This is the story of the lifestyle of three lads-Alan, Ron, and Ken. They were all born and bred in a working class neighbourhood area of the Manchester and Salford dock lands during the hard times of the 1920s, '30s and the war years of the 1940s. From meeting in the infants class on their very first day at school during the 1920s, the story follows them through the following years, which includes the buildup to the war, the eventual outbreak of war, the air raids, and the many roles played by them and their families amid the many colourful characters of the neighbourhood during the Manchester and Salford disastrous 1940 Christmas Blitz and beyond. Ken achieved his lifelong ambition to fly, and as a RAF Sunderland pilot in Coastal Command, he patrolled the North Atlantic and Norwegian Sea convoy routes, involving him and his crew, in many dangerous and harrowing engagements with the enemy and the unforgiving waters below. Ron, also declared unfit for military service because of poor eyesight, dedicated himself after the Blitz to the rescue and welfare of the many terror stricken, lost, or abandoned homeless animals roaming the streets of Salford amid all the destruction. His dedication and with local help eventually led to the vital opening of an animal sanctuary. During the course of this fiction wrapped around a fact story, it highlights the spirit of the many real unsung heroes that emerged in my Salford dock lands neighbourhood at a time when people pulled together regardless of the dangers and cost to themselves. From meeting in the infants class on their very first day at school during the 1920s, the story follows them through the following years which includes the build up to the war, the eventual outbreak of war, the air raids and the many roles played by them and their families amid the many colourful characters of the neighbourhood during the Manchester and Salford disastrous 1940 Christmas 'Blitz' and beyond. Ken achieved his lifelong ambition to fly and as a RAF Sunderland pilot in Coastal Command patrolled the North Atlantic and Norwegian Sea convoy routes involving him and his crew, in many dangerous and harrowing engagements with the enemy and unforgiving waters below. Ron, also declared unfit for military service because of poor eyesight, dedicated himself, after the 'Blitz', to the rescue and welfare of the many terror stricken, lost or abandoned homeless animals roaming the streets of Salford amid all the destruction. His dedication and with local help eventually led to the vital opening of an animal sanctuary. During the course of this fiction wrapped around fact story, it highlights the spirit of the many real unsung heroes that emerged in my Salford dock lands neighbourhood at a time when people pulled together regardless of the dangers and cost to themselves. | Pal's & Neighbours by Sep Burgess, Paperback | Indigo Chapters