Billy Brown, I'll Tell Your Mother

Billy Brown, I'll Tell Your Mother

by Bill Brown (Author)

Synopsis

By the time he was ten years old Billy Brown was running a successful little business on the black market: whatever you needed, from bricks and fire wood to condoms, dress material or machetes Billy Brown could get it - or knew a man who could. And, for the right price, he would deliver it direct to your door in an old carriage pram. This is the highly entertaining and eye-opening memoir of a young boy growing up in 1950s post-war London. With energy and insight, Billy Brown paints a vivid and lively picture of Britain emerging from the ruins of the war, the hunger for opportunity, the growing pace of modernisation, and the pride and optimism that held communities together. Londoners were intent on getting themselves back on their feet and it provided the perfect opportunity for a boy with ambition and a lively imagination. Born in Brixton, south London, in 1942 Billy Brown was a loveable scamp with a nose for mischief. Left to his own devices whilst both his parents went out to work, if there was trouble to be had, Billy would be in the thick of it. Ignoring the shaking of fists from his neighbours, his mother's scoldings and the regular thwack of the cane on his bottom at school, Billy wheeled and dealed, charmed Woolies Girls, planned coronation celebrations, ran circles around circus performers and persuaded villains to work on his terms.

$3.25

Save:$20.60 (86%)

Quantity

8 in stock

More Information

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 344
Publisher: Orion
Published: 10 Feb 2011

ISBN 10: 140912276X
ISBN 13: 9781409122760
Book Overview: A riveting and hugely entertaining memoir of post-war London told through the eyes of a hilariously opportunistic little boy.

Author Bio
Bill Brown was born in Brixton, South London, in 1942 and started his own 'business' aged seven selling horse muck, fire wood and wood ash. By the time he was ten he was working in Brixton markets in his spare time and quickly learned how to source anything anyone asked him for. Some weeks Bill brought in more money than his beloved Dad. Bill was a Jack-of-all-trades until 1961 when his uncle encouraged him to join the Fire Service. Billy retired in 1984 having responded to a total of 21,000 incidents and saved many lives. Today he lives in East Sussex with his partner of 21 years, Jane. He has two children and one grandchild.