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DUTY
£4.70
Growing up in the 1970s on a tough council estate in North East England, career options were limited. As a young lad, I needed focus. Three days after my 17th birthday, the Royal Marines offered me that.
After serving in the Falklands and Northern Ireland, my career took another path, which eventually led me to almost three decades serving as a firefighter.
After serving in the Falklands and Northern Ireland, my career took another path, which eventually led me to almost three decades serving as a firefighter.
My driving force for many roles in my life has been that of duty. Throughout life’s challenges, commiserations and celebrations, I began to appreciate just how fragile life can be – and learnt the importance of physical health, a positive mindset, and unbreakable resilience.
My story, my life, my duty.
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Additional information
| Publisher | Write on the Tyne Publishing (17 Nov. 2023) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| File size | 43795 KB |
| Simultaneous device usage | Unlimited |
| Text-to-Speech | Enabled |
| Screen Reader | Supported |
| Enhanced typesetting | Enabled |
| X-Ray | Not Enabled |
| Word Wise | Enabled |
| Sticky notes | On Kindle Scribe |
| Print length | 306 pages |
by Kindle Customer
DUTY is a wonderful life story, wonderfully written and a very easy read.
From Jeff’s youth through to present, narrating the highs and the lows in such a calm but certain way.
Perhaps a caveat is in order in that I’m a former colleague and long standing friend of Jeff’s but can say, without any doubt, that the way Helen Aitchison has transposed Jeff’s story into print is quite remarkable. It’s him, his words, his story. What you see is what you get. Much like the man himself.
Entitled “Duty” with lashings of family, comrades, friends and colleagues taking the reader along on the journey with him. How one man’s life, in some ways not very different from anyone else’s, has been added to by extraordinary endeavours that are very very different from the norm and how a mindset can help guide oneself through turbulent waters. A sense of duty, family, friends, a good heart and a healthy spirit.
Above all a fab Northern story
Well done Mr Stephenson. Well done Helen
by Sandi T
This book is an honest account of Jeff’s experience across both his personal and professional life – in War fighting for his country, in the Fire Service protecting his community and at home with his family and friends.
I had the privilege of working alongside Jeff for a number of years, and can say that he is absolutely of life’s good guys – there aren’t many people in this world like Jeff.
At the heart of this book is a positive approach to life irrespective of the hand we are dealt. This something we all should try to incorporate into our lives. Moreover his experience relating to resilience is something everyone could do with taking inspiration from at some point on their journey when things get tough.
What an inspiration! Great achievement and even better read.
Dougie
by Graeme MacDonald
A really well written and delivered book, more like an action book than autobiography, kept you gripped and always wanting to read the next chapter which all good books do.A really good first work from the author and was an emotional read at times whilst delivering a really good insight into growing up in the North East of England.
by Burn451
For me anyone who endures the rigours of Royal Marine training commands immediate respect. That destiny saw Jeff & his comrades see action in iconic British military history only adds more gravitas.
Followed by commendable chronicling of the challenges facing the men & women of the modern Fire Service every day makes for an entertaining read.
Reference throughout to the support of family and friends burns bright. A big takeaway also the importance of good physical health and perhaps even more importantly, balanced mental health and strength for the challenges life throws at everyone.
The only downside to the book is that it is a poor advert for cauliflower, toffee apples and Lucozade….
by Sandi T
I became utterly gripped and immersed from the first page and read it in one long and enjoyable sitting. I laughed at times and cried at others.
Duty is an extraordinary autobiography about a man who has spent his life living and breathing an incredibly strong sense of “duty”. Jeff writes about his beloved North Shields in the Northeast of England and the stalwart community in which he grew up. He describes true friendships lasting the course of time right from childhood, through to present times.
Duty depicts the life of a young cheeky chappy Geordie lad, loving life and sports and footie and Newcastle United Football Club, as he embarks on his career at 17-years-old in the Royal Marines. Jeff describes an incredible 32-week endurance training in such detail and in a way, I felt I was there with him. It gives a real insight into what it takes to become the best of the best as a Royal Marine and serve Queen and country. At a time when most young adults are living a very different life, Jeff was spending his 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st birthday in “a snow hole in the Arctic”. From fighting in the Falklands War and the atrocities experienced at such a young age and then later in Northern Ireland, to then becoming a Fire Fighter – this true story just keeps on giving.
Jeff describes his childhood surrounded by loving parents, family, and friends, enabling him to become the natural (free) child; spontaneous, intuitive, creative, curious, mischievous and pleasure seeking. It becomes clear throughout the book that this start in life (as well as a real devotion and love of sports and exercise to remain fit and healthy, physically and mentally), gives Jeff the strength and resilience to avoid and overcome adversity, and potential for PTSD, at many times in his life. In my experience as a therapist, not everyone is as fortunate and in the same circumstances can develop more unhealthy “coping strategies”.
Duty tells of a man who take his “duty” as a son, brother, uncle, husband, partner, friend to so many and particularly as a dad, very seriously. The book is written with a clear and intelligent understanding of the importance and impact of mental and physical health. Duty will be enjoyed not only by those who have experience or interest in the armed forces and emergency services, but also by a wide and varied audience, such is the enlightening and entertaining style Jeff adapts. Highly recommend – I loved it!
by Caroline Myers
Having read and enjoyed autobiographies by Jason Fox, Ollie Ollerton I was really excited to read this.
It did not disappoint, this book takes you on a journey through Jeff’s lifestory. Starting out in his childhood days growing up on a council estate in the North East, to his adventures in the marines, to the fire service to post “retirement” plans!
Jeff’s positive outlook and his mindset is awe inspiring.
A book packed full with emotion, honest raw accounts, a lot of serious situations and a strong theme of strong family bonds and friendships with a good dose of humour!
Thank you for your service Jeff and for sharing your story with us