It's Only a Game
  • It's Only a Game
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It's Only a Game

IOAG

Jim Eyre was a legend in his own lifetime – a hard caver and ardent cave rescuer, but also a talented cartoonist and outrageous raconteur. His two-part autobiography opens with It's Only a Game.

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Description

It's Only a Game

From the cover

Jim Eyre was born in 1925, so was just old enough to volunteer for service in the Second World War. A Lancashire lad, he had already experienced a series of escapades by the time he joined the Royal Navy and headed for Malta and the Med – which proved to be the ideal environment for more adventures.

Those war years and his subsequent career as a freelance painter and decorator – to say nothing of his caving exploits and involvement in the heart of the Cave Rescue Organisation – established a pattern for Jim's life.

A renowned author and cartoonist with a style all his own, Jim has written his life story – warts and embarrassments and all. He is one of those rare men who not only has accomplished much, but has the talent to tell the tales to others in a rich, humorous style.

Here you will find the serious atmosphere of life on a minesweeper as well as the wild approach to shore leave of a naval rating, as seen through Jim's eyes. After the war, with Jim drawn to explore the world's caves, the balance of humour continues with his near escapes from the depths, told with relish, and the serious side of rescue and death underground.

Join Jim in It's Only a Game; it might be, but not one you will put down in a hurry – and even then your sides will be aching from laughing.

For a PREVIEW (opens new window)

For the companion title: The Game Goes On

To purchase both books with a considerable saving: The Jim Eyre Set

For reviews of It's Only a Game follow this link

CONTENTS

Dedication and acknowledgements

Foreword

1 It’s Only a Game
2 The Royal Navy
3 HMS Kimberley
4 HMS Cadmus
5 Into Italy
6 In Limbo
7 Post War: A Brave New World
8 The Discovery of Lancaster Hole
9 A New Hudson and New Caves
10 Bang and Bedsteads
11 Jumpina Gulf
12 Holes that Bite
13 Cave Rescues and Crazy Customers
14 Digs and Disasters
15 Travel Broadens the Mind
16 Variety is the Spice of Life
17 Yugoslavia

By the same author
References and further reading
Publisher’s notes
Index

Military history content

For those seeking information on the military history content of It's Only a Game, roughly a quarter of the book concerns Jim's experiences in the Royal Navy during the Second World War. Initially trained on the HMS Drake, then joined the destroyer the HMS Kimberley at Malta and attained QR3 Gunnery rating before being transferred as a QR2 to HMS Cadmus, a minesweeper. Jim tells the story of the war from the side of a serving seaman, being active through the Mediterranean and around the coast of Italy, even to the extent of being in prison on VE day before travelling through North Africa prior to his demob.

Lest anyone believe that Jim's storytelling about his military career, life as a painter and decorator, or his longlasting links with caving and cave rescue, might not interest them, this is akin to saying that James Herriot's books would only appeal to a vet. Jim's books will appeal to all ...


While stocks last, receive a free caving-related, laminated bookmark with your book order.

Postage costs within the UK are included in the purchase price.

IMPORTANT NOTE

For posting destinations outside the UK please read the notes under the ‘International Orders’ tab, or contact us direct.

Product Details
IOAG

Data sheet

Binding:
Softback
Size:
17cm x 24.5cm
New or used:
Book: new
Pages:
256
Illustrations:
85 b&w cartoons and photographs
Publication date:
2004
ISBN:
978-0-9526701-6-2
Other:
Jim's story continues in The Game Goes On
EU / USA orders
We regret we are no longer able to post to the EU or USA (without direct contact with the customer first). Please see under the International Orders tab for more information
Author:
Jim Eyre
International deliveries
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Postage costs
Postage within the UK is included in the price. Additional postage costs for overseas destinations are calculated by adding the difference between UK and international postage prices

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Following Brexit, in 2021 new customs documentation came into force and the EU removed exemptions for tax and customs duty on low value items posted from the UK to the EU. VAT at your EU country’s current rate plus a post office handling charge is now applied on delivery.

 

In 2025 the required documentation added an Entry Summary Declaration / Safety and Security Declaration, requiring a risk analysis and contact details of an EU-based agent – while the former is easy (do not drop book on foot, beware of paper cuts) the latter is simply too expensive to comply with. In short, we are no longer able to post goods to the EU.

 

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16 other products in the same category:
On sale! The Jim Eyre Set Quick view

Reference: IOAG-GGO

The Jim Eyre Set

Jim Eyre was a legend in his own lifetime – a hard caver and ardent cave rescuer, but also a talented cartoonist and outrageous raconteur. His two-part autobiography comprising It's Only a Game and The Game Goes On is now available as a set with a considerable reduction in price.
£41.45
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