The Other Side of the Dale

Gervase Phinn was appointed schools inspector in North Yorkshire, visiting schools in the beautiful Dales as well as the stark valley towns. A born raconteur with a keen ear for the absured and eye for the ridiculous, he has at last put his experiences into print. The children are invariably angels or devils-but always alive and delightful; the teachers are saints facing faceless odds; the other inspectors are people with wonderful understanding and patience (on most occasions). But there are also caretakers, parents and Julia the Secretary who, despite her best intentions, frequently manages to put her foot in it.