Fond Yarns & Tales of Woe

- Blurb -

'I often wish, when I know someone who's had a rich and interesting life that they would write down some of the precious stories for posterity. Most don't. Luckily, Jack Elphick has. This book is an enjoyable journey with Jack into the English countryside when he was evacuated as a child during WWII, in his 20s hitch-hiking and sleeping out in the Australian outback, heading off to help in the struggles of the people of Central America, sailing against French nuclear tests at Moruroa and tramping through forests with a helicopter overhead while helping to end native forest logging on the West Coast. It is a fond yarn, including some memorable tramping trips but most of all the stories of someone who cares strongly about injustice in the world and does something about it. And keeps on doing something about it. May we all still be standing up for the things we believe in when we are in our 90s.' Nicky Hager, author 'Jack's tales of adventure are a fantastic trip around the world from traversing by motorbike the undeveloped highways of the 1950s Australian outback, to cycle touring around New Zealand via a sailing voyage to Fiji, to a post-war night on the town in Birmingham, complete with a stolen double-decker bus. Jack recounts his adventures with humour, vivid detail and a tell-it-like-it-is style. With each turn of the page, I was impressed to find yet another tale of great adventure. As I read the final page, I thought ' now this is a life thoroughly lived.' Katie Coluccio