TPQ: What are you currently reading?
LS: The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*ck by Mark Manson. I have just started reading this. The title drew me to it, and along with humour, vulgarity and very thought provoking insight into ‘life’ it’s a great read… well – for someone as ‘unacademic’ and who has a ‘simple and uncomplicated way of dealing with life’ as me!
TPQ: Book most cherished as a child?
LS: The Young Naturalist. Still have it somewhere in the house! I grew up as an only child and the passion my parents had for all things flower and fauna most definitely rubbed off on me. My dad and I used to take walks in woods, or on the shore hand in hand and refer to my hardback book almost as big as me, to see which creatures and birds we could identify. I thank God that I had a happy uncomplicated childhood amidst the horror and conflict of what was the Troubles.
TPQ: Favourite Childhood author?
LS: For me it has got to be C.S.Lewis. Reading The Chronicles of Narnia as a child enthralled me and his writing seemed to bring the characters and story alive, only to jump into my head and reverberate around, causing this young teen to imagine what it was like to have a magic wardrobe where you could play with the animals.
TPQ: First book to really own you?
LS: The Shankill Butchers and The Dirty War by Martin Dillon, both of these books were published just as I had joined the RUC. As a naïve, sheltered 22 year old, I hadn’t had any real experience of the conflict. Of course, I’d heard of the Shankill Butchers, but didn’t really grasp how horrific and evil they really were until reading Dillon’s book. I guess it was the second time (the murder of the two corporals being the first) I really sat back and fully became aware as to man's inhumanity to man. For me, I think atrocities didn’t really register in my mind (possibly because there were so many) until I took the time to digest in black and white the immense scale of hatred the people of Northern Ireland had for one another who were of opposing opinions. I had never thought and still can’t comprehend that kind of animalistic hatred. Perhaps because the only person I’ve ever truly hated was my 2nd ex husband!! He had impacted my life personally – I never understood how people could ‘hate’ with such venom, someone who they didn’t know, someone who had never actually done anything personally to them.
LS: Male - James Patterson; Female - Patricia Cornwell. See the common theme going? Yes – crime thrillers are where I can lie back, relax and just enjoy a ‘whodunnit’! The more twists and turns the better. Not entirely mind blowing academia but for me, extremely entertaining and surely that’s what books are all about.
TPQ: Biography, autobiography or memoir that most impressed you?
LS: The Diary of Anne Frank. Such a young girl, whose life was thrust into terror and chaos, was just immensely powerful to read. The strength, the bravery and determination of this child of 15 is inspirational to me.
TPQ: Any author or book you point blank refuse to read?
LS: None for by cutting off your knowledge based on a personality or preconceived idea of what that author will write, you miss out on the experiences of others, and by God in this little part of the world, that is a big mistake.
LS: There are a few, for to choose one would not give a true understanding of the person I am, who I was, or who I want to become. Certainly, How To Be Single would show my humour. A Force Under Fire by the late Chris Ryder who’s son I worked with in the PSNI, A Force Like No Other by Colin Breen – shows the lighter and darker side of having been in the RUC. Maybe in time, I will write my own little memoirs of my life, most probably being funny anecdotes like the time I was suffering with a horrendous hangover and threw up onto the Newtownards Road out the back of a moving landrover, or the time I tripped over a gunsling getting out of a landrover and ended up in the middle of Ardoyne on my mouth and nose!
TPQ: Book you would most like to see turned into a movie?
LS: Long Road Home by a friend of mine, Chris Orr. I met Chris last year when participating in a production with the Peacebuilding Academy in the Derry Playhouse called First Response. Chris had been a cameraman during the conflict here and had seen some of the most dreadful atrocities as they happened. But his personal story is more like a far fetched novel, with twists and turns in his personal life that shock, sadden and energise.
TPQ: A "must read" you intend getting to before you die?
