Sue Cook, Broadcaster and Writer
"Few of us even try to understand gypsies and their way of life. Our knee-jerk reaction usually goes no further than 'not in my backyard', as I discovered first hand when a family of gypsies arrived in a village near where I live last year. The immediate reaction among the residents was a mixture of alarm and resentment.
In Miriam Wakerly's Gypsies Stop tHere and its sequel No Gypsies Served it's refreshing to see
gypsies portrayed as individual people like the rest of us, making their way in life the best way they
can. Reading this compelling story brings home the fact that it's perfectly possible for gypsies to be
accepted successfully into our communities.
Wakerly's books do a wonderful job in helping to promote understanding where there is ignorance and
tolerance where there is bigotry. I recommend them heartily."
Thomas Acton OBE, Professor of Romani Studies, University of Greenwich
No Gypsies Served: "A vivid and imaginative interrogation of human relationships in the context of
the relations between Travellers and English country people, and a worthy sequel to Gypsies Stop
tHere."
Dr John Coxhead Author of Last Bastion of Racism
"Miriam Wakerly's books Gypsies Stop tHere and No Gypsies Served are a window to the bigotry that
a race *(sic) of people in the UK still experience. Textbooks illustrating statistics of what racism is
like are all well and good but what Wakerly adds is an accessible and readable 'way in' to the situation
for the general reader, and the storytelling approach reinforces we are talking about real people here,
not statistics.
I would recommend that people read these books as a reflection of the reality of contemporary
Britain."
*ethnic group
Basil Burton, Chairman of National Romani Rights Association
No Gypsies Served:
"I read most of this book as it was being written and support it 100% - and may it
help the Gypsy situation to progress further. What I like is that it is impartial and shows people as
individual human beings."
John Hockley, Chair of the Surrey Gypsy Traveller Community Relations Forum and West
Surrey Rural Communities Officer
No Gypsies Served:"This sequel is no less gripping than Gypsies Stop tHere. The story has a number
of threads as credible characters move in and out of a well paced series of dramas based around
Gypsy/Traveller culture and lifestyle.
It is very well researched and does not shy away from tackling thorny issues borne out of prejudice
and ignorance that still exist in all our communities"
Circaidy Gregory Review by Kay Green
Gypsies Stop tHere: Book of the Month November 2009:When ... issues are put into a personal story, they suddenly get a whole lot more complicated and
endlessly intriguing. Author Miriam Wakerly knows the various sides of this situation very well, and
has brought them vividly to life in the fictional setting of Appley Green �Cliche it may be to say it,
but Gypsies Stop tHere is a real page-turner �and for anyone who really gets the bug, there's even a
glossary of Romany language and publications at the back of the book."
See full review on www.booksy.co.uk
Bridie Page, Derbyshire Gypsy Liaison Group
"Miriam has captured the essence of Romany/Traveller life managing to merge old and new
seamlessly. A right riveting read!"
Michael Smith, Romani Journalist, O NEVO DROM
Gypsies Stop tHere: "...should be in every public library, in every school ... I can definitely give
this book full marks." See full review on http://onevodrom.blogspot.com
No Gypsies Served: "This is another great book by Miriam Wakerly dealing with the subject of
Gypsies and Travellers in Britain and this one may possibly be even better than the previous one
entitled Gypsies stop tHere. In fact I would say that it is a brilliant book and one that will have the
reader spellbound. http://onevodrom.blogspot.com
The story is extremely well written and the information regarding the Gypsy persecution at home and
abroad is well represented. The story has multiple strands that are all extremely believable and real
and which will have the reader riveted.
Personally, I can identify with the figure of the Gypsy Dunstan in the story as growing up in a bender
was also part of my childhood. Much has changed since and I am now, amongst other things, a
journalist and living in a house.
In the end the story turns out well for all concerned and it would be so good if this book would lead to
such things in real life too."
Lynn Ede, Freelance Journalist/Photographer
No Gypsies Served: "Miriam Wakerly draws us into the intriguing and sometimes prejudiced world of Gypsies and
Travellers. She creates characters we care about, whose life experiences we learn and understand,
having been educated in their life's journey, from tents to acquiring more conventional housing, a 'bit
of earth' and everything in between. A compelling yarn, with a lifestyle education to boot in this
recommended read!"
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