Book goes to work on fire eaters and bins

Delving through the photographic archives of the Yorkshire Post, author Peter Tuffrey has captured the county at work from the dangerous work of egg collectors at Bempton Cliffs to the somewhat rarefied world of bird dentistry at Harewood House. He explains that it was easy enough to select some typically Yorkshire industries – textiles, steel, railways and fishing – but others were less obvious.

Where else could one hope to find pictures of a thigh-length booted model illustrating a story about Leeds councillors’ decision to introduce decibel detectors at venues where live music was amplified?

And who could not be charmed by the lion-taming antics of workers at Knaresborough Zoo who set about introducing 18-month-old Sullivan to his new compound.

As well as providing a snapshot of the county at work over the decades the book also provides a fascinating insight into employment that often no longer exists.

Young people may find it hard to imagine but there was a time when no bus ride was complete without a cheery chat from an immaculately clad bus conductor such as Agnes Brown who cut a suitably trim and engaging figure in the 1960s for Leeds City Transport.

For the easily shocked there is also the surprise of finding that the men who took part in high-wire pursuits such as plundering birds’ nests were regarded as heroes rather than villains.

To order your copy of Yorkshire People at Work, priced at £11.99 plus £2.85 p&p (saving £1 on rrp £12.99) phone 01748 821122 Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, or send cheque made payable to Yorkshire Books Ltd to Yorkshire Books Ltd, 1 Castle Hill, Richmond, DL10 4QP.