LS: The Politics Of memoir And The Northern Ireland Conflict by Stephen Hopkins This is where I totally contradict myself by actually wanting to read a book by an ‘academic’! I was shielded from the early years of the conflict by geography and my parents' insistence that there were wrongs being committed on all sides, a view I’m a firm advocate of myself. I have realised in the last few years however, that my ‘lack’ of understanding of the conflict here needs to be addressed.
LS: The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*ck by Mark Manson. I have just started reading this. The title drew me to it, and along with humour, vulgarity and very thought provoking insight into ‘life’ it’s a great read… well – for someone as ‘unacademic’ and who has a ‘simple and uncomplicated way of dealing with life’ as me!
TPQ: Best and worst books you have ever read?
LS: That’s a hard one on the best front – But probably How To Be Single by Liz Tuccillo. Yes, yes, I know, hardly the most mind enthralling and thought provoking literary piece, but it made me belly laugh! I love laughing, adore silly humour based on what could be someone’s real life experiences and this, for me ticks all the boxes. I took it on holiday to Mexico, (where most of my reading is done purely because I actually get time to read whilst crisping my freckled Irish skin to resemble a well done turkey at Christmas.) The looks I was getting from the bronzed and beautiful Americans, as I lay half cut with the tell tale signs of empty cocktail glasses beside my lounger, loud caffaws emanating from the white lips (factor 50!) and bright red bake! I made my chum Pauline throw a Vogue magazine at me such was her annoyance at being interrupted in finding out the best skin cleanser and botox to get!!
Worst book I haven’t a clue as I obviously didn’t finish it! But more than likely a really deep academic synopsis on the meaning of life!
LS: That’s a hard one on the best front – But probably How To Be Single by Liz Tuccillo. Yes, yes, I know, hardly the most mind enthralling and thought provoking literary piece, but it made me belly laugh! I love laughing, adore silly humour based on what could be someone’s real life experiences and this, for me ticks all the boxes. I took it on holiday to Mexico, (where most of my reading is done purely because I actually get time to read whilst crisping my freckled Irish skin to resemble a well done turkey at Christmas.) The looks I was getting from the bronzed and beautiful Americans, as I lay half cut with the tell tale signs of empty cocktail glasses beside my lounger, loud caffaws emanating from the white lips (factor 50!) and bright red bake! I made my chum Pauline throw a Vogue magazine at me such was her annoyance at being interrupted in finding out the best skin cleanser and botox to get!!
Worst book I haven’t a clue as I obviously didn’t finish it! But more than likely a really deep academic synopsis on the meaning of life!
TPQ: Book most cherished as a child?
LS: The Young Naturalist. Still have it somewhere in the house! I grew up as an only child and the passion my parents had for all things flower and fauna most definitely rubbed off on me. My dad and I used to take walks in woods, or on the shore hand in hand and refer to my hardback book almost as big as me, to see which creatures and birds we could identify. I thank God that I had a happy uncomplicated childhood amidst the horror and conflict of what was the Troubles.
TPQ: Favourite Childhood author?
LS: For me it has got to be C.S.Lewis. Reading The Chronicles of Narnia as a child enthralled me and his writing seemed to bring the characters and story alive, only to jump into my head and reverberate around, causing this young teen to imagine what it was like to have a magic wardrobe where you could play with the animals.
TPQ: First book to really own you?
LS: The Shankill Butchers and The Dirty War by Martin Dillon, both of these books were published just as I had joined the RUC. As a naïve, sheltered 22 year old, I hadn’t had any real experience of the conflict. Of course, I’d heard of the Shankill Butchers, but didn’t really grasp how horrific and evil they really were until reading Dillon’s book. I guess it was the second time (the murder of the two corporals being the first) I really sat back and fully became aware as to man's inhumanity to man. For me, I think atrocities didn’t really register in my mind (possibly because there were so many) until I took the time to digest in black and white the immense scale of hatred the people of Northern Ireland had for one another who were of opposing opinions. I had never thought and still can’t comprehend that kind of animalistic hatred. Perhaps because the only person I’ve ever truly hated was my 2nd ex husband!! He had impacted my life personally – I never understood how people could ‘hate’ with such venom, someone who they didn’t know, someone who had never actually done anything personally to them.
