The surfing tribe – a history of surfing in Britain
by Roger Mansfield,

edited by Sam Bleakley
and Chris Power
Review by Liz Cook

This is no simple coffee-table beauty, but an almost academic study of the beaches, boards, techniques and people of British surfing from its beginnings in the 1930s. A series of intimate profiles illustrated by a wealth of contemporary photos draws us into the tribe.

The ‘father of British surfing’, Bill Bailey, has only recently died aged 76. His story is told here. Bill combined RAF search and rescue experience, engineering skills and a passion for watersports by becoming a lifeguard and making wooden rescue boards. He went on to experiment with foam and fibreglass, mixing the chemicals and shaping the results himself according to aeronautical principles. In time, the Bilbo factory became a world leader.

We’re told that nowadays 500,000 people surf in Britain. Unbeknown to most of them, they have a rich heritage – this book should be their compulsory text.

Hardback book
Published by Orca Publications
ISBN 9780952364658
Price: £24.99