Bøker av Mark Bishop

The year is 1974 and Leeds United have started the season with a new manager after the turmoil left behind by the short-lived reign of the controversial Brian Clough.Like all die-hard Leeds fans, Fred Hepplewhite, is as pleased as punch that Jimmy Armfield is now at the managerial reigns but still something in his life is missing. His job is boring. Working at the checkout at his local supermarket in Horsforth- a quiet town not that away from the city centre of Leeds- he passes the time of day chatting to various customers and his work colleagues, including Carol Ledbetter who quite fancies Fred, although he's not that really interested. Besides he's still married even though his wife has left him. Fred, 61, used to work for a mechanical engineering company before getting a job at the supermarket. At least his old job was interesting and he could wear greasy overalls all day and talk to his mates about Don Revie, Sir Geoffrey Boycott, pigeons, dominoes, whippets and Yorkshire puddings with gravy in the 'middle bit.' However, one day Fred's life is changed for good when he answers an advert in his local evening newspaper: WANTED-SECRET AGENT. After his recruitment interview at the Woodall motorway services restaurant on the M1 between junctions 30 and 31 near Sheffield, Fred is told he's got the job after passing exhaustive test questions (such as, do Yorkshire folk really put cheese on top of their slices of fruit cake? Do you need a passport to travel outside of Yorkshire? And how long can you wear a flat cap without washing it?) Fred's mission- to stop a Swiss/German megalomaniac from trying to get everyone, including the world's leaders, to 'speak Yorkshire, ' wear Yorkshire clothes and do Yorkshire things. Brewing magnate, Baron Schmitt Von Cuckoo, the megalomaniac, has a factory which manufactures Yorkshire clothing and a laboratory which makes special Yorkshire language pills, in Zermatt, which Fred must destroy. The lab manufactures a special pill if, when swallowed with water, allows the person to speak Yorkshire for up to 30 days- although there are side effects- the person will start to speak in either Cockney, Scouse or Glaswegian. And in the most severe side effect cases, the consumer will start to speak all three 'languages' at once. So, it's a serious situation and Fred is equipped with all the equipment a real-life James Bond character would get- including cufflink's that play brass band music and the Leeds United anthem, Marching On Together, a roast beef being cooked in beef dripping wafter from the front of his Aston Martin and a key fob that spurts out cold gravy at any would-be assailant. Along the way, Fred Hepplewhite meets beautiful women, adventure, danger and waiters and hotel staff that don't really understand him because of his thick Yorkshire accent. Will Fred successfully accomplish his assignment? Especially as he can't ski, and the Baron's factory and laboratory is near the top of a notorious Black ski run near the Matterhorn. Will Fred win at roulette like the real James Bond character also seems to, even though he can't understand a word of French? And how will he recognize the CIA agent, Felix Lightenup? Will Fred actually buy a round of drinks, seeing as he has to be careful with his allowance from the British Secret Service- plus the fact he's from Yorkshire! And will Miss Cash-money back at the British Secret Service HQ, still wistfully gaze out of the window whilst chewing a pencil, in her small office, thinking of Fred and what he's up to? This book is a terrific parody of the James Bond character- only this time with a 100 per cent Yorkshire take. Full of fun, drama, adventure, tongue-in-cheek jokes, double- entendre's and clever takes on comparable situations with the real James Bond character, Fred Hepplewhite, Agent 008 Licenced to Grill, should keep the reader smiling and chuckling away, from the first page to the last.