TPQ: Favourite male and female author?
LS: Male - James Patterson; Female - Patricia Cornwell. See the common theme going? Yes – crime thrillers are where I can lie back, relax and just enjoy a ‘whodunnit’! The more twists and turns the better. Not entirely mind blowing academia but for me, extremely entertaining and surely that’s what books are all about.
TPQ: A preference for fact or fiction?
LS: Neither – if it entertains me, makes me laugh (or cry) gets me thinking, then I’ll read it.
LS: Neither – if it entertains me, makes me laugh (or cry) gets me thinking, then I’ll read it.
TPQ: Biography, autobiography or memoir that most impressed you?
LS: The Diary of Anne Frank. Such a young girl, whose life was thrust into terror and chaos, was just immensely powerful to read. The strength, the bravery and determination of this child of 15 is inspirational to me.
TPQ: Any author or book you point blank refuse to read?
LS: None for by cutting off your knowledge based on a personality or preconceived idea of what that author will write, you miss out on the experiences of others, and by God in this little part of the world, that is a big mistake.
TPQ: A book to share with somebody so that they would more fully understand you?
LS: There are a few, for to choose one would not give a true understanding of the person I am, who I was, or who I want to become. Certainly, How To Be Single would show my humour. A Force Under Fire by the late Chris Ryder who’s son I worked with in the PSNI, A Force Like No Other by Colin Breen – shows the lighter and darker side of having been in the RUC. Maybe in time, I will write my own little memoirs of my life, most probably being funny anecdotes like the time I was suffering with a horrendous hangover and threw up onto the Newtownards Road out the back of a moving landrover, or the time I tripped over a gunsling getting out of a landrover and ended up in the middle of Ardoyne on my mouth and nose!
TPQ: Last book you gave as a present?
LS: The Long walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela. I bought this for my dad and mum who were both avid readers of biographies. Dad has since been diagnosed with vascular dementia – so no doubt he’ll never remember reading it, but mum said she loved it!
LS: The Long walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela. I bought this for my dad and mum who were both avid readers of biographies. Dad has since been diagnosed with vascular dementia – so no doubt he’ll never remember reading it, but mum said she loved it!
TPQ: Book you would most like to see turned into a movie?
LS: Long Road Home by a friend of mine, Chris Orr. I met Chris last year when participating in a production with the Peacebuilding Academy in the Derry Playhouse called First Response. Chris had been a cameraman during the conflict here and had seen some of the most dreadful atrocities as they happened. But his personal story is more like a far fetched novel, with twists and turns in his personal life that shock, sadden and energise.
TPQ: A "must read" you intend getting to before you die?
LS: The Politics Of memoir And The Northern Ireland Conflict by Stephen Hopkins This is where I totally contradict myself by actually wanting to read a book by an ‘academic’! I was shielded from the early years of the conflict by geography and my parents' insistence that there were wrongs being committed on all sides, a view I’m a firm advocate of myself. I have realised in the last few years however, that my ‘lack’ of understanding of the conflict here needs to be addressed.
⏩ Lesley Stock is a former PSNI and RUC Officer currently involved in community work.
Larry Hughes Comments
ReplyDeleteInteresting read and insight. No Mills and Boon books in there LoL. "Irish" girl liquered up on a Mexican beach..? Leslie are you giving the leprechauns some good old Ulster Blarney? lol Mouth and nose on the street in Ardoyne? If it had been after 11pm you'd of had plenty of company. My saving grace is as long as I've been slung outa less boozers than the Brits have countries, I tell myself I hold the moral high ground!! My reasoning and it's holding for now.
