've read. Martyn shows his kindness and personality throughout.

[Rhiannon Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved how Martyn shared his memories of policing when he first joined. Happy, sad, funny, they are all part of what makes the job special and rewarding.

[Jayne Spry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book some parts were funny

[Janet Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do think you have to be British to understand this slim book. The title gives a hint as to the dialogue found throughout the stories. It does give an interesting insight into life in the 1960's, and it is amazing how things have changed, especially regarding policing.
A light, quick read

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was something missing in this memoir. Each chapter had one or two tales straight from Martyn's mouth. While half were rather interesting, the other half seemed to fall short. In glad I read it but have definitely finished some more interesting cop tales.

[Maryanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tha were a gret read