This is the seventh book in The Derby 9 series which centres around nine, middle aged male printers who work for the Trader Group of Newspapers based in Derby in the East Midlands. The Derby 9 are 'football mad' Derby County supporters and the year is now 1987. Derby County have just been promoted back to the top- flight under manager Arthur Cox and The Rams will start the season with two- star signings- England's No 1 goalkeeper, Peter Shilton and England defender, Mark Wright from Southampton bringing the number of internationals in the squad to five. The Derby 9 are obviously 'cock-a-hoop' and when the company's boss, millionairess Mrs Hanley, chooses the Isle of Wight for the Trader Group's annual fashion show and 'works outing, ' The Derby 9 are more than happy as The Rams are having part of their pre-season summer tour on the island while they will be staying there. So, all seems perfectly normal when 442 Trader Group staff, VIP's and the company's directors check into their luxury hotel one Thursday afternoon with everyone looking forward to a relaxing four-day break. However, all is not what it seems, and things soon start to quickly unravel. Who is the mysterious Italian hotel manager and his equally two mysterious Italian assistants? After meeting the Trader Group on arrival at the hotel, they then seem to 'vanish into thin air.' Then Darren White, chief designer for Calvin Klein who also designs all the Trader staff's outfits for the fashion shows, suddenly disappears. Dave Wilde (Controller) starts to suspect that the Mafia are running the hotel they are staying at.His fears prove to be true and with news that Darren White has been kidnapped and held to ransom on the island itself, it's a dramatic race against time to rescue him and come up with the million- pound demand. With a shoot-out at night at a remote farmhouse where White is being held captive, Dave Wilde brings down the kidnappers with the help of some of his ex-Army mates. Meanwhile the Derby 9 make a crazy dash to the football ground where The Rams are playing to catch a glimpse of Peter Shilton and the new-look Derby team. There's also a paragliding contest off Ventnor cliffs and an emotional battle by Jackie Wilde to keep the jealous Mrs Hanley away from her husband, once and for all. This latest book in the series, The Derby 9 Go to the Isle of Wight, really cranks up the drama, humour, passion and intrigue in spades, which should keep readers gripped from page one until the very end.

This is the sixth book in the 'Derby 9 Go To' series and the year is now 1986.This time around, the Trader Group boss Mrs Hanley, chooses New York to stage the newspaper company's annual fashion show. Her close friend and A list designer, Calvin Klein, is only too happy to help organize the event, which will be held at New York's five-star luxury Plaza Hotel on Manhattan's exclusive Fifth Avenue near Central Park.All the world's top fashion house designers will be there along with their Head Buyers such as the fearsome, Lauren Bertoldi and her best friend, Christiane Lamouilly De La Croix. It's winter- time, it's snowing, and everyone is feeling festive. Again, ALL the Trader Ad girls are coming- as well as the popular four directors, the Pickering's, their housekeeper, Mrs Benson and Rita, their maid. Everyone is understandably in high spirits and their minds are on buying Christmas presents in Macey's to take back home- whilst the Derby 9, the printers, have watching a baseball or NFL match at the top of their 'to-do' list. Derby County have already been promoted back to the top- flight so it took a lot of persuading from Mrs Hanley and Dave Wilde to lure the Derby 9 away from the Baseball Ground as it meant missing the big fixture, Derby County v Leeds at the weekend......always a notoriously cagey encounter, to say the least! So, it's off to New York, New York...."so good they say it twice," as the popular saying goes.....on a specially chartered 747 jumbo jet. But no-one could have ever imagined what was going to happen during the long weekend break. Frank Sinatra, yes Frank Sinatra, was the mystery guest at the gala dinner after the fashion show that Saturday night, and he had the 1000 or so guests, foot-tapping along to his fabulous collection of hit songs while Bruce Hallyday, one of the larger- than- life directors, even tried to join in with Sinatra but was soon put in his place by Judy Morgan and told him there's only one Frank Sinatra!! That wasn't all that happened during the luxury works outing. With more drama, passion, intrigue, humour and a premonition from Dave Wilde that something terrible had happened back home, this trip to New York will again keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish!!