Lesley how often were you or your former colleagues drunk on duty?
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot of booze talk in your Bookers.....
Ffs Frankie lay off ... we're so privileged to have a former RUC person on here! (Albeit one who was dismissed for some sort of unbecoming behaviour according to comments from that implied 'criminal and convicted terrorist' Christy Walsh).
ReplyDeleteGet with the new programme Frankie, of non-offensive rapprochement or else stick your ass in the air and get with the anodyne acquiescence one!
Henry, I've thought about it and can't go soft. I have to listen to Lesley play the dumb blonde card and how she was young and naïve when she joined the RUC...
DeleteLesley, how many of your former colleagues turned up unfit for duty but still sported a British state uniform while packing a loaded weapon?
Frankie,
Deletedon't know if you've already seen this reply of mine to Leslie on another thread but just in case ... similar in sentiment to your observations.
NRH states,
"The issue I have always had with republicans is the fact that they will state it was 'systemic' in the police, that the whole 12,000 officers were corrupt and sectarian and feeding information to loyalists..... I will continue to refute that til my dying day."
I can understand that you find it frustrating that every individual member is tarred with the same brush Lesley and I can also understand that you would wish to challenge that.
In the same way as not every Catholic priest was a 'kiddie fiddler' not every cop was corrupt. There were decent priests and there were decent policemen and women.
However, in the real and lived world rather than in any idealised one, the collective will generally tend to be judged on the behaviour of its worst members. You might think that unfair but the collective must respond; it ought act in a timely manner to flush out the deviants. If it fails in that then allegations of systemic failure will be made. They will be rightly made and alas they will rightly stand.
HJ,
DeleteBy your own logic in a 'real and lived world' every Priest you mentioned must be a child rapist (using the term kiddie fiddler minimizes the true horror imo)
I've no experience or opinion on priests but 1 out of 10 teachers I had were arseholes, are all teachers arseholes?
Frankie
ReplyDeleteDo you have to introduce such sexist language?
You can show common courtesy while sticking to your viewpoint.
Barry,
DeleteWhat did you find offensive this time? The 'dumb blonde card' remark? How would you have phrased things? Lesley is trying to down play the fact she was drunk on duty with a loaded gun by saying she found it funny. Do you find it funny?
A few weeks ago Barry, you said "Republicans killed while the British committed crimes", Lesley has the same attitude. Let's go back in time to May 1994 , the GFA is still a few years away, Lesley wants the world to think she spends her time fighting crime....and how some of her former colleagues covered up for a state agent. And I am not talking about Scap......
Public inquiry urged into child-killer’s activities amid ‘state agent’ claims..... We know the RUC have form in covering up for sex abuse crimes. Think Kincora.
Barry maybe you'd prefer Christy Walsh's description of her position ... ditzy?
DeleteTwo swallows may never have made a summer, but Frankie's evaluation is not an isolated outlier.
Henry,
ReplyDeleteMy first impression was "Lesley sometimes it's better to take Twains advice about keeping your mouth shut than open it an remove all doubt" or at least proof read and ask yourself "should I say that". I am still trying to seen the funny side of this......
" Maybe in time, I will write my own little memoirs of my life, most probably being funny anecdotes like the time I was suffering with a horrendous hangover and threw up onto the Newtownards Road out the back of a moving landrover, "
Henry do you think Lesley got out and cleaned her own mess up? Christy Walsh has said he was beaten by RUC officers smelling of alcohol in Castlereagh. I've read accounts of drunken screws beating prisoners'. Peter (a former member of the UDR), stood back and watched members of his patrol beat a young man for simply going about his life...(were they drunk on booze , deffo drunk on something), Peter stood back and done nothing. Didn't even report it.
As a collective Henry, it isn't a great advert for British crime fighters. As a collective it reads like a a bunch of thugs with a sizeable minority who either have a problem with alcohol or are drinking for the wrong reasons.
