Gasmasks and Garston - A Liverpool Childhood (1937-1953) Paperback – Illustrated, 13 Nov. 2015

Excellent book, true nitty gritty. My grandparents were from Ynys Mon and settled in Garston in 1910. My grandfather had sailed deep sea for 25 years and became a 1st mate on a Garston dredger. My grandmother had emigrated to the Mid West, but came back. They also had six children and life wouldn't have been easy, in the 20/30s . This is a community that in the 1926 General Strike had a communist strike committee and many young men fought on the Republican side in the Spanish civil war. Including TUC leader, Jack Jones. I know in fine detail the places that are described. I went to the junior section of the author's secondary school. I was fortunately, coached and passed my 11+. I went to the same local library, as the author. At the age of 10 I asked, if I could join the adult section of the library. It was funded by Carnegie and is internally a beautiful art nouveau building. The author praises one of her teachers, Dorothy Banks. My mother was a very good friend of hers. One reviewer reflects that it's not the Garston he knew. Beatrice constantly reflects her family were private people, who didn't drink and engage in gossip. This community also included Griff Rhys Jones's grandparents family for a few years. It also is where Heidi Thomas's family came from. Sadly, the prosperous village high street is extremely run down. The retail park, near the airport; where Beatrice lived in the flats, hasn't helped. It is an excellent reflection of a hard working family in Garston pre and post war. The local history society had two books published by Tempus books. They didn't even refer to the Welsh community in their first volume. Beatrice does include the Welsh community in the book. Indeed her brother in law, like my grandparents was from Ynys Mon.

This is a fascinating account of childhood in a large working-class family in Liverpool during and after the Second World War, deftly written by one of the last two siblings who now survive. Beaty Smith is a life-long campaigner in left-wing causes - indeed a mainstay of the Cardiff Reds Choir as well as its chronicler - and she brings to this book a wide understanding of social history. Professor Norris calls it sociobiography, for Smith moves easily between major public issues and intimate family histories. The reader warms to each member of the family and follows their lives, both funny and sad, and eagerly turns the page to find out more.The long-distance cycling and youth-hosteling holidays led by Smith's father are particularly interesting. What father these days takes his young children on such expeditions? Smith recalls in amazing detail the historic castles and country scenery of these holidays through Wales and England, culminating in the Coronation of 1953. They cycled down from Liverpool and camped out overnight on the pavement in London. I've never read such a vivid account of what it was actually like to be there. A book not to be missed!

I was born in Carpathia Street, "under the bridge" in 1935. When I bought this book I expected a joyful reunion with some of my old friends. Not a Southall; Thompson; McMahon; McCarthy to be heard, nor indeed any of the scores of friends of both sexes I knew in that time spam.Sadly, I was disappointed. Apart from Mr Woolley, (a lovely man and a great headmaster) and one or two other dignitaries, the only person I recognised was a fellow reviewer, Derek Tootell. Not the Garston I knew. The main theme was some latent political dogma with little or no substance, combined with the some meandering "adventures" outside of the subject area. Not my cup of tea.

many of the people who lived in the tenements were not mentioned

A delightful and heartwarming account of a child growing up during the nd World War. The background to Garston in Liverpool is clearly explained and the stories and photographs bring this large, lively, working class family to life. I found it a page turner and in turn funny, sad and enlightening. Very good value for money!

This is a wise, witty, historically informed and politically engaged piece of writing which vividly recreates scenes and events from the author's early life. The best description is really 'sociobiography' because the book moves back and forth fluently between personal memories and wider observations on the social history that she has lived through with a sharp eye for salient detail. It is a wonderfully bracing read and full of telling remarks about the pleasures and excitements as well as the follies and iniquities she has witnessed. Although the narrative takes her only to age 16 the writing is everywhere informed by the whole range of her later experience, especially that acquired as a hardy left-wing activist and campaigner. Warmly recommended, and let us all hope that she'll produce at least one sequel volume to bring us more up to date.

My Great Aunt wrote this book and I just received it as a late Christmas present. Only read the first page and already it is telling story's about my dearly departed Granddad...Cant wait to read it from cover to cover! Thanks Aunty Beatey xxxxxx