Dial 999!

The heart-warming true life adventures of an ambulance driver in 1970s Britain

It's the most wonderfully written book... I do recommend [it] I really do

His fascinating insight will make you laugh [and] cry...

Les' writing is so good that, even though I know the material inside out, I was still drawn to read more - he's a very engaging a writer... I cannot recommend it enough

Tom Reynolds, author of "Blood, Sweat and Tea"

Although born in Easington County Durham, Les Pringle spent his first eight years in Ratho, south-west of Edinburgh. His father's subsequent career moves led Les and his family on a whistle-stop tour of England before eventually settling in Birmingham when Les was in his mid-teens. 
 
He joined Birmingham's Metropolitan Ambulance Service in 1977 for little more reason than it seemed a good idea at the time. That good idea led to three, unbroken decades of round the clock emergency work. He is the holder of the Queen's Medal for Long and Exemplary Service. 
 
Les has two children and still lives in Birmingham with his wife, Marie-Madeleine.

This is a re-issue of Blue Nights and Long Nights ISBN 9780552158527. 
 
Card-playing corpses, unfaithful husbands and 'flying' ladies - life as an ambulance driver in the 1970s was certainly varied ... 
 
At the age of twenty-three, Les Pringle decided to escape from office life, broaden his horizons and become an ambulance driver. Little did he realize how broad those horizons would turn out to be. 
 
Filled with warmth and humour, Dial 999! takes us back to a time when lonely old ladies could call 999 and have a cup of tea waiting when the drivers turned up for a chat; when learning to drive the ambulance meant going out for one test drive and managing not to hit a pedestrian; and every day brought a glimpse into other people's lives. 
 
Gripping, poignant and darkly funny, Dial 999!is an affectionate, warm-hearted look at a world gone by.

Call the Ambulance!

The touching, heartwarming memoir of an ambulance driver in 1970s Britain

Les Pringle is the author of the much-loved first memoir of his ambulance-driver days, Blue Lights and Long Nights. He joined Birmingham's Metropolitan Ambulance Service in the seventies for little more reason than it seemed a good idea at the time. That good idea led to three, unbroken decades of round the clock emergency work. He is the holder of the Queen's Medal for Long and Exemplary Service. He has two children and still lives in Birmingham with his wife, Marie-Madeleine.

Exploding pressure cookers, a thwarted wife's deadly revenge and transvestites in distress - manning an ambulance in the seventies kept you on your toes. 
 
Having survived the rites of passage as a probationer, Les Pringle now has to face up to the reality of life as an ambulance man in Thatcher's Britain. He does this with humour and fortitude - two qualities which are essential if he is to cope with cases ranging from the absurd to the heart rending. 
 
From attending murder scenes to delivering babies ... it's quite a life for Les, and one that he and his shift mates tread with warmth and humour in equal measure.

Les Pringle

Gordon Griffin

It's the most wonderfully written book... I do recommend Blue Lights and Long Nights, I really do

Tom Reynolds, author of Blood, Sweat and Tea

This book has been re-issued as Dial 999! ISBN 9780552165310. 
 
Card-playing corpses, unfaithful husbands and 'flying' ladies - life as an ambulance driver in the 1970s was certainly varied ... 
 
At the age of twenty-three, Les Pringle decided to escape from office life, broaden his horizons and become an ambulance driver. Little did he realize how broad those horizons would turn out to be. 
 
Filled with warmth and humour, Blue Lights and Long Nights takes us back to a time when lonely old ladies could call 999 and have a cup of tea waiting when the drivers turned up for a chat; when learning to drive the ambulance meant going out for one test drive and managing not to hit a pedestrian; and every day brought a glimpse into other people's lives. 
 
Gripping, poignant and darkly funny, Blue Lights and Long Nights is an affectionate, warm-hearted look at a world gone by.

Les Pringle

Praise for Blue Lights and Long Nights

A great read. I loved every page

It's the most wonderfully written book... I do recommend Blue Lights and Long Nights, I really do

His fascinating insight will make you laugh [and] cry...

A great read. I loved every page

It's the most wonderfully written book... I do recommend Blue Lights and Long Nights, I really do

His fascinating insight will make you laugh [and] cry...

A great read. I loved every page

It's the most wonderfully written book... I do recommend Blue Lights and Long Nights, I really do

His fascinating insight will make you laugh [and] cry...

Books by Les Pringle

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