Frankie,
Deletemuch of her behaviour is that of a gerrid, that of a surface skater. And as such she finds it tremendously challenging, if not impossible, to get below the surface.
Frankie
ReplyDeleteAgain you have brought up something without producing evidence to give it context. What exactly did write?
Frankie is so far buried in the rabbit hole of conspiracy myths and deploys personal abuse that he will always struggle to produce evidence for claims.
DeletePeter,
DeleteFrankie has given context.
Con text = with text.
If I remember correctly you have some fluency in one of the Latin languages ... i.e. Spanish?
Didn't you notice the quotation marks?
Peter.
DeleteA binary reply...1/0 or a Yes/No.....
While on one of your first patrols as a UDR man did you watch members of your patrol beat a civilian up who was going about his life?
Yes/No....?
Frankie
ReplyDeleteNo
Peter....
DeleteI did turn a blind eye at the P-Check because it was one of my first patrols and didn't want to rock any boats with my new colleagues.
What happened at the P-check that you didn't report? Why were you afraid to rock the boat. You wore a uniform to protect the public not turn a blind eye to UDR harassment.
It's called the anonymous pressure of the group, Frankie. Exists in every organisation in the world and always has. No saints in this world ... maybe that is no bad thing.
DeleteFrankie
ReplyDeleteHe was a member of PIRA not just a "civilian" and he was not "beaten up". Why are you so obsessed by something that happened in 1989 when I was 21, that you mention it almost every month? Very odd.
Peter,
ReplyDeleteAs for P-checking, only once did I see someone getting undeserved harassment. ....
In context...I was a civilian and I didn't deserve the harassment I first received by 'men' in uniforms similar to the one you wore. First time it happened I was I was 9yrs of age. All I was doing was going about my life.....How many members of the UDR turned a blind eye to 'undeserved harassment'...?
How undeserved was it? Didn't it ever dawn on any of you that if you didn't 'rough' whoever up for what ever reasons, and treated people with respect then maybe the UDR wouldn't have been spat at, had bottles etc thrown at them as often while on patrol.....
Anthony....
It's called the anonymous pressure of the group, Frankie. Exists in every organization in the world and always has.
I factored that in long ago to things. I can easily understand that concerning paramilitaries. I'll give a pass to UDR harassment and drunken officers and how they covered their own backs....
I can't buy into the argument when I think how the RUC and today their reformed version are still covering up for Robert Howard who by all accounts was a state agent, (not the Donaldson type.) who was responsible for the death of missing Tyrone teenager Arlene Arkinson. From the Belfast Telegraph.
“Therefore I appeal to the Justice Minister (Naomi Long) to examine Arlene’s case carefully.
“When she does, she will see that the need for a public inquiry into the activities of Robert Howard in this jurisdiction, and his status as an agent for the RUC, which has led to death and misery for many people, will be unavoidable. I guarantee the minister that the more she looks into Arlene’s case, the more outraged and terrified she will be on behalf of the public.
“But above all I want a Christian burial for my sister. In seeking the truth, through public inquiry, maybe I will achieve that.”......
Like Maddie McCann, Arlene Arkinson's body has never been found......
I have no respect for the Catholic Church because they cover up child rape. One 'cover up' is one too many in my world. And for the same reason I have no respect for the RUC. I was again called a conspiracy theorist when I said the RUC have form in covering up sex abuse. Kincora 'VIP paedophile ring' victim Richard Kerr speaks out . Its a 12min Ch4 News piece. And Richard explains how he was sex trafficked from Kincora to palaces in London where parasites reside and systematically raped and how the RUC knew about it but done nothing. And today they are doing even less.....
It's called the anonymous pressure of the group
It's called British police forces covering up for sex crimes while telling me they are fighting crime... I can get my head around British military/RUC getting intell by hook and crook etc...I doubt Robert Howard was passing intell on about Republicans or Loyalist's. We know the evidence points to him being a state agent working for the RUC .........