Available in both a book and eletronic format, 'The Animal Man' is a fascinating insight into the life and times of Frank Milner. With almost forty years with the RSPCA, this personal insight chronicalises the early years of a unique and extraordinary career.

The book is available for purchase at £10.95 through Amazon and can be ordered by clicking here. An electronic version of the book is also available at £5.49. Please email us at info@frankmilner.co.uk for information.

Foreword

I count myself as a long standing supporter of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and over the years I have served as a member of its Governing Council, its National Chairman and as its Vice Chairman, and I now occupy two honorary posts as a Vice President of the National Society and President of a local branch. I am the first to admit however that nothing I have ever done can hold a candle to the value of the work carried out by the inspectors. I know that for the general public they epitomise the RSPCA and they are indeed our front line troops.

No-one has served in that front line with more distinction and dedication over many years than Frank Milner. I am proud now to count him as a friend but when I first met him he was heading what I call the commandos – the RSPCA’s Special Investigations Unit. I could scarcely believe what I was hearing of the cloak and dagger adventures of following consignments of animals from Britain across half Europe to check on the conditions under which they were travelling. However, Frank Milner’s straight forward explanations showed a man of absolute integrity, who would tell it as it was and always with the best interests of the animals in mind and not any sense of furthering his own career or status. His concern for animals showed itself even after his formal retirement from the
RSPCA. He continued to work for them as a volunteer, most notably for the Japanese Animal Welfare Society of which I am also now Patron.

I realised that even though I was seeing at close hand some of the work he was doing there was far more of which I had no idea whatsoever – one thinks of the analogy of the tip of the iceberg. When he tentatively mentioned to me that he was thinking of writing his memoir, I was thrilled and I hope I gave him some encouragement in what is a very daunting prospect.

It has been quite a long wait but the wait has been so very worthwhile. Frank Milner has drawn on his myriad experiences and condensed them into a book written in a pithy, down to earth style, typical of the man himself but riveting from the very first page.

I confess I had always wondered what had drawn Frank Milner into the world of animal welfare in the first place and at last I learnt from the earlier pages of his book. It illustrates perfectly one of my theories about life that so often major turning points occur as a result of some chance incident or happening. So it was in the case of the author.

I have no intention of revealing all the details in a foreword as I have a particular dislike of being told too much in advance of any book I read. Suffice it to say that I found it an enthralling read and I am sure it’s one that will appeal not only to those who love and care about animals but all those readers less connected with animals but who want to have a glimpse in to a world unknown to them.

By the end I felt I could justly echo the advertisement for a well known Sunday newspaper which claimed, ‘All human life is here’. This book goes one better – not only do we see human lives but animal lives as well – so prepare to live life to the full through the pages of a quite exceptional book whose foreword I was very proud to be invited to write.

Baroness Fookes of Plymouth, DBE, DL