~ Book Reviews ~

‘Winged Scalpel’ by Dr Richard Villar
Chris Shirley MA FRGS Chris Shirley MA FRGS

‘Winged Scalpel’ by Dr Richard Villar

Winged Scalpel by Dr Richard Villar, a former SAS doctor, is a gripping and deeply insightful memoir that chronicles the extraordinary life and career of an orthopaedic surgeon who has worked extensively in war zones and disaster-stricken areas around the globe.

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A short walk in the Hindu Kush, by Eric Newby
Eric Newby, Afghanistan, Hugh Carless, Wilfred Thesiger, Special Air Service, SAS, Rogue Heroes, Hindu Kush, A short walk in the Hindu Kush Chris Shirley MA FRGS Eric Newby, Afghanistan, Hugh Carless, Wilfred Thesiger, Special Air Service, SAS, Rogue Heroes, Hindu Kush, A short walk in the Hindu Kush Chris Shirley MA FRGS

A short walk in the Hindu Kush, by Eric Newby

The real-life adventure follows Eric Newby CBE MC, a second world war prisoner, former special forces soldier, and fashion photographer (an interesting career path in itself!), and his diplomat friend, Hugh Carless CMG, as they drive a station wagon from London to Kabul, Afghanistan, via Iran – a journey of some 5000 miles (around 8000 kilometres) through Europe, Turkey, Iran, over the course of a month and all without any support vehicles. We think this itself is an impressive feat of planning and navigation in the era before GPS, mobile phones, or breakdown assistance!

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