Mike Burke

It's normal for a widower to get the blues. What if he happens to be a jaded forty-something parish minister? Yep, he gets himself a sabbatical. Follow the Revd Kevin Birley as he revisits various cultural references: U2, The Matrix, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Tracey Emin, Eddy Izzard and Dr Who. His "e;friends reunited"e; dimension delivers more surprises: from model can-do evangelicals to struggling stage actors.

Daydream Believer

When I first heard that Barry George was arrested for the murder of Jill Dando, I was shocked, but did not think that he was guilty. I decided that I would offer Barry and his mother my unconditional support, which was accepted. I helped him to get a good defence team and followed the case with close interest. I thought the Crown might produce hard evidence at the committal hearing and was horrified when he was sent for trial on the little evidence which they had. When, seven months after his arrest, the Home Office bowed to pressure and finally allowed me to visit him, I became a regular visitor. I was there when he was convicted, and the following day, I told the UK that he was innocent. A rift in his supporters then opened, but we all had the same aim, justice for Barry. One day, a respected reporter asked me: "If Barry did not kill Jill Dando, then who did?" I had never given that any thought, but I would, in the future. What I discovered was disturbing, and I came to believe that the real killer may have slipped under the radar while potentially vital evidence was ignored, the crime scene destroyed, red herrings chased, as the trail went cold. Following Barry's failed appeal, I set up website and later formed a small but well supported campaign group. We took every opportunity to highlight doubts and discrepancies. After a few bleak years, with our help, the BBC Panorama exposed serious flaws in the Crown's case. We were on the road to victory, and two years later, we arrived. Barry and I then went our separate ways but reconciled eventually. But this story will not end until the murder of Jill Dando is properly solved or explained. I have not given up hope on that, and I would like to think that this book might inspire the powers that be to have a more in-depth review of all the evidence, old and new. Not to do so would be remiss of them and an affront to justice. Mike Burke, June 2012

Of the Jill Dando Murder

Fight to Clear Barry George

John Cassidy

Dick Linford

Bob Volpert

Brian Chaffin

This is a collection of stories by, and usually about, river guides and outfitters. The tales focus on river related events that usually have little to do with whitewater. Many don't even take place on a river. All say a lot about the culture of guiding and the people attracted to wild places and the odd things that happen once they get there. These are the stories shared around a campfire after a day on the water. Some are funny, some sad, some quirky, but they all come from personal river experiences and lifelong friendships. Join some guides on their day off when they decide to take a raft over a dam to see if they can make it right-side up. Dive into a vast garbage dump to find the $500 drysuits you threw out with the trash from a 21 day Grand Canyon trip. Try to explain how your employees set a Forest Service employee on fire during a torch-lit dance on a picnic table. Share an evening with an outfitter who is about to lose his business because one of his guests has disappeared on a hike and has been missing all night. Get ready to set your underwear on fire if precipitation stays below average because that's how you end a drought. Take the Vice President of the United States down a river but never get him or anyone else wet. Be part of the wedding of two guides who really only wanted to sleep together but found themselves ?together forever.? Steal a bus and lead a wild chase down a mountain canyon highway looking for a group coming off the river. Drive home from the airport naked and try to sneak into the house without your wife noticing your lack of attire. Not every story is about good times. A few are tributes to friends who are no longer with us but belong around our campfire. You probably never heard their names but you will enjoy meeting them here. They told great stories. There is an odd thing that brings folks back for river trips. They usually come the first time because of the excitement of rapids and whitewater. They come back for another trip because of all the other stuff that happens. This book attempts to capture some of that magic, the memories and good times running a river with friends fosters.

Halfway to Halfway and Other River Stories

This is the true and dramatic account of one man's quest for justice in helping to overturn the conviction of Barry George, who had been charged with the murder of BBC TV presenter and newsreader Jill Dando. It is a personal story and relates to the family and personal problems involved in fighting such a desperate and unselfish campaign against all odds.

Mike&#39;s Story - Barry george &amp; the Jill Dando Murder

When a national tragedy and a scientific breakthrough provoke a nation to abandon long held traditions, it is clear that something has departed from everyday life, but what exactly is missing? 'The Fading Smile' is a political thriller which explores an alternative future centred around the fear of terrorism, rampant consumerism and ideological suppression through the experiences of a journalist, a mother and an adrenalin junkie. What secrets do multinational corporations want to hide from an unsuspecting public? Why are hitmen trying to silence those who seek alternative perspectives on the world around and what does an art-loving spymaster have to do with the conspiracy he is seeking to expose? Three separate seekers after the truth set off on their own quests to find answers to what has taken place only to encounter sinister threats and an official conspiracy. In the midst of it all, stands an enigmatic young lady who appears to hold the key to discovering what has been lost, but who is she working for and what is behind an intriguing offer to make peace with old enemies?

Mike Burke

Books

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