The book worm

Above: Reviewed books

Panshanger Aerodrome
MICHAEL Packham is an aeroplane and aviation enthusiast and is particularly an authority on Panshanger aerodrome in Hertfordshire. He came across it as a little boy and learnt to fly there as an adult.
The aerodrome was built at the beginning of the Second World War, originally as a decoy against possible attacks on the de Havilland aircraft factory at Hatfield.
To make it realistic decoy aircraft were also built out of wood and canvas by model makers from a film studio. Occasionally Tiger Moth aircraft based at Hatfield landed there by mistake.
By 1942 work began to make it into a proper functioning aircraft station and today it is one of only two operational private aerodromes left in Hertfordshire.

Panshanger Aerodrome
By Michael Packham
Published by Tempus
ISBN: 978 07524 3917 0
Priced £16.99
Available from Life Books

Hertfordshire - The Way We Were
THIS delightful book will evoke plenty of memories for those who experienced the 40s, 50s and 60s in Hertfordshire. Life at that time is vividly recalled by local author Richard Whitmore and is full of interesting personal stories and photographs from the many people he has interviewed.
The book shows how life was altered by the war years, especially as the post-war government earmarked three sites in Hertfordshire for new towns.
Despite much opposition, Stevenage was the first to be built, followed by Hemel Hempstead and Hatfield. The population of Hertfordshire greatly expanded as thousands of Londoners, whose homes were lost during the war, came to live here. Television is also included as one of the innovations that made a huge impact on people’s lives.

Hertfordshire The Way We Were
By Richard Whitmore
Published by Countryside Books
ISBN: 1853067555
Priced £7.95
Available from Life Books

The Buncefield Explosion
ALTHOUGH the residents of Hemel Hempstead experienced one of the most shocking and dangerous disasters on December 11, 2005 – an event that will go down in history –they were also incredibly lucky.
The Buncefield oil storage depot became engulfed in flames in a scene reminiscent of the blitz and the explosions that followed were heard and felt up to 100 miles away.
Buildings across the town were destroyed but as it happened at 6am on a Sunday very few people were about and although many were left homeless there were few casualties and no deaths.
The ensuing firefighting operation lasted for several days and the resulting black smoke cloud could have caused an environmental disaster especially if it had rained, but it didn’t.
This fascinating book has the most incredible photographs and explains how teams of brave firefighters worked non-stop to curtail an even greater disaster.

The Buncefield Explosion
Published by Sceptre Education
ISBN: 978 0 9552759 0 6
Priced £14.99
Available from Bertram Books

Aston - Jack Pallett’s Memories And Village History
JACK Pallett, born in 1896 in Aston, was one of the last villagers to speak the pure Hertfordshire dialect.
His memories have been recorded painstakingly by local historian Des Turner and take us back to a bygone age of horsedrawn carts, blacksmiths, candlelight and hand pumped water from a communal well.
His memories of the First World War serve to remind us of the terrible experiences that young men endured in the trenches and Jack’s description of serving at Ypres where many soldiers were gassed is heart wrenching. The book contains many interesting old photographs and those who know Aston may recognise the names of people mentioned in this book.

Aston - Jack Pallett’s Memories and Village History
By Des Turner
Published by Des Turner
Priced £7.99
Available from www.astonvillage.tripod.com/astonvillage/id1