This is the tenth book in the popular Derby 9 series and now the year is 1984. This time the Derby County loving newspaper printers are putting on their 'Sunday best' to take-part in the Trader Group's latest fashion show....in Billesdon, a sleepy hamlet of just 800 people in East Leicestershire.The Derby 9's last adventure took part in sunny Spain, the year before, on the Costa del Sol. Now the Print Lads are swopping sun, sea, sangria and their sombrero's .....for real ale, green fields, beautiful countryside and pub meals, with more fun and mayhem closer to home, as the lads from Heanor, Derbyshire, go to Billesdon.Big John, Gary, Mick, Mace, Brian, Bob, Chris, Larry and Trev are the Derby 9.The show is to be staged in a giant marquee on the village football pitch and the Derby 9 are joined by their pals- ALL the Trader Group 'Ad Girls' .....al 330 of them..... from the 15 Trader offices in the Eastand West Midlands, including Pam, Helen, Bev, Liz, Sandy, Debs, Maggie, Tina and Millie!! All the world's top fashion designers are coming from Paris, Rome, Milan, Madrid and New York- many by private jet and then onwards by helicopter. But unknown to most, the site itself was the location for an Italian POW camp in WW2 - and there are some in the village, who fear staging such a big event will 'upset the spirits' that still exist.Before the show, the Derby 9 attend a friendly football match in midweek, down at the Baseball Ground, where Derby County play a German, non-league side who are on their summer tour of the UK. With the usual banter flying around amongst the Derby 9, and the home crowd, it proves to be an eventful evening. Meanwhile Trader Group owner and millionairess, Mrs Hanley, continues to expand the company withfurther new editions to to be opened by the end of the year. With the world's Press attending the fashion show in Billesdon, the Derby 9 and the 'Ad' Girls continuetheir path to stardom and feature in the new, weekly, free fashion magazine which is now inserted into every Trader edition. Controller Dave Wilde is again the hero- this time in Billesdon as more than athousand fans of the world's fashion designers suddenly descend on the village to try and catch a glimpse of the 'A' list celebrities. The fans threaten to storm the marquee unless they are allowed in. But Dave'saves the day' with some quick thinking and a compromise, his actions instilled in him from his days in the Army. With the sight of the local farmer 'chasing helicopters away' from his livestock, in a nearby field, toBig John, the leader of the Derby 9, having a canape eating contest amongst the rest of his mates, while talk of ghosts and a haunted football pitch continues to shroud the show in mystery- the latest fashion- bonanza, again, proves very different from any normal event. And there's a twist at the end, with Dave Wilde now contemplating whether to quit his high- powered job after a huge row with Mrs Hanley. So, fasten your seatbelts for a cracking, page- turning read, full of strong characters, humour, pathos, far reaching social observations, heroism and romance.

This is the fifth book in the popular 'The Derby 9' series and this time the Derby County FC die-hard printers, from the Trader Newspaper Group in the East Midlands, are off to Bavaria in Germany-along with 340 of their female colleagues from the advertising departments of all 17 Trader editions across the East and West Midlands.It's another fashion show. And this time an up- and- coming German designer along with her Austrian fashion friend, have put together a collection especially for The Derby 9and the Trader Group Ad girls. Millionairess Trader Group owner Mrs Hanley charters a 747 jumbo jet to fly everyone to Munich, along with Controller, Dave Wilde and the founder, of the Trader Group of Newspapers, Lionel Pickering. The Trader Group's four directors also make the trip as well. The ever-popular Bruce Hallyday, along with Judy Morgan, Richard Johnson and Graham Treadwhite.The world's top fashion designers along with the Head Buyers of the fashion houses and more than 200 members of the world's Press, also descend on the trendy Bavarian ski-resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, where everyone from the Trader Group is staying- at an exclusive 5- star mountain top hotel- only accessible by cable car.There's also a special football match taking place while everyone is there- at the Olympic Stadium betweenBayern Munich v Liverpool- the day before the fashion show on the Saturday night. The Derby 9, manage to obtain tickets- but there seems to be more action OFF the pitch than on!Bavaria. The home of the Bratwurst sausage, Beer Festivals and Lederhosen. And the trip to Bavaria is certainly a recipe for drama, humour, adventure, ski-ing, mischief, a dare-devil challenge, romance and a chance for some of The Derby 9 to brush up on their German after attending night school for three months back in Derby, learning the language. So, fasten your seat belts for another thrill a minute with The Derby 9!

