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Island Racer 2013
"If you want the ultimate sporting example of courage then here it is."

The Isle of Man TT event has made history ever since the first person looked at the lump of rock in the Irish sea and said to his friend: "You know what would be a great idea here? A motorcycle race against the clock!"

Island Racer 2013

The Isle of Man TT has given us fans moments of pure joy, total admiration and sheer exhilaration. It has also given us moments of absolute horror and terrific sadness that, at the time, never felt as though it would ever leave our world.

If you want the ultimate sporting example of courage then here it is. Wrapped up in an island, in THE Island, of people and places who for two specific weeks of the year embrace every second and give up every inch of their home so that those greats can come and do things on two wheels that you never get to see anywhere else.

Island Racer 2013

Get your 2013 TT off to a cracking start with your copy of Island Racer 2013

Bookazine - The Dambusters

Perhaps the most famous single mission in the RAF's illustrious history, the Dams Raid, took place 70 years ago in May 1943.
To commemorate the landmark mission, Squadron Leader Clive Rowley (Retd) a former Officer Commanding the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, takes a fresh look at an old story with the benefit of some modern research to aid the process.

This special bookazine, which includes some previously unpublished pictures and some stunning artwork, commemorates the men of No.617 Squadron plus the engineering brilliance of Barnes Wallis and his colleagues at Vickers and Avro.

It's a story which does not need embellishment, but which famously received the Hollywood treatment; a fabulous tale of ingenuity, daring and raw courage. All military actions are made up of mistakes, myths and a few miracles – the Dams Raid contained them all.
The publication tells the story of the real people with human traits, complex and contradictory personalities and flaws. This is also a story of inspired leadership under conditions of almost unbelievable strain.

For decades the results and effects of the Dams Raid have been 'down-played' or even condemned by a series of commentators, journalists and academics. Here the author sets the record straight, opining that those views denigrate the sacrifice of those involved quite wrongly, especially those 53 who willingly gave their lives in the belief that they were making a difference.

But there's more, as although 617 was originally formed to carry out one specific operation, it subsequently evolved into a specialist, precision bombing squadron. The brilliant post-Dams Raid work done by the squadron is also covered.

In 1943 Operation Chastise, as the Dams Raid was officially named, established a legend that still resonates today.

Sample look inside...

 

Bookazine - Bluebell

The Bluebell Railway in East Sussex was the first full size railway to be taken over from British Railways by steam preservationists - in 1960 - and is now one of the most famous and well-known, enjoying a £3m annual turnover from 300,000 passengers and supported by a 10,500-strong membership.
Since 1971 it has had ambitions to extend another six miles northwards along the old trackbed to join the national rail network at East Grinstead.
The culmination of this 42-year project will see steam trains return to East Grinstead from late March 2013.

With planning permission initially refused, the preservationists did not give up; a successful public inquiry, 31 separate landowners to negotiate with, the longest tunnel in preservation, a ten-arch viaduct - and a cutting filled with over 100,000 tonnes of domestic waste that would cost £4m to remove!

The bookazine draws on both timeline reports from house journal Bluebell News as well as never before published information and gives every location the full 'before and after' treatment. This will be the first available full story of Bluebell's biggest-ever project, timed just when the extension is completed and open to visitors.

Binder - Kitchen Garden A4
Keep your copies of  Kitchen Garden safe and easy to access with this A4 sized binder. In dark green with the Kitchen Garden logo on its spine, this binder will help keep your copies in pristine condition!

Note. This is the  A4 sized binder to fit the current issue size. See the Super A4 size binders for issues between January 2011 and January 2012.
Bookazine - Settle & Carlisle Revival

The Settle & Carlisle railway runs across the roof of England, reaching the highest point on any main line railway in the country. Today it carries a frequent and well-patronised passenger service and considerable heavy long-distance freight traffic.

But we are lucky that the line has survived two attempts to close it and in fact should probably never have been built at all.

There could now be a 72 mile abandoned trackbed passing through such places as Blea Moor, over Dent Head and Arten Gill viaducts and the legendary Ais Gill summit, but fortunately, sufficient people felt strongly enough to campaign successfully to stop this happening and keep one of Britain’s favourite railway lines open.

Since the line was reprieved from closure for the second time in 1989 after an eight-year battle, train services have been expanded. In fact they were expanding even while it was still the intention to close the line, but saving the line was not the end of the story, it was just the beginning.

This is the story of the revival in the fortunes of the Settle & Carlisle.

Many closed stations have reopened and are being restored to their former glory, freight traffic has returned and steam-hauled excursions over the line have gone from strength to strength.