Publisher's Synopsis
In 1949 two special boys were born - special because they are the subject of this book! One became professor and founding director of the Rolls-Royce Technology Centre at the University of Nottingham. The other graduated from this university, worked around the world, settled as a factory accountant at Boots, then opened a bed store. This book aims to set Tom and Mick's lives into the context of a changing Britain, a changing world; a world which saw the spread of university access to working class children, the emergence of Rock 'n Roll, the fall of the Soviet Union, the re-emergence of Russia, an ever evolving tussle between democracy and autocracy, protests against apartheid and much more. Yet, by far the most important change has been an ever increasing use of fossil fuels resulting in MAN MADE climate change. Because humans have caused it, there has been a decreasing ray of hope we can arrest it; but time has run out! The consequences of extreme weather events occurring ever more often, including floods, wildfires and violent winds are with us now. All the world can do is try to limit the damage. The book does not hold back on some embarrassing detail, thereby adding a quirky something to the story of a generation.
