Derek Beattie

The market town of Ludlow, Shropshire has entertained itself over the last 150 years with events for both rich and poor: from cockfighting to cycling clubs, from genteel balls to rowdy tugs-of-war across the local river. Historian Derek Beattie has created a very lively, highly-illustrated account of Ludlow, a traditional, thriving town in middle England, which shows how the local people amused themselves when not at work. It is a snapshot of the changing tastes in leisure over a century and half, captured in fascinating original photos and words.

Ludlow, Shropshire, is perhaps best known today for its gourmet restaurants, its famous Food Festival and its attractive Georgian and medieval market town centre. But it has a less glorious claim to fame: the working classes of Ludlow lagged far behind much of the country when it came to their living conditions and, from Victorian times to the middle of the 20th century, many lacked most of the basic comforts. Disease, especially TB, was rife, countless houses had no access to running water, and outside toilets were shared by several families. When it is remembered that Ludlow’s poor households often numbered eight or more residents, the degree of deprivation becomes clearer. Yet Ludlow’s working classes battled on, largely uncomplainingly, until the local council finally agreed reluctantly to building the minimum number of council houses they could get away with. This is a clear-sighted, well presented and fascinating account of the everyday lives of those living on the ‘other’ side of Ludlow.

In 2011, 525 people died by suicide in Ireland - an increase of 7 percent on the previous year. After these figures were published, the Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly, described suicide as "a tragedy that we are constantly working to prevent". Ireland, like most countries, has a national suicide prevention strategy, but there is scant evidence to support most of the initiatives set out in national suicide prevention strategies. In Suicide: A Modern Obsession, Dr. Pat Devitt and Derek Beattie explore suicide in different cultures and historical periods, survey various public-policy approaches to the subject (looking at what works and what doesn’t), investigate links between economic performance and suicide, and provide an in-depth examination of suicide prevention. They also look at the impact of media portrayals of suicide. Finally, they offer practical advice to those dealing with suicide and its aftermath.