In the Shadow of Cleeve Hill: The Autobiography of Bernard Parkin, Royal Racing Photographer

Bernard Parkin, one of racing's most respected photographers, has a wealth of memories and a library of many thousands of photographs of the thoroughbred racehorse, both over fences and on the flat. The pages of this fascinating book are crammed full of fun, excitement and uncanny coincidences. Stories abound of growing up in Regency Cheltenham, wartime schooldays, and life in the Army and Royal Navy. There is also a fascinating insight into life in the villages of Prestbury and Woodmancote at the time when they were important training centres, producing winners of the Grand National, Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle. Racing greats - Arkle, Desert Orchid, Mill Reef, Frankie Dettori, Dick Francis, AP McCoy, Paul Nicholls, David Nicholson and Sir Peter O'Sullevan, to name but a few - feature throughout. He was also the first of his profession to hold Royal Warrants of Appointment to both The Queen Mother and The Queen, and this is a work that will be of great interest to racing enthusiasts and followers of royalty alike.