What's Tha Up To? cover art

What's Tha Up To?

Memories of a Yorkshire Bobby

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What's Tha Up To?

By: Martyn Johnson
Narrated by: Martyn Johnson
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About this listen

"I've turned boys into men and policemen into coppers," said the Sergeant. "Policemen have got brains, but coppers, they've got brains and common sense."

No two days were ever the same for bobby-on-the-beat Martyn Johnson. Come rain or come shine, he patrolled his patch with a sharp eye for troublemakers and a kind word for those in need of a friend. Whether he was pursuing unlikely coal thieves, tracking down peacocks gone AWOL or investigating mysterious flying saucers over Sheffield, PC Johnson faced every new challenge with a smile and a healthy dose of his copper's common sense.

In his charming and funny memoir, read by the author, Martyn Johnson recalls the rogues, cheats, and scoundrels - as well as the many friends - who made his life on the beat so unforgettable.

©2010 Martyn Johnson (P)2012 Hachette Digital Europe Great Britain Sociology Urban Funny

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I was brought up in Darnall and Attercliffe in the 50's & 60's, and that's just how it was, great listen!

how times have changed

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I have to say that I’m from Rotherham, Kimberworth to be precise, so I know very well the neighbourhoods, streets and areas where Martyn worked his beat. I also know the sights, sounds and smells of South Yorkshire’s industrial heritage so the stories come alive to me perhaps more so than to some others, the way that he reads makes me feel as though I am sitting on my grandads knee listening to him telling me a story about life and more importantly how to live it. It’s simply a great read, full of passion for the job and one that makes you long to see the local Bobby back on the beat everywhere and television turned off for at least 12 hours a day! Hoping the next book is just as good, I’ve just started it.

Love this book and the guy himself

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A fabulous read, I’ve recommended to family members. Some really funny stories and some very sad ones too. It’s a great insight into a life of a Bobby on the beat in Yorkshire. Would love to hear more about Martyn’s life. Such interinteresting experiences and told so well. Easy to follow and very detailed. Gives a real insight into why we should have bobbies back on the beat.

Funny and sad but true, excellent insight into being a Bobby on the beat

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Amusing and interesting to hear about life on the beat in the good old days before politics ran the police force!! All the more authentic being read by the author himself! Bought the second book, hoping there is a 3rd!

ee by gum - what a great listen!

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I have often said when thinking of my own experiences “you couldn’t make it up”

A good story well told

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Thank you Martyn for reminding me how being a Bobby in Sheffield really was. I was there, well two or three years later and in a different Division, but Martyn happily paints a true picture of what it was like, and how the local beat bobby took responsibility for his beat. You did deal with everything, often without fuss, and got on with it. It was great to hear about making points, the cream and green police boxes, no radios, Hillman Husky Cars, Ariel Motorcycles and sneaky Sergeants. I remember meeting my Station Sergeant for the first time, and being told ' well lad, this job has never been the same since they had telephones, cadets and policewomen! ' and he meant it. Once again, Thank you Martyn for a wonderful few hours of memories in that very distinctive turn of speech. I'm half way through the next book now! tell you about that soon.

Real Old Fashioned and Effective Bobbying!

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Where does What's Tha Up To? rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I don't buy many memoirs/biographies but bought this one as I live in Sheffield and know Attercliffe common and tinsley. the areas he used to patrol.

What was one of the most memorable moments of What's Tha Up To??

as the book is made up of anecdotes there are a lot both happy and sad. difficult to choose just one.

What does Martyn Johnson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

martyn is telling his own police story so naturally the words and accents are correct.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

there were many.

Any additional comments?

it is a book about people, the way they lived when he first became a policeman in the nineteen sixties, the friendships he made and the people he helped.
I enjoyed the book bringing back memories of the firm where I worked and telling the history of a pub I used to go to with other office workers.

a policemans lot.

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a superb tale of one mans adventure through life. i laughed and cried. reccomended highly.

superb

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the content was interesting but the narration sounded a bit slow in places, i think some people are natural story tellers and others are not. i think it was ok but could have had more depth in the storytelling narrating. the book gives ts a good indication of how the police were back in the day before the government interfered in how the police practice. I am going to get the next book to see what happens next in his career. overall i have enjoyed this book.

i found this very interesting

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