Roetter,Charles — Fire Is Their Enemy (Signed Copy)

Angus and Robertson This is a very good Copy of this book in black cloth with gilt title lettering to spine in a Good only that has a few small chips and tears to the outer edges of the dust-wrapper.price clipped to the front flap.This copy has been Signed and Inscribed by the Author on the half title page to the former MP and Home Secretary in Attlee's Gov't James Chuter Ede who himself wrote the foreword to the book.....the Inscription reads '' with many thanks for an interesting and generous foreword from the author Charles Roetter '' The book clearly belonged to J Chuter as it has his ink stamped address to the front endpaper.The book has a firm binding with no hinge weakness and with no leaning to spine,illustrated with some 24 black and white plates.There is a little spotting to the page edges,and with some remnant tape marks showing to the front and rear endpapers.This copy was acquired from the Private Library of Paul Adorian a keen Motor Racing Enthusiast,and well respected businessman and entrepreneur who held senior roles with many large companies and was a serious collector of Old and working Fire Engines,8vo 184pp First Edition [1962] James Chuter Ede: He was the longest-serving Home Secretary since the nineteenth century, holding the post throughout the Attlee administration, from August 1945 to October 1951.Ede came from a very Liberal and nonconformist background. After elementary education in Epsom, he won a scholarship to Dorking High School and then trained as a teacher. He came to Christ's to read Natural Sciences in 1903, with some financial help from his local authority, but found it was insufficient to support him. According to one account, his grandfather wanted to make his stay at Cambridge conditional on his becoming a priest, which (Ede said) he considered, until he chose politics instead; perhaps he was offered family money on that proviso. Whatever the reason, he left in 1905 without a degree and returned to teaching at Surrey elementary schools, active in the National Union of Teachers. He joined Epsom Urban District Council and, in 1914, was elected to Surrey County Council, as a Liberal, which required him to give up his teaching post as a Surrey employee. Very Good Good First Edition 1st Printing London 8vo