Following on from the Derby 9's adventures in Paris and the Pyrenees, Mark Bishop's latest book in the series sees the nine printers from the Trader Group of Newspaperspack their buckets, spades and sombreros and jet off to sunny Spain, to the ever popular Costa del Sol which boasts 300 days of sunshine a year. The reason? They have won The Trader Group Employees of The Year Award. The year is now 1983. These Derby County die-hard fans love nothing better than following their beloved 'Rams, both home and away- even though their team has now dropped down into the old Division 2. But as it's summer and the new football season is a good month away, the Derby 9 accept their award with gusto and can't wait to pack their suitcases. As usual, 'things' quickly start to happen when they set foot on foreign soil. Instead of spending their first night in their five-star luxury hotel on the Torremolinos sea-front, the Derby 9 end up behind bars in a police cell- for not having enough money to pay the bar bill! And on the next day, one of the lads is almost arrested again for 'skinny dipping' in the sea in broad daylight! And then an even bigger suprise.....all the Trader Group 'Ad girls' (all 322 of them) arrive unannounced to spend the rest of the week with the Derby 9- along with the Trader Group owner, millionairess Mrs Hanley and her four directors, Bruce Hallyday, Judy Morgan, Graham Treadwhite and Richard Johnson. Mrs Hanley had impulsively wanted to reward 'her girls.' So what better than to hire a private plane and also have a break on the Costa- just down the road in Torremolinos from the Derby 9, in another five-star hotel. What follows is more fun and mayhem and a go-kart competition amongst the 300 plus Trader staff, where a few eyebrows are certainly raised when the winners take the podium! With the Trader Ad girls showing the way on the disco dance floor to the sound of some classic early 80s New Wave British tunes, as well as a steak sandwich and chocolate cake eating contest, there's never a dull moment, as you can imagine, on this Costa del Sol experience for the Trader Group gang. Mark Bishop draws on a year and half's worth of experience of living and working on the Costa del Sol to expertly capture the heartbeat of the region and the character of the wide variety of people who still flock to one of Europe's most popular holiday destinations- which still regularly attracts around 13 million tourists a year. Fasten your seat belts for another cracking read!

The author has spent the last eight years actually living and working in China and has now drawn on all his experiences to produce a deeply insightful two-part series, giving his unique insight into the most populated country on the planet. With more than four decades of working as a news reporter on newspapers, radio and national television under his belt, Mark Bishop has drilled deep to discover all that's good and not so good while discovering hardship, poverty, heroic deeds and stoicism at every turn which will prove a real eye opener for the reader who wants to know the real China and what makes its people tick. Both books are packed full of anecdotes, observations, facts and photographs- concentrating on day-to-day life in China, it's people, characteristics, customs and culture. In this book (Book 2) Mark Bishop, the journalist, again gives it to you straight. As the series winds its way to a fascinating conclusion, it's a journey which will enlighten and inform the reader with bang up-to-date observations on an ever-changing China which the author believes is the most complex and technically advanced on earth.

After the dust has settled at the Derby based, Trader Group of Newspapers, fast forward one year since the controversial take-over of the company.A mysterious millionairess, Mrs Alison Hanley, quit her powered job in the fashion industry in America to come to the East Midlands to save the Trader Group from bankruptcy- and she well and truly put the cat amongst the pigeons amongst the Midlands' regional newspaper hierarchy, by staging an international fashion show in Leicester. She didn't use models but actual staff at the Trader Group, such as the 'Ad girls' and the' Print lads'- to much acclaim from the world's leading fashion designers and the world's Press. With the launch of a monthly fashion magazine as well as the rapid expansion of the Trader Group, with the opening of six more Trader offices in the West Midlands and the East of England, it's time for another fashion show. This time in Paris, the centre of high fashion and the fashion industry itself. The year is 1981. In the UK, it's all floppy men's hair-cuts, New wave music, a new Government, more money in people's pockets and the era of new technology. But for one group of middle-aged men, time continues to stand still. They are the' Derby 9.' The much- liked printers at the Heanor factory of the Trader Group who put all the weekly editions together. They are their own 'firm.' All huge Derby County fans and they have been at the Trader Group since Day 1 back in the mid 1960s. Now, they're swopping their overalls for 'snazzy suits' and jackets and ties as they are about to tread the catwalk- in front of the biggest names in world fashion- this time in Paris along with 300 or so Ad girls. So- get set for more fun, mischief and mayhem from the lads from Derby! The Derby 9. Alright youth!

