The Lifers' Club
By Francis Pryor
Archaeology can be a dirty business
Unbound Exclusives
About the book
Alan Cadbury is a professional archaeologist: a digger of ancient sites and a man who likes to unravel the mysteries and meaning of the past. Most of the sites he dug were ahead of industrial development or new housing estates, gravel quarries, roads, etc. The people who did the work were down-to-earth. Some were students, others were professional diggers – but they all knew what they wanted from life and were prepared to work long hours, for very low pay. In the seventies to nineties, Alan and his colleagues lived in abandoned houses or camped out on the edges of industrial estates. They were always covered in mud, were deeply suntanned and drunk (or stoned) on their days off. They were feared by respectable citizens. They were known as Circuit Diggers because they worked the 'circuit', moving from one excavation to another, as new sites were opened, right across Britain.
Like others on the circuit, Alan Cadbury is obsessive: he won’t let problems lie, even when he’s slumped drunk in a lonely bedsit, somewhere in the Fens. But there’s another side to him, too: he enjoyes solving mysteries. In the late ‘90s he helped to give a forensic archaeology course and there met Richard Lane, now a senior detective in the Leicestershire force. DCI Lane helps him tackle new cases. But this is his first big one: it involves an 'honour killing', which happened eight years ago in Leicester. Most of the action takes place in the Fens, where Alan has lived all his life. It’s a dark tale of past wrong-doing and modern criminality – on a very large scale. And it’s not without violence and rapid action. Alan’s life may be harsh and at times unpleasant, but it’s not likely to be very long, either.
My name is Brian Jones. I have just had 'The Peterborough Book of Days' published via The History Press. I have plans for another book - based on the River Welland - and have just discovered Unbound. It looks very interesting but I would be very pleased to hear your experience with the The Lifers' Club. Among other activities I work with Stuart Orme as a guide and re-enactor and I'm sure he will be honest if you wish to check me out.
I'm very happy with Unbound, but I don't think they do many books with what you might call local or regional appeal. I think your project sounds far better suited to the History Press. Have you thought about the Peterorough Telegraph publishers? Or Jarrolds of Norwich? Sorry I can't be more helpful. Francis.
What an opportunity! I don't really have a question. I want to say how much I enjoyed your book 'Home'. So much so that I am now well into 'Britain BC' and I look forward to reading more of your factual books, Dr. Pryor. I was a fan of 'Time Team' and if I'd only known what an archeologist was when I was at school I would hopefully made it my life's work. Now, at 80, I can only keep up to date with 'Current Archaeology' and dream of what might have been. Thank you for all the pleasure you have given, and will continue to give, me. I certainly will buy your book. Thank you so much.
Although a mere 70 myself, I do hugely appreciate your thanks and good wishes. You are too kind. All the very best, Francis.