The author has spent the last eight years actually living and working in China and has now drawn on all his experiences to produce a two-part series, giving his unique insight into the most populated country on the planet. With more than four decades of working as a news reporter under his belt, Mark Bishop has drilled deep to discover all that's good and not so good while discovering hardship, poverty, heroic deeds and stoicism at every turn which will prove a real eye opener for the reader who wants to know the real China and what makes its people tick. Both books are packed full of anecdotes, observations, facts and photographs- concentrating on day-to-day life in China, it's people, characteristics, customs and culture. Mark Bishop, the journalist, gives it to you straight. It's a journey which will enlighten and inform the reader with bang up-to-date observations on an ever-changing China which the author believes is the most complex and technically advanced on earth.

The Derby 9, a year after their adventures in Paris, decide to go for an adventure holiday this time around- to the Pyrenees in France. The Derby 9 are nine printers who work for the Trader Group of Newspapers, based in Derby in the East Midlands. Last year (1981) they went to Paris to take part in an international fashion show alongside all the Trader Group 'Ad' girls in front of the world's most famous fashion designers. The Derby 9 are die-hard Derby County fans and their 'leader' John Thackersley, has won the Spot The Ball competition in his local newspaper. He decides to blow most of his prize money on a ski-ing holiday even though he can't even ski! And in a remarkably generous gesture, he decides to pay for his work mates to come with him! Just like John, the rest of the Derby 9 have never been near a ski slope in their life before. It's December, 1982. So, with their wives' and Mrs Hanley's (the new Trader Group owner) approval, the tight-knit group of printers embark on a week- long holiday deep into South West France where the beautiful Pyrenees' mountains await. Over the course of the next six days, the Derby 9 start to find out more about each other- and more importantly, about themselves. Their hidden strengths, their abilities and their incredible human endurance. This turns out to be no ordinary ski-ing holiday. There is drama, there is romance, there is plenty of humour and banter too. And there are examples of sheer determination and heroism- with even a case of attempted murder on the ski slopes on the Black run as one of the printers decides to attempt the impossible with near catastrophic results. The author, Mark Bishop, uses his extensive knowledge of the Pyrenees, its people, customs and culture to capture the very essence of the surroundings and situations with startling realism. This is a ski-ing holiday the Derby 9 will never forget!

Three Goalkeepers and Seven Goals turns the clock back to 1982 for the most memorable match in Leicester City history - a quarter-final FA Cup tie with Shrewsbury Town that stands without parallel for twists and drama. Told through the eyes of fictional reporter Bob Johnson, the story brings to life that extraordinary game, as a capacity crowd wedged into the atmospheric Filbert Street witnesses Leicester stage a spectacular 5-2 comeback using three goalkeepers. Set in an era of macho newsrooms, Thatcher and the Falklands War, the book resurrects a remarkable period in British history. Hard-nosed newspaperman Johnson thinks he's seen it all, but his world is turned upside down as one of the lucky fans who witness Leicester's inspirational comeback, aided by a goal from a young Gary Lineker. Johnson's account captures the immense drama of this epic game before tragedy strikes. In Three Goalkeepers and Seven Goals, Mark Bishop skilfully weaves fact with fiction to honour a match that is part of Leicester City folklore.

The easy money that flowed through the banking system prior to 2008 fueled a boom in buy-outs. Now it is gone, how will the private equity industry reinvent itself? A series of interviews with some of the most respected and innovative firms, give rare insights to the strategies that will drive this secretive sector over the next